App Install - Download Fails At Random Percentage and Locks Up Win 10 Desktop

[joejvg]

Hello Fellow Adobe Creators!

After three days of wrestling with this I finally got it working today. I have seen a lot of posts about this and my Win 10 desktop was doing exactly the same thing:

1. Extremely slow, sluggish when it finally loads.

2. Win 10 started running sluggishly and had to <alt><ctrl><del> to display Task Manager

3. Cancelled Task manager which freed it up but it would lock again

4. Install App and takes quite a while to starts stays at 0%, then slowly goes to 1%, sometimes 3% then freezes up .

5. Displays install is too slow, restart.

6. Restarted as directed, same thing.

7. Sometimes it displays Too slow, trying to fix the problem, then gets back to timing out eventually at a random, low %.

 Being a senior Windows developer and network engineer I started looking under the hood & did everything by the numbers:

1. Added firewall rules for all the Apps I saw running for Adobe using Task Manager.

2. I made all Adobe folders had all access control levels and ensured they were inherited by all files under the folders.

3. I Made sure all Apps ran as Administrator.

4. Then I added all the virus scanner rules to not do realtime scanning on the directories and did same for browser protection.

5. Last, I gave the installer and CC app High priority using Task Manager.

Same thing happened. I even disabled firewall and virus scanner completely for  few minutes. Same thing.

Time to think out of the box. What else could be causing this. Another mantra of mine is check small things:

1. Change the browser from Firefox to Chrome and disable all extensions.

2. Is there anything I missed on CC Desktop App?

3. FILE PREFERENCES!!!!! - YES!!!!!

I saw this in the usual spot on the CC Desktop App. Thought to myself, I never looked at this nor saw it mentioned in these forum posts:

1. I disabled  General | Settings: Launch Creative Cloud at Login - Always keep Creative Cloud up to date

2. I disabled Apps | Auto-Update

3. I updated Install location to the location of the directory I want to download the App to.

4. I disabled Settings - Show Older Apps

5. I checked Syncing | Folder Location & ensured it was Username I logged on as during Win 10 startup - c:\Users\Username

6. I left Download and Upload Transfer speeds at 100%

7. Notifications - I disabled all of them.

8. Services - Adobe Fonts were left enabled. I launched Behance which seemed to function normally.

Last:

Using Task manager after launching CC Desktop, I changed the priority of the Install and CC Desktop Processes to be High, one below real time.

This resolved the problem, I am now downloading and installing the Apps just fine and they launch and run just fine. Be patient with download as it is not "zippy" but the files are large so just be patient. My percentages changed about once per minute.

I doubt all this was necessary. I feel the File Preferences were the real culprit. I cannot leave everything like this so I am reversing it all and step by step will get this down and up-date this post with specifics. Obviously some of the changes in File Preferences cannot remain that way like updates and such.

I'll be back with an update. After spending three days on this and getting tremendously good support from Adobe this am (the manager took the time to speak with andassist me and I think that sparked the File, Preferences check as he said some people were having issues but on the whole it is working fine. So I figured it was something I had incorrectly configured. Voila!

I'll be back with exactly what I did including screen shots once I get caught up on some development projects that have sat for my clients the last three days.

Joe Geller

[joejvg]

Hi Fellow Adobe Creators,

I have distilled all of this to what I believe are specific gudielines for installing on Win 10. It can be real easy and it works just fine if you follow these steps since they show a way to check that the installation was done correctly. I am not going into details as Google can supply them so just Google it. I would be glad to answer any questions though and may refer you to a link.

First and foremost, check that you installed CC Desktop correctly:
1. Win 10 Defender should have six new entries for Adobe with inbound nd outbound checked.
2. Don't sort entries after you launch admin console. They are grouped together near the top for you.
3. If they are not there as install updates these automatically it was not installed correctly.
4. You should have administrator access level rights when logged into Windows.
5. The following also also deletes any installed Adobe Apps if present.
6. Any that are deleted will need to be reinstalled once CC is installed and runs.

Uninstall and delete these where username equals what you use to sign on Windows with:
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Adobe
C:\Users\username\AppData\LocalLow\Adobe
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
C:\Program Files\Adobe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe

Reinstall CC Desktop App

I am using version 5.2.1.421 and ensure Windows Defender is correct.

