CS2 problem: windows disappear or are always on top / overlap other programs

[Anshie]

This mistake happens totally randomly and usually after using the program after several minutes.

When I save or use any option, the toolbar or the (floating) window disappears and then re-appears when I click around a little. When I use for example the liquify option, the toolbar of the normal program will still be visible and overflow the liquify window. When I try to click on any other tab in my windows taskbar, it doesn't work at all without minimizing photoshop first. Or the toolbar will still overlap with other folders and programs.

I'm using Windows 7 and haven't changed anything. Anyone knows the problem or how I can fix it?

[Anshie]

Should be either kb3153731 or kb3153199. At least so far I didn't have the error when those two were uninstalled.

By the way I'd say CS2 is not the only program having trouble with this. I had a problem with twitter recently. Only on this website, I suddenly had tons of "No reaction" and "Script stopped working" errors. I'm not sure if and how this can be related to a Windows update but after uninstalling the above mentioned two, twitter seems to work fine again. What the hell is wrong with these updates recently? D:

[Dan2000]

Thanks, Anshie. I was just looking at the long list of new updates. I will leave those two out.

Actually, that's good news about other programs being affected as well. At least that makes it more likely that a fix might be devised.

[maxflags-chris]

It hit me too.

I have these new updates (all about an update of the microsoft graphics components).

kb3156016 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156016

kb3156013 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156013

kb3156019 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3156019

I don't have time to figure out which one causes the problme again right now. Does somebody have a clue?

Thanks

--

UPDATE:

Hi Anshie. Yes, it's KB3153199. The microsoft description was a bit the same as in KB3145739. The deinstallation took an hour. That's not good a signal for the stability of windows. Patchday is every month. I don't think there will be any solution ever for CS2. CS2 needs an update, but there won't be any.

[Anshie]

That's such a pain in the ass. I wonder how other people do it because it seems like not everyone using CS2 is having these problems. Isn't there any other forum or official to write to? I really don't wanna go through this every months now and switching to another photoshop isn't really an option.

What are you going to do?

@Dan: Sadly I must ruin the hope here. Seems like the problem with twitter remains and it was probably not connected to a Windows update but rather to Firefox. It doesn't happen in Chrome.

[Dan2000]

Thanks, Chris,

I'll leave that one out when I update (been holding off).

Not seeing this erratic behavior on Windows 10 (64-bit). Another "push" by MS to get people to update?

[jpasher-dmv]

If you look at the files that were changed in KB3145739 and KB3153199, the file shared between them is win32k.sys. What this most likely means is that any future Windows Update that includes that file will make the problem come back.

We basically have to rely on Microsoft for a fix (since Photoshop CS2 obviously won't get fixed), but probably safe to say that Microsoft won't fix anything, unless other (still supported) programs are also breaking. If it's just affecting Photoshop CS2, I'd guess we're stuck. It's possible that Adobe used some obscure or unsupported code path or functionality in CS2 that has now been "fixed" by Microsoft that results in the window layering problem.

[Anshie]

Where can I check which file was changed in which update? Would be helpful to see which future update changes this win32k.sys thing, so we could get rid of it right away. 😕

[jpasher-dmv]

You can get a list for this year's updates here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/894199

It's not the easiest to use (you have to open each update and look at the file modification list), but it's a start.

[suziw80119885]

I just want to say ...... I LOVE YOU GUYS ........ this has been driving me nutts!!!! never thought it would have a solution....FANTASTIC you have made me so happy as most of my work is on Photoshop CS2

I followed your advice and tracked down the Windows Update KB3145739 and KB3153199 uninstalled the little blighters and this seems to have done the trick after weeks of stress!!!! So happy

[Dan2000]

Likewise. Thanks everyone! It makes a huge difference not having to chase around the screen looking for the Photoshop window.

[The-Ghost]

Another possible solution that I found -

https://www.reddit.com/r/photoshop/comments/35lmtu/photoshop_keeps_putting_itself_in_front_of_my/

Increasing the memory usage in Photoshop appears to have fixed the issue. [Edit > Preferences > Memory & Image Cache]

(Tested it for 30 min, which usually should not last that long).

[Anshie]

I think if I remember correctly, I tried that do but it didn't help. Right now I can't try again because photoshop is running just fine. (Thanks god!) Lets wait for the next horrible windows update that will ruin it. 😕

[IT_ND]

with 15.06.2016 there come new MS Updates u have to uninstall.

KB3164033

KB3164035

KB3161664

[Hyoumaru]

Looks like this is going to be an ongoing thing with Photoshop and Windows Updates.

