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SteveRuddy
SteveRuddy
Known Participant
July 21, 2014
Answered

Error Message Server Busy During Startup

  • July 21, 2014
  • 33 replies
  • 70164 views

During LR startup I get a Server Busy Window that says

This action cannot be completed because the other program is busy. Choose switch to to activate the busy program and correct the problem.

This does correct the problem but why is this necessary and how to I get rid of the error during start up?

    Correct answer photoguy815

    A fix to Lightroom's “Server Busy Error” on a Windows 7 64 bit computer:

    I see in the discussion threads there are a LOT of frustrated people over this Server Busy issue, so I hope this helps someone. This is what Adobe tech support had me do, which fixed my problem. I got through on the phone right away, and the fix took no longer than 20 minutes to determine, with the support person remoting into my computer.

    • I already had Lightroom 5.6 installed through my Creative Cloud subscription, and it had worked for a few weeks for me, although with increasing problems with the Server Busy box popping up. I was able to get rid of it by switching to Switch and Retry, but eventually it locked me out entirely.
    • Tech Support told me the problem was a permissions issue.
    • Try the following and see if it solves your problem:
      • In C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe, find the SL Cache folder and move it to your Desktop.
      • In C:\ProgramData\Adobe, find the SL Store folder and move it to your Desktop.
      • R Click on your Lightroom icon and “Run as Administrator”.
      • If it opens correctly, that shows it is working now.
      • Close Lightroom and reopen the application normally.

    At this point I was good to go again. 9/17/14

    33 replies

    Show previous replies
    S
    Slipshod1
    Participant
    May 10, 2015

    Just happened to me because I had put an SD card into a reader I don't normally use before starting Lightroom.  Once I removed the SD card both Lightroom and Photoshop came right up.

    WTF Adobe?

    R
    Ryadia™
    Inspiring
    May 10, 2015

    Lightroom (unless you set it not to) will attempt to download images from any card you install. I suggest if you seldom use that card reader, and have not set LR NOT to download images files on discovery, Windows may have dropped the driver for your card reader and LR waited for it to be acknowledged by Windows before starting. If there is no trouble with LR now, Probably just as well to ignore the issue.

    Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 make decisions based on information not even Microsoft can clearly explain when it updates itself. I know Adobe has some issues with some some software but compared to the issues Microsoft are having with 64 bit Windows 7 and 8 (which was quickly and quietly replaced with 8.1)... Adobe's issues are trivial and easy to fix.

    D
    dearnold
    Known Participant
    April 29, 2015

    Now, I'm having this problem also - Server Busy During Startup of Lightroom

    I've been online with Adobe phone support and Chat Support over the past 6 days debugging CC, LR, and PS startup problems. It seemed to have started with the coming of LR CC.............

    Someone finally figured out that I had two instances of CC (the full subscription and a Photog bundle) attached to one email address. How that happened, I have no idea. I've had a separate Photog bundle on a totally different email address for at least a year. They transferred me to a Cust Svc Rep who said she fixed it and told me to log back in in 24 hours!! That was this morning -- and now I can't get Lightroom CC to open up without getting the Server Busy message -- and I can't get past it.

    Tried moving the SLCache & SLStore (renaming, actually) and that doesn't help.

    Unplugged an external HDD, rebooted, that hasn't helped.

    Sick and tired of spending time in queue for Adobe support and not getting resolution.

      B
      bobrcw
      Participant
      April 29, 2015

      I started getting this message intermittently when I moved from LR5 to LR CC. It happened when some of the hard drives attached to my system (Windows 8) had spun down due to my power settings. Changing my power settings to never turn off hard drives fixed the problem.

        Wags2015
        Wags2015
        Participant
        April 29, 2015

        Thank you very much for this helpful advice. I have LR6 on an SSD and all the RAW files on a separate internal HDD. I have changed the power settings for the hard drives which were by default set at turning off after 20 minutes and so far (fingers crossed) there have been no server busy pop-ups on restarting LR6.

        R
        Ryadia™
        Inspiring
        April 30, 2015

        Hey Wags2015...

        Do you mind sharing with us who your ISP is? I've got a nasty feeling that while the problem is caused by Adobe for sure... It's likely made persistent by Internet Service Providers using a complicated 'proxy in the cloud' system to deliver your content. So that's one theory.

        Another is your computer's power supply. Years ago I owned a computer repair shop. An alarming percentage of problems that kept occurring were due to computer power supplies being labeled as (for example) 400 watt but only producing that output in bursts, not continuously. The biggest culprit that overloads a power supply is a new graphics card. Followed closely by extra hard drives. With the arrival of USB3, came the ability to supply power to external devices... Enough to drive external hard drives. Tacking on extra storage might sound like a good idea but if you don't have enough power to feed one, might not be a good idea at all.

        My assessment of a friend's PC that more often than not produced the 'Server busy' or 'switch to' error messages he got from Corel as well as Adobe software ...that his 400 watt power supply was inadequate to run his i5 system he had added a Gforce graphics card, 3 extra internal hard drives and an external drive to over time ...proved correct when I replaced his power supply with a certified 750 watt supply.

        My own problem has nothing to do with power supplies and all to do with memory flooding. I could fix it by installing better quality RAM but as its due for replacement in a few months, I'll put up with the 'switch to' message for now.

        My gut feeling on theory one is that either you are with a very large ISP who can provide cheap prices by using proxy in the cloud (don't expect them to admit it if they are) or your PC's power supply can't cope with the load. The fact you disconnected the external drives before trying to start the program again might kill that suggestion.

        One last thing... You did start LR as Administrator after fixing the problem, didn't you?

        As usual...

        I won't accept blame  for anything that happens to your or your PC because you followed my advise.

        Remember... This is the Internet and I'm a total stranger to you. Use caution believing anything anyone

        on the Internet tells you. Always get a second and third opinion.

        Good luck,

        Douglas

        Wags2015
        Wags2015
        Participant
        April 28, 2015

        I have the very same issue, albeit intermittent since upgrading from 5.7 to 6 (perpetual licence). I never experienced this with 5.7. I wonder if it is something to do with the annoying 'trial' of LR mobile which keeps telling me when it's going to expire (and which I don't want anyway) and can't find a way to remove.

          B
          brendaf16586907
          Participating Frequently
          May 13, 2015

          I also have LR6 upgraded from 5 and unfortunately the same busy server message...still looking for an answer.  Don't have cc and don't want it....so looking for solutions to fix this issue.  Thankyou for posting!

          R
          Ryadia™
          Inspiring
          May 14, 2015

          The 'Server Busy' error and the 'Switch to' error messages are Windows problems, not Lightroom or Adobe issues. Lightroom is just the program that exposes it.

          Windows software has a habit of installing 'Services' (Processes) that hog memory. Get too many of them and these error messages will start to show... Not just with Adobe software but a variety of different apps can produce this message.

          Even Adobe acrobat reader; Surely its on everyone's computer? Installs two services at boot time. One to check for updates and one to keep the program halfway loaded, ready for instant recall when (if) you need it.

          Control-Alt-Del while your PC is running will give you access to start the "task Manager". Under the 'performance' tab there is a resource monitor button. The screen you get when you hit it will tell you (amongst other things) how much memory is being used and the processes (services) running and how much memory they are consuming. A lot of these are of no value. Many are probably left over from uninstalling software that doesn't un-install properly. Another huge Windows problem for those who "try out" software before buying it.

          I'd strongly suggest you get hold of a decent system management program and tune up your computer,  if you constantly get these error messages. If you can't do it yourself, get an experienced Windows technician to do it.

          photopoeth
          photopoeth
          Inspiring
          April 27, 2015

          I've got this prolem since the upgrade to LR6. Sadly Photoguy's solution doesn't help me.

          Hey Adobe... any ideas? This is really frustrating!

          R
          Ryadia™
          Inspiring
          April 28, 2015

          I feel for you photopoeth_

          The solution from Photoguy works on the principle of cancelling your CC membership (or or product registration) by removing those critical files. It should work on every Adobe CC or licensed product. I've only got the problem with DreamWeaver but I've pinned the cause down (probably won't do much for you) to the link with 'edge inspect' and Google Chrome and my mobile phone that also uses Edge inspect CC.

          Maybe (I'm only guessing here) you are on the trial version of LR? I think you have to register it before you can wipe out the registration info and start again. Only guessing mind you but I can't think of any other reason why a usually stable app would not respond to Photoguy's solution. Did you by any change keep the old version when you upgraded? That could be why the fix isn't working.

          Please let us know if you discover what the cause is?

          photopoeth
          photopoeth
          Inspiring
          April 28, 2015

          Hi Rydia,

          thanks for your feedback. To your questions:

          I am working on a licenced version (CC photographers bundle) of Lightroom. But you're right I didn't uninstall LR5.7 (because I wanted to have the option to work on it if the new LR version didn't work). Do yopu think it would help to uninstall the previous version?

          Best regards.

          R
          Ryadia™
          Inspiring
          April 13, 2015

          I've just developed this problem with Dreamweaver. I'm using 64 bit Windows. I pretty much followed the instructions and got a message I needed to license the software again. After doing that the program (Dreamweaver) booted and repeated the statement I had 0 days trial left and needed to register the software again?? OK so then it booted. On the next boot (normal boot - not as admin) I get the 0 days trial left message again. This is not looking good. I'll reboot the PC and hope for the best. I've got a sneaky suspicion this issue is not going to resolve itself. Sign off and re-boot.

          HB55
          HB55
          Participant
          April 3, 2015

          After striking this problem this morning, I googled 'server busy Lightroom' and found comments on another forum. It was suggested that having a second hard drive connected to the computer could be causing the problem. I have a second hard drive plugged in that backs up my files. I switched it off and Lightroom started working again

          R
          Rajesh K Asthana
          Participant
          March 22, 2015

          When it says server busy and had option for  ' switch to ' , I opened Photoshop , It works.

          R
          Rajesh K Asthana
          Participant
          March 14, 2015

          This is for Photoguy815 .

          Thanks for your tip , it works for some days but now same problem pops up. Any suggestion  or solution for this ?

          Thanks

          M
          MotoJV
          Participant
          March 21, 2015

          I tried all the steps as well and it didn't work.

          Then I did nothing, and it worked.

          Then it happened again, tried these steps again...nothing worked.

          C'mon Adobe...get your act together and fix this freakin problem once and for all.

            M
            Mary_Nunaley
            Participant
            November 4, 2014

            I just started getting this same message when I attempt to open Dreamweaver 2014. Will try the steps someone shared before I call our corporate IT department. Ugh.

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