     Do not update manually. Application should do this.

     You can try but will probably have regression.

Once it is installed add the same list as above as folder exceptions to your virus scanner.

Do not disable it or Windows Defender as you will probably start getting get malware if you do. It is tempting since the performance boost is significant but the Task Manager and Services will be doing that for you next. Be very careful here as these entries can affect performance significantly or crash your machine if wrong ones are disabled. Don't do this if you are unsure, ask for assistance.

Services Tab
1. Sort by name to group Adobe CC Services together.
2. For each of the three - <right click> | Properties
3. Set the Startup Type: to Manual for each.

     Adobe Genuine Monitor Service
          Path to executable: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\AdobeGCClient\AGMService.exe"

     Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service
          Path to executable: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\AdobeGCClient\AGSService.exe"

     AdobeUpdateService
           Path to executable: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Desktop Common\ElevationManager\AdobeUpdateService.exe"

This will disable Adobe almost entirely after you start Win 10 so behave better. You can also disable it using CC Desktop Manager - File | Preferences | General | Settings | Launch Creative Cloud at Login but doing this disabls all the Services. After Win 1o start I use Services and startthese when I am ready to use the CC Desktop as it is a resouce sink.

Do the same here for any unecessary services and there quite a few on my machine. Don't touch obvious ones like any starting with Windows or others. If you are not sure, leave it and ask someone who does. Glad to answer any questions. nFor example, in my case since I am a Windows .Net Developer I have Internet Information Services running and have it set to manual. It is a resource sink I only need when using my machine as a local web site for development purposes and testing. When it runs at Win 10 startup the machine really slows down.

Others, as they add up from installs or applications people install and forget about start to do the same. Other than malware, this is one of the primary reasons a machine slows down over time. A lot of unecessary baggage. Use Control Panel and get rid of what you don't use. All it does is kill performance slowly but surely. I download and test a lot of applications but alwys uninstall once I am through with them and clean up any directories they leave behind.

Some other items:

1. I rarely touch the registry. I use the tweaking.com App as it gets OS back to original spec's.
2. I have used it for years reqularly and it is the only one I have found that actually seems to work.

3. I do the routine stuff like clean up browser history and cookies.
4. I do a full scan, chkdsk and defrag disk drive once in a while.
5. I check speedtest.net to ensure my WAN bandwith is where it should be & reset modem and router if not.

Check Google for other optimization tips but these are a good start. I also use Task Manager once in a while as it is a great way to nudge a process that may be running but is locking up the App (greyed out and asking if you want to end - don't). All I do at times is <alt><ctrl><del> and click Cancel and Voila! Adobe CC behaves again. Does same for any other Win 10 App, especially if resource intensive like graphics App's. It may seem annoying but it works and even a machine with a lot of RAM and video RAM will do it occassionally. I also first use <alt><tab> to switch applications and it will free up the wait state. The machine is really not locked. It's just the priority will allow it to do just that if set too high.

Don't reboot, Cancel Task Manager. Be patient and do the key sequence again if it does not come up. Sometimes it may take several seconds. Don't be alarmed if its it is grey-screened as all options are clickable. I alway have Task Manager running at Win 10 Startup in a small window in upper right running so I can adjust Processes and their Priorities at times using Task Manager Processes and Details tabs. Just right click and look at menu options and their values. Again, be carefull. Setting Priorites to let's say Real Time may kill the machine and force you to reboot.

Last is the CC Desktop or Web Manager:

1. File | Open Sync Manager
     Folder Location: C:\Users\username\Creative Cloud Files

2. Settings
a. Launch Creative Cloud at Login - Radio Button should be off.
     Note, be sure Services that are required are running. See the above.
b. Always keep Creative Cloud up to date - Radio button should be off.
c. Apps
     Autoupdate - Radio button should be off.
     Note, occassionally turn on and be sure update is applied then turn it off again.
     Install Location - Default
d. Settings
e. Show Older Apps - Radio button should be off unless you want to see but keep it off.
f. Syncing

     Folder Location: c:\users\username where username is Win 10 signon with Adminstrative ACL.
     Download transfer speed: Maximum(100%)
     Upload transfer speed: Maximum(100%)
g. Notifications
     All checkboxes are off.
     Occassionally set to on and look at any notifications the turn them off again.
h. Adobe Fonts
     Disabled
          Note, I was having download time-outs until I disabled this and I believe it is a domain not white listed in my virus scanner.