I admit I'm a little concerned that not having these updates might potentially be de-stabilizing my computer... I already skipped on a few updates to avoid Windows 10, and now the thing doesn't seem to be working quite right as a whole

[jensr8220862]

Looks like it's only KB3161664. The main problem is win32k.sys as jpasher-dmv already found out. I agree, this is not only annoying, but removing the MS security fixes might also have some side-effects which are hard to figure out. But upgrading to CS6 from CS2 was simply too expensive for me and is no longer a real option. And, I am not a fan of any cloud offering, including Adobe CC. So, I guess anyone who still wants to use the formerly perfectly fine working CS2 has to deal with the removal of MS patches every Patch Tuesday

[Hyoumaru]

And it's broken again.

[IT_ND]

with 13.07.2016 there come new MS Updates u have to uninstall.

KB3168965

[jmatcham]

Well, I am another one having problems with CS2 (on Windows 7) and getting worse for about 4 months. Like many of us I use it daily and it started when suddenly there appeared an introductory panel on the work area (after it was turned on).

Anyway, I am no techie and I have yet to see if I am capable of disabling those updates.

One thing I do think though, among the rest of us, it isn't good enough for Adobe to shrug their shoulders when we have all paid a hell of a lot of money for their software, and often depend on it. I have wasted hours trying to work out why images are disappearing and then restoring themselves ...panels disappearing  ...the whole thing freezing...Heaven help you if you forgot to save.

I feel better for that...at least my misery has company! Now lets see if I can find out how to delete the updates!

I wonder if it also has anything to do with the Wacom tablet losing its software every couple of months! And that silly puddle effect also down to Microsoft (which I have found how to eliminate). .I have avoided Windows 10 precisely because of fear of software messing things up...and it sounds just as bad from what people have said here!

Thanks for giving me hope!

[jmatcham]

(Windows 7)

Well, I found C>Users>username(me)> Adobe>Photoshop....but could find no way of finding the Windows downloads???

I would be grateful if anyone can help. I tried to take a screenshot of the last bit but must have messed up! Like I say, I have a white stick when it comes to that part of IT.

Please and thank you. Julia

[jmatcham]

On Windows 7 after a point I cannot progress

Computer>local disk C>tools>folder options> view....but after that I can't see what I should be doing to find the wretched downloads.

I will be grateful for any help. Thanks.

[jmatcham]

For the record...touch wood since I have increased the memory of CS 2 (as some kind soul advised here)  it is working normally...that is after the computer had been re-booted. I can hardly believe it!

[JJMack]

I too have CS2 installed but on Windows 10 Preview CS2 is not working as well as it does on older Windows versions.

CS3 I have not had installed for many years.  I do remember I found CS3 the be one of the best Photoshop version out of the gate.  New scripting support in CS3 made writing Photoshop plug-in script  possible. You can pass parameters to scripts recorded by the script into action steps. I did not encounter any new bugs added in CS3 with what I do in Photoshop.   I can not state that about any newer versions of Photoshop.  I do remember there is a bug in CS2 Scripting I had to code around that was fixed in CS3. There are bugs in every version of Photoshop. CS6 was the buggiest version ever released.  CS3 was also back in Windows XP timeframe. I have no idea how CS3 would perform and behave on my Windows 10 machines. What version of windows do you use.  Your windows version may effect the way a photoshop version behaves.,

When newer version of Photoshop start up they will repeatedly steal focus from other application you trying to was while Photoshop is starting up.  

[Steven_Day]

I am getting exactly the same issues as everyone else posting on this thread, windows 7 (and others 10) MS updates to the way the windows core "window" driver win32k.sys works to plug a security broke the CS2 window functionality apparently last year.

However I had not noticed a problem until very recently because I had turned auto updates off last year. Then in May I applied a cumulative security patch which included this graphics one and found that my CS2 was now broken.

It obviously has conflicts in the way it does window priorities in win 7 as my usual PS CS5 has no such issues.

[Guest]

Thanks for keeping this updated. What a pain it is.

[Dan2000]

I just updated to Windows 10 and that was the first thing I checked. I thought it was fine, and then I was editing a 43mb file to which I added an a new full layer, then applied the dust and scratches filter and the image flashed away. I alt-tabbed to a browser, and then an email window, but the Photoshop window remained in the foreground. Had a few programs open, including Lightroom. Photoshop memory was set at 51% (32GB total ram in my system). I upped that to 64% and restarted. So far, I have not seen the issue, but I'm wondering if it shows up when Photoshop reaches a memory limit and has to start swapping to disk? At least it works OK now, so there is a direction for SOME solution for Windows 10.