Participant

Question

Mini Bridge isn't showing thumbnails

Forum|Forum|15 years ago
April 30, 2010
15 replies
32678 views

I've tried everything I know even to the point of reinstalling Windows 7 and no luck.

I make sure to run Bridge on startup, but once in either 32 or 64 Bit versions of Photoshop, Mini Bridge refuses to show thumbnails.

I just get a small message promt that reads "Waiting for Bridge", and nothing else.

I'm running Windows 7 64-bit, all machine specs are way within the requirements and all drivers, directX, etc are up to date.

Needing help!

Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

S

Suspended

Participant

I knew there was something that wouldn't work in CS5. Tried it all, still a fail.

Hours spent trouble shooting: 8

Adobe Software Engineering: 0

Bridge needs a bridge to work with minibridge: Priceless.

So my question is this: Is this sort of time and resource wasting ok with Adobe?

Error "Waiting for Bridge CS5" and no content is displayed when you browse in Mini Bridge (Windows)Products affected

Issue

When you browse in Mini Bridge through Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe InDesign CS5, or Adobe InCopy CS5, you see the message "Waiting for Bridge CS5" in the Content pod but no files or folders ever appear.

Solutions

Solution 1: Add SwitchBoard.exe to your firewalls' exception list.

If the Adobe SwitchBoard process is prevented from communicating with Bridge CS5 by your firewall, then Mini Bridge will be unable to access your content.

Most firewall software has the ability to store a list of exceptions; that is, a list of programs that are not blocked from accessing network resources. Some firewalls use terms like "white list" or "allow list" for the same feature.

For specific instructions on how to add SwitchBoard.exe as an exception to your firewall, refer to the documentation for your firewall software, or contact its manufacturer. Some examples of firewall software are Windows Firewall, Norton, and McAffee.

SwitchBoard is installed to one of the following locations:

32-bit editions of Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard\SwitchBoard.exe
64-bit editions of Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard\SwitchBoard.exe

After adding SwitchBoard to the list of exceptions, restart your computer.

Solution 2: Ensure that the "hosts" file contains its default entries.

SwitchBoard refers to the localhost server, which is an internal name for your computer, to communicate with Bridge CS5. By default, the "hosts" file contains a reference to localhost; however, if the "hosts" file is missing this entry, or this entry is incorrect, then Mini Bridge will be unable to access your content.

To determine what information should be contained within the "hosts" file for your edition of Windows, or to reset the "hosts" file to its default settings, see Microsoft Support article 972034:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972034

Solution 3: Clear the Windows cryptographic database and then reset SwitchBoard.

The first time that SwitchBoard runs on your computer, it uses information in the Windows cryptographic database to create values in the registry and in the switchboard.ini file. If SwitchBoard cannot read this database, then the resulting registry values and the data in switchboard.ini are all invalid and prevent SwitchBoard from functioning.

Close all Adobe applications.
Choose Start > Run (Windows XP) or click Start (Windows Vista or Windows 7), type "%appdata%\Microsoft\Crypto" (including the quotation marks), and then press Enter.
Rename the RSA folder to, for example, oldRSA.
Choose Start > Run (Windows XP) or click Start (Windows Vista or Windows 7), type regedit, and then press Enter. The Registry Editor will open.
In the left-hand pane of the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\IAC. Select the IAC key.
In the right-hand pane, right-click the MD5ID value and choose Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog.
In the right-hand pane, right-click the UserID value and choose Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog.
Close the Registry Editor.
Choose Start > Run (Windows XP) or click Start (Windows Vista or Windows 7), type "%appdata%\Adobe\SwitchBoard" (including the quotation marks), and then press Enter.
Delete the switchboard.ini file. (If you do not see the .ini file name extension, then delete the file that is of the type Configuration Settings and has an icon that looks like a notepad with a gear on top of it.)
Restart your computer.

Solution 4: Create a new Windows user account.

Occasionally, a user account can become corrupted, which can prevent SwitchBoard from accessing or creating the necessary files. Create a new account with the same permissions as your current account, log into the new account, and then run your Adobe applications.

For help creating a new user account, see How to create and configure user accounts in Windows XP, Create a user account in Windows 7, or Create a user account in Windows Vista on the Microsoft support website. If you need additional help, contact your system administrator.

Additional Information

The Mini Bridge uses a background process called SwitchBoard to communicate with Adobe Bridge. If Adobe Bridge is not already open, then the SwitchBoard will open Bridge in the background in order to facilitate this communication. If SwitchBoard is unable to open Bridge CS5, or if the host application (for example, Photoshop CS5) is unable