Thursday 4 April 2013

PSE Editor is not launching (Windows)

PSE Editor is not launching (Windows)

This issue can appear in various manifestations like-
- Elements Editor splash screen freezes at launch.
- Elements Editor splash screen appears and then goes away.
- Nothing happens on clicking 'Editor' tab in welcome screen.
- Elements Editor launches fine but hangs just after launch.

The issue mentioned can be encountered on both Win and Mac. There can be multiple reasons for this issue. Depending upon the problem, there can be various ways of resolving it. Please follow these solutions in order they are mentioned until your problem is resolved.
This is a Windows only solution. If you are facing the same issue on Mac, click here.
Note: The steps mentioned below demonstrates PSE11 but the steps are generic in nature and are valid to all PSE versions (just change the version number wherever required).

Solution 1:

1. Navigate to 'PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe' located inside:
    Win x64: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11
    Win x32: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11
     Right click on 'PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe' and select 'Run as Admin'  as shown in following figure:

2. Just after this keep on pressing 'Ctrl+Alt+Shift' on Windows (or Command+Option+Shift on Mac). You will get following dialog:


Click on 'Yes' button of above dialog. Hopefully Editor should launch.


Solution #2: Twain plug-in issue
Sometimes the issue can be Twain plugin. To fix this please follow:
1. Navigate to location 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Plug-Ins\Import-Export' for PSE11 as shown in following snapshot: 
Please note that location of Twain plug-in is depended on PSE version and OS you are using. Please refer to this blog for detailed notes on location: http://helpx.stage.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/twain-installed-photoshop-elements-11.html

2. Remove this plugin and copy it to somewhere else (say on Desktop). Now try to launch Editor (using Run as admin as mentioned in solution #2 of Editor section).  Probably it will resolve the crash. If you don't use Twain plugin (required for scanning purposed in PSE), then you are good to go. 

3. If you use PSE for scanning, Copy the twain plug-in  as per following guidelines:
Win x64 system:
  Copy from: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Optional Plug-Ins\Import-Export
   Paste to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Plug-Ins\Import-Export
Win x86 system:
   Copy from: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Optional Plug-Ins\Import-Export
   Paste to: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11\Plug-Ins\Import-Export
Launch Editor while deleting its preferences (follow solution #1 of Editor section). If Editor works fine, its good else you need to re-install scanner driver (came with scanner) on your 



Solution 3:



1. Navigate to 'PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe' located inside:
    Win x64C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11
    Win x32C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 11
    Right click 'PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe' and select 'Properties' and click on  'Compatibility' tab. 
2. Under 'Compatibility mode pane', click on check box for 'Run this program in compatibility mode for' and select 'Windows XP (Service Pack 3) from drop down.
3. Under 'Privilege level' pane, click on check box for 'Run this Program as as Administrator' as shown in following dialog:
Note: After doing this, if Windows UAC may be prompted (while launching Editor) click on 'Yes' button.


Solution 4:

In case any network printer is attached try to launch without network or printer uninstall or make different printer as default.

Solution 5: 

Try launching with anti-virus off or removing PSE from conflicting list.

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Please leave your comments if you have any queries. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Any feedback on improving the quality/content of the blog is highly appreciated.

Cheers !!

5 comments:

  1. Elements 8 worked fine for me for a couple of years. One day it crashed on opening and hasn't worked since.
    I have tried all the suggestions above with no success. I have looked at several forums and followed instructions, basically what you listed, with no success.
    I'm kicking myself for not being able to find the disk for a re-install, but...it's where I am.
    Any other ideas?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Could you please specify the operating system you are using?

    ~Surendra

    ReplyDelete
  3. HELP!!!
    After owning Pse 9 for a couple years now, iam having problems opening the editor.

    I have read through many of the forums and tried:

    Creating a shortcut to open pse.
    resetting the preferences
    altering the Twain plugin name( it says pse.8ba) and another which says "save for web(el).8be"
    re-installing
    Tried running via the administrator method...

    ALL TO NO AVAIL!
    I have a Sony vaio 64 bit laptop running windows 7.
    After re-installing PSE 9 the editor DID open via the "run the administrator" option for a couple days....and now its being defiant again!

    Im hoping someone can come up with a genius solution, but if not, can someone please tell me how i can get a refund?

    Yours...In hope!

    Jamie.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, I'm having this problem with PSE12 and have tried all these workarounds but nothing works. I'm running Windows 7 on a Toshiba satellite laptop.

    I've run earlier versions PSE9 and PSE11 no problems but then bought a new DSLR and previous PSE don't support the RAW, very frustrating that Adobe forces you to purchase a new version, which feels like a backwards move, missing features and poor interface.

    Please, answers which work would be appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  5. This problem was killing me -- tried everything. Now when I turned off my the active virus scan part of antivirus program (Bitdefender)and tried to open PEeditor.exe I got "malicious software" warnings popping up !! It listed PEeditor.exe as culprit. I choose "Allow" which added the PEeditor.exe file to 'processes to exclude' box. Now PEeditor opens! ...ahhh.

    ReplyDelete