Can't save files (already in use / left open)

I keep getting an error in Photoshop that is extremely irritating and a big problem.

I'll have a file open, and from the point it was last saved do nothing but work on it in Photoshop -- not open it in any other applications or anything. Then when I try to use the Save command I get this error message:

'Could not save "FILENAME" because the file is already in use or was left open.'

The only place the file is in use is in Photoshop.

It may have something to do with the thumbnail browser in Windows XP, but I haven't been able to establish that conclusively yet.

Any information appreciated.

Photoshop 6.0.1 / Windows XP Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 1.

Why, yes, it has to do with XP's thumbnail browser. There are wierd and unsolvable interaction issues between XP's Explorer and psicon.dll (it was dropped in Photoshop CS partly because of this).

Try closing all Explorer windows. Sometimes this helps. Sometimes a reboot is needed (save the file to a different name first!).

-Scott

Thanks Scott. Is there no way to avoid this problem? Adobe has no fix?

I have a document open right now that is causing the error. I closed all Explorer windows (and every app other than Photoshop), no affect. I know I can save the file with a different name and clear the block by rebooting, but that is a very broken situation. I either have to muck up my hard drive with countless useless copies of Photoshop documents, or keep track of them all and perform regular sweeps, or reboot at inconvenient times, none of which are appealing options.

you can rename psicon.dll to psicon.old then reboot. it's in the main adobe folder, where the photoshop.exe is. note that you'll lose the ability to view a teeny tiny representation of your image in windows explorer "Large Icon" mode.

Thanks Dave, I'll try that. A small price to pay if it solves the problem.

I've never had the problem, but those who have have reported that this works.

I just renamed the file and reset my computer, so I'll see how it goes. FYI, on my system it was \Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell\psicon.dll