Creative Cloud won't open or uninstall

[thebud]

This all started with the latest CC update. Windows 64 system
1) My keyboard would stop typing, losing focus until I left click again, about every 30 seconds. Noticed that this matched time of adobe cc desktop helper dropping in an out of the processes section of the windows task manager. This is consitent, so the keyboard loss of focus is clearly related. So I tried to start Creative Cloud desktop manager.

2) When I try to start Adobe desktop Creative Cloud nothing happens. No error message. It just doesn't load. When I try to uninstall it, it refuses, saying

some installed programs require it

3) found this page (Creative Cloud won't start ) recommending uninstalling all Adobe cc software, running cc cleaner, and reinstalling cc. However, I cannot uninstall most adobe software. It says to wait while some (unknown) program finishes uninstalling or nothing happens.  This happens with photoshop, muse. I am able to uninstall and reinstall some non adobe software. (not cloud related.) Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator all run, although Illutrator throws off a message "the operation cannot complete because of unknown error. [CANT]  But does start and has no problems I can tell of other that.

So now, I have no idea what to do.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

quit all adobe apps including the cc desktop app.

check your task manager and terminate all adobe threads.

uninstall everything cc, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html

then uninstall the cc desktop app, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html

clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

restart your computer (don't skip this)

reinstall the cc desktop app, https://creative.adobe.com/products/creative-cloud

use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials

[thebud]

Thanks so much for the prompt response and all the great links. I am keeping them for the future.

I followed your instructions, but unfortunately, still got stuck on "uninstall everything."  Because the Adobe CC desktop app would not load, I could not uninstall using that. The Windows>Programs>Uninstall would not uninstall individual apps either.

In desperation, I downloaded the latest Creative Cloud desktop app from Adobe and simply re-installed it without uninstalling the old one.

Wonder of wonders, it installed without problems. The cc desktop app loaded; my keyboard works without loss of focus, and all the apps open just fin

The only remaining problem is that Photoshop CC 2017 won't open any images, but but 2015 does, so I suspect that is a different issue.

[kglad]

re: ps cc 2017

if the program won't open, reset your preferences - photoshop:  https://forums.adobe.com/thread/375776

[thebud]

Thanks for the link.  I found out that there is a new way to delete the prefs files for those following that link. (CtroL+Shift+Alt on opening doesn't work. It uninstalls Photoshop.) When I reinstalled Photoshop 2017  from the Creative Cloud Desktop, I noticed an "advanced" button at the bottom of the install screen. Clicking on that gives you the option of deleting or keeping the prefs file.

My problem was that I could open Photoshop CC2017, but it would not open any files (or so I thought.)

While I was typing this message, Photoshop CC2017 suddenly loaded a file I had tried to load about 8 minutes previous. The second photo I tried to load after that came up quickly. I could also quickly load multiple photos. So it must take forever to load Photoshop itself. I shut it down and checked to see if it took that long to load the first photo again  And the answer: 8 minutes.

It is a problem specifically with Photoshop 2017 CC. I checked 2015 with the same photo on the same system. A minute.

Start it up, go have coffee, check your email while this amazingly slow starter gets its act together.