          I am investigating.

That is about it and my machine is now stable, runs well, downlaods and installs plus runs the App just fine with the occassional Task Manager tweak on setting process priorities or the Cancel button trick if the screen greys out. Process is running, it is just taking up all the resources for what seems like an eternity.

If you find errors or ommissions let me know and I'll edit as I am submitting this to support manager in response to a great support assist by Rava Shankar and Mavik yesterday. Kudos to Adobe Support on a fantastic response to my online Chat. They are gold!

Joe

[joejvg]

Win 10 CC Desktop Optimization Tips

Hi, Fellow Adobe Creators!

My machine appears to be adequate for running the Adobe Apps. Sufficient meaning with a little help, it runs okay. I have found a few items that do help with performance on lower-end machines with a minimum of 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA Graphics Card. I may upgrade and have my eyes on one in a local store that sells high-end graphics systems, but for now, I want to enhance my animation skills before I raise the bar.

VIRUS SCANNING KILLS PERFORMANCE!!!

It's a love-hate thing. I hate malware, and I love responsiveness. I never condone disabling virus scanning in real-time, but unfortunately, the Apps will run if you like to watch the hourglass a lot. Despite my previous post where I have disabled just about everything possible, even trying to dive in to take an App for a ride is painful; You will always be going back and forth between theTask Manager. Forget running anything else. Recall I still have Task Manager running in a tiny window minimized in the upper right corner. To adjust processes priority with and "wake them up." You will need it a lot.

MY ADVICE IS UNLESS YOU ARE JUST TRYING THE APPS OUT AND GETTING A BETTER SYSTEM OR UPGRADING YOUR CURRENT ONE IF YOU DECIDE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ADOBE APPS DON'T DO THIS. SHELL OUT THE CASH AND UPGRADE OR GET A NEW SYSTEM THAT CAN HANDLE THE LOAD.

I am temporarily disabling the real-time virus scanner and its browser safeguards. It's a bad thing to do, but the performance increase is incredible. I never go anywhere else with the browser except Adobe. I always start it up again if not using CC Desktop. I just don't want to get the new system until I am sure I will use it and do more animation as my machine works fine for vector and raster images, plus video and sound. But animation other than stuff I have done with Flash is a new adventure. By the way, ensure you End the Processes using Task Manager as they still run even if you disable virus scanner. Adding Adobe locations, files, and processes to the virus scan real-time scanning exceptions won't help by the way. It is the virus App even if running at a low priority that is doing it.

DON'T LEAVE VIRUS SCANNING DISABLED EVER IF USING FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN APP'S AND VISITING ADOBE WEB SITE WHILE USING apps!!!

A MORE TIME-CONSUMING ALTERNATIVE

Create a new partition on your disk and boot a bare-bones Win 10 install using Win 10 Dual Boot. It should run well along as you only have Adobe Apps and a browser running on it. It also shouldn't need Task Manager running or anything else that is pretty cumbersome. I am trying this out, so it is theoretical at this point, and I'll post results. I had done it before with apps that were resource gobblers, and it had good results. I would think using a VM would be slow so not suggesting it as an alternative while evaluating.

Ensure no processes are running using Task Manager. Change the priority of a slow process "on the fly" by having Task Manager readily available, as I have described. Be sure you see the previous post where I disabled all the CC Desktop parameters that appeared to slow down the machine but did not affect the App Download or running them. Bear in mind these need to be attended to once in a while. Doing this ensures you have the latest app updates and cCC Desktop notifications, for example. Look at others that may need to be enabled temporarily and then disabled again. These prevent specific CC Desktop processes from running. Always bear that in mind. Does all this sound like a real hassle? Yp, it is. But it lets you evaluate before diving in and spending some loot on getting excellent performance if you want to move forward as an animator.

That' about it.

Good luck with all of this and ask questions or post constructive replies. All are welcome.

Joe