Brian,

I have a similar configuration to yours, but I'm running XP Professional. I've seen the same issues in Photoshop CS2. I have had some relief, but I still suspect a race condition and an unhandled exit somewhere in Photoshop's multiprocessing code. Be sure you install the latest multiprocessor plug-in from Adobe, also apply all fixes to XP64 from the Microsoft Knowledgebase related to multiprocessing on AMD processors. You will also need to update the AMD processor driver to the latest version. Call Adobe support and report the problem to them. Maybe if they hear from more than one person they'll start to look into the cause more than they did with me. Direct them to my reply here if they doubt you. They have my phone number and email address and I'd be happy to talk to them more if they express interest in running a debug version or a test fix.

The one operation that seems to be the most likely to hang (the race condition) is to open a large 16-bit image (greater than 100 MB in size) and then run a filter such as Unsharp Mask, Median, or Maximum on an alpha channel. When I rapidly alter the Radius setting with the preview enabled, I can often get Photoshop to go out into the weeds. XP is still running OK. In some cases, the application simply quits with no error message and nothing in the event log. This is a clear indication of an unhandled exit somewhere in the code, a very elementary programming error.

Adobe needs to scrub their code with a fine-tooth comb and find out where this exit is happening, and remedy the problem. If the problem were in the OS or a driver, there would be an error event recorded and there aren't any.

I've gone so far as to run Photoshop with a log file enabled, and when these things happen there is no log entry that Photoshop quit. So the normal code for quitting the application never runs.

Note to Adobe: There is no way I'd spend money for CS3 when I paid for CS2 and a rudimentary programming error is causing me lost work, time, and money. If they'd fix this problem, upgrading would be something I'd consider but not until I know I won't see the same problems all over again.

Michael_Stetson

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Photoshop hangs during simple operations