Skip to main content
Participant
January 4, 2012
Answered

PS CS3: Unable to continue because of hardware or system error. [locked]

  • January 4, 2012
  • 4 replies
  • 26037 views

[This thread from January 2012 has been locked by a moderator. The activation servers for CS3 have since been shut down and the answers here no longer apply. Please start a new thread for similar questions.]

 

photoshop cs3 stopped working. get error - unable to continue because of a hardware or system error. Sorry but the error is unrecoverable. Reloaded software - but not resolved. Any advice? Someone mentioned Settings files or profiles?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer

Yes, a reinstall will not affect the preferences file.

To reset preferences click to start Photoshop and IMMEDIATELY hold down the crtl +alt + shift keys.  It is a little tricky so keep trying until you get a reset window.

4 replies

ray jodoin
Participant
August 19, 2020

Hi, I tried the ctl alt shift. The message received was Delete the adobe photoshop settings file?

clicked yes

the message received was to have the primary scratch volume on a diff drive.

clicked ok

I get the unable to continue message.

I am using the old photoshop 6 program

Ray

Participant
August 25, 2020

Same thing is happening to me. This came after the most recent Windows update (I really hate Microsoft) and even if I delete the Settings File it still won't run Photoshop. I'm also on version 6.

Participant
August 27, 2020

I also have this problem

I find if I uninstall Photoshop 6, restart the computer, reinstall Photoshop 6, it will run until I close it down and then will not open giving the message above

I also suspect this is because of a Windows update

Is it possible to inform Microsoft of this? 

Participant
October 10, 2017

Hello all, Has anyone found an answer to this yet?  My Elements 9 stopped working with the same 'unable to continue because of a hardware or system error. Sorry but the error is unrecoverable.'

I've uninstalled and reinstalled, cleared the preferences and tried running in W.7, 8 and XP compatibility,  all to no effect.

What now??

Participant
April 28, 2017

Hi I have adobe photoshop elements 8 on a dell laptop running windows 7. I had received the same error message as the OP got a few months ago and I uninstalled and reinstalled today after I was finally able to find the serial number again. I followed the advice given above and successfully deleted the preferences but editor continues to give me the same message. What other possibilities could be causing this and how do I fix it? I dont have the money to upgrade to a newer version so I'm kinda stuck. The last thing the window says before the error message is "Initializing shared components"

Grant H
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2012

that doesent sound like a PS problem...

whats your System details

G

whtroseAuthor
Participant
January 4, 2012

This occoured in Photoshop CS3 today. All other Adobe products are functioning normaly on this system. Premiear CS3, Encore, Audition function fine. Photoshop was working fine then failedduring the evening. We have removed and reloaded Photoshop CS3 and recieve the same error. Still the remaining Products run as expected. All other Aplications on the system run normaly as well. No other indications of hardware issues are logging. There is ample memory and space available on this system.

Someone else suggested I trash my PREFS (I am not sure How I proceed in doing that - any advice on how to delete the prefs - willing to try that at this point) Thanks

Correct answer
January 4, 2012

Yes, a reinstall will not affect the preferences file.

To reset preferences click to start Photoshop and IMMEDIATELY hold down the crtl +alt + shift keys.  It is a little tricky so keep trying until you get a reset window.