new computer – strange PS CS4 behavior

A
Posted By
archer73
Feb 5, 2009
Views
568
Replies
22
Status
Closed
Hello,

I just purchased a new system (Win XP Pro downgrade, SP3, Intel i7 processor) and PS is really acting odd. I’ve already uninstalled and reinstalled, and the behavior remains.

Whenever I open PS, all my menus are grayed out, including the File menu that allows me to open a file. In order to open a file, I must minimize PS, then re-maximize it. At that point, the menus become active.

Similar to this issue is that anytime I wish to apply a layer effect, I must ALT-TAB to another program, then switch back in order to see its effect. The same goes with the Navigator window in PS: If I zoom in or out on the image, the Navigator window does not show any change. In other words, the red box that should move across the thumbnail in the Navigator window does not move, even though the image itself on the desktop will change size as I zoom in and out. And, related to this, the Navigator window is often grayed out, as is any additional Layer I may create above the background Layer.

Now, the program ran well on my other computer, which was also XP Pro, though not a downgrade and it was running on a different processor. Could this be a processor issue? As mentioned, I’ve already tried an uninstall/reinstall. Has anyone else seen this before or does anyone have any ideas what I could try?

Thanks for your help!

-Greg

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JJ
John Joslin
Feb 5, 2009
By "downgrade" do you mean you downgraded from Vista when you bought it?
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 5, 2009
uh oh… here come the vista Chihuahuas… cover your ankles!!! 🙂
A
archer73
Feb 5, 2009
Hi, John–

Yeah, by "downgrade," I may from Vista, but as an OEM rather than as retail CDs. The manufacturer took care of everything for me so that when I first booted the system, there was no sign of Vista at all.

I’ve contacted Adobe support about the issue as well, but I’d love to hear any thoughts you folks may have. As someone with little computer knowledge, I’m thinking it’s somehow related to my new hardware. Perhaps either the processor or the video card. But as I said, I know very little about this stuff.

-Greg
QP
Q_Photo
Feb 6, 2009
Vista 64 rocks, especially for PsCS4. Yes, XP does qualify as a DOWNGRADE. Q
BC
Bart_Cross
Feb 6, 2009
I am continually amazed by how long it took for most people to realize that Vista was not a ‘downgrade’. As Q pointed out ‘Vista 64 rocks’.
JJ
John Joslin
Feb 6, 2009
And we can upgrade Vista to Windows 7 in situ: XP users have to wipe, and install everything from scratch!
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2009
And we can upgrade Vista to Windows 7 in situ

I wouldn’t. 7 is NOT a vista service pack.
RK
Rob_Keijzer
Feb 6, 2009
And we can upgrade Vista to Windows 7 in situ: XP users have to wipe, and install everything from scratch!

And since when is a clean install "from scratch" not the most recommendable one?

Rob
JJ
John Joslin
Feb 6, 2009
I know, I just threw that in to annoy the dinosaurs! 😉
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2009
ouch! gerrof my ankle!!!
RK
Rob_Keijzer
Feb 6, 2009
We’ll remember that. B-)
RK
Rob_Keijzer
Feb 6, 2009
Dave, isn’t it about bed time at your end of the pond?

Rob (14:16 here)

Rob
BL
Bob Levine
Feb 6, 2009
I wouldn’t. 7 is NOT a vista service pack.

Gotta agree there…but I recommend that you download the beta and give it a whirl…it’s really nice.

All of the reviews seem to be very positive, too.

Bob
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2009
Dave, isn’t it about bed time at your end of the pond?

east coast usa. it’s morning. 08:44am here. if you look at the forum’s time stamps, i’m 3 hours later than that. you’re in uk rob? so that +5 or 6 from me. isn’t it happy hour yet?!! 🙂

.but I recommend that you download the beta and give it a whirl…it’s really nice.

I might on a separate box. but i’m jumping either way when it’s gold. i’m not to fussed about running a beta os, even though some are saying it’s already better than vista.

All of the reviews seem to be very positive, too.

the one i hear from all over is that it’s fast and smooth! just how i like my wimmin! 🙂
J
jcates
Feb 6, 2009
7 is NOT a vista service pack.

Or so MS would have you believe. You really think Vista was intended to be real? It’s just a holdover, man. It’s New Coke. It’s XP SP4!

<Joker>It’s all part of the plan.</Joker>
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2009
It’s XP SP4!

bout time! 🙂
BC
Bart_Cross
Feb 6, 2009
Gaah! XP sucks! Vista rules! Win7, your problem not mine.
DM
dave_milbut
Feb 6, 2009
medic!
RK
Rob_Keijzer
Feb 6, 2009
you’re in uk rob?

No, Netherlands. But next week we’ll also be covered in snow, so you won’t be able to see the difference!

Gaah! XP sucks!

Since when?

Rob
BC
Bart_Cross
Feb 6, 2009
….since like foreveh!
A
archer73
Feb 6, 2009
Hi, gang. Looks like I inadvertently set off a firestorm. Well, to put the original issue to rest at least, I spent an hour and a half on the phone with Adobe’s Tech Support before realizing that I’m an idiot: My third-party plug-ins were the issue. Uninstalled one of them (OnOne…what was I thinking?!) and now everything’s groovy.
DE
David_E_Crawford
Feb 6, 2009
Just a little friendly jabbing. Nobody had a eye poked out so everything is cool. 🙂

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