hardware/system error when starting Photoshop 6.0 - have tried everything, no luck

I'm running XP, have been using Photoshop 6.0 for about 9 months. Last week, all of a sudden I'm getting the error "Unable to continue because of hardware or system error. Sorry, but this error is unrecoverable."

I read Knowledgebase Document 326528 and tried all of the solutions there (except reinstalling Windows).

- ran compatibility wizard
- ran defrag
- removed all TrueType fonts, as recommended by Adobe
- reset Photoshop preferences
- searched for all Adobe font .lst files, renamed them

I get the error right after the "Sorting font list."

I refuse to accept that I have to reinstall Windows, and I'm afraid this could happen again. Please help!

I get the error right after the "Sorting font list."

Have you tried seeing whether it's a corrupt font? Take half of the fonts out (don't delete them, just uninstall and move them to another folder somewhere) and restart. If it works ok, then the corrupt font is in the half you're removed. Add half back in and try again- it's a process of elimination :) If it doesn't work, swap the installed/uninstalled half around and try again.

Thanks, Helen. I did try that already - no luck. Any other ideas? Would upgrading to 7.0 be a possible solution? Otherwise, I think I'm going to uninstall 6.0 and go back to 5.0 - it will be better than nothing (assuming that works).

Christina,

Have you tried deleting your Prefs file? Details in the FAQ

Yes. I tried that too.