thanks Beth, once again you have come through with another great tip and best of all you speak "Mac" so no windows to mac dictionary needed.
That sounds like an excellent idea, Beth. I decided to follow that advice, but on my Windows 2000 workstation I was not able to locate the preferences folder. Do you have any idea where it is located?
I’m sorry, Jim, but I jumped from Win 98 to XP, and I still don’t know my way around either very well. I hope somebody comes along who can interpret for Windows, because I’m almost positive it will work there, too.
Jim,
On my Win98SE installation, it’s at:
C:\windows\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\Elements\Photoshop Elements 2.0 Prefs
Perhaps it is similarly located in Win2K.
Byron
Beth,
You are brilliant …. thanks for the tip I am going to do it now!! 🙂
Wendy
I agree. Beth is brilliant! I like this idea. BTW, for Windows XP the path to the preferences folder is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Your user name here\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\Elements\Photoshop Elements 2.0 Prefs
Hi Beth, I have never done anything to my PSE preferences or its folder. Is this routine maintenance or just what we do when something acts up?
Jane
Jane,
Beth suggests to make a copy of the preferences file while everything is running smoothly and save it. If/when quirky behavior in the program begins, you merely substitute the saved version. Her plan is a defensive one, planning for the "what-ifs".
Nancy
Hi Nancy and Beth, I am going to do this right now,,,,,,,,,
edit, just saved it in a folder right along with Beth’s instructions. Thank you!
Jane
If you have trouble finding this I seem to recall having to checkmark the "view hidden files" under folder options. (Folder options located as the bottom item under ‘tools’ on the menu bar).
Pete
Jim Hess – I use Windows 2000 and run both Elements 1.0 and Elements 2.0. I ran a search on "Prefs," and came up with the two paths below. (Note: I always log on as Administrator so I have access to everything.)
Elements 1.0: c:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\Elements\Adobe Photoshop Elements Prefs\Adobe Photoshop Elements Prefs.psp
Elements 2.0: c:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\Elements\Photoshop Elements 2.0 Prefs\Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 Prefs.psp
Marilyn
Finally found it! Thanks, Marilyn.
Jim
Beth, i’m sorry to be an idiot….but where do we put the copy ? If we put the copy in the same folder….alongside….doesn’t that confuse elements ?
I did things a little bit differently. Instead of creating a separate folder, I used WinZip and just placed a ZIP file containing all of the appropriate files in the same folder. Then, I created a shortcut to that folder so that I can get to quickly if I need to. All I have to do is open the ZIP file and drag the files it contains back into the folder.
Jodi, I’m not sure it will work the same on XP as it does in Mac, but what I do is highlight the current/newly created Preference folder and then do a command to "Duplicate". That gives a full copy of the folder, but with the word "copy" at the end. It winds up directly below the active Preference folder, and I just leave it there until I need to use it. When that time comes, I trash the bad preference folder, erase the word "copy" from the file name of the duplicate, and then I duplicate that one – once again ending up with two folders in the same place but with slightly different names. Elements will never choose the one that says "copy", so there’s no need to move it off anywhere if you don’t have to. I imagine there are all kinds of ways to handle this, I just stick with the one that seems easiest!
Beth, thank you, that is exactly what i needed to know….and yes, XP works the same way 😉
Thanks Beth … I was wondering how to copy it and then spotted your last message. I have just done it and it worked fine so hopefully sorting out the pesky prefs folder will be much easier now.
Wendy
I’m glad you guys are enjoying that. Now if I can just remember that I need to get mine ready to go! So far I haven’t done it myself. 🙁
Beth,
Something about the shoemaker or is it the mechanic, oh well.
….I wonder what trips up the preference files…I bought Version 1 the first week it came out, probably about 4 years ago, I still use it and I have never had to delete the Pref. Files and yet others have deleted many times…
Nancy
Beth:
Only had to use the old "key-jump" technique once(got it on the fifth try),so this will be a muuuuuuch better way if ever it need be. Thanks a bunch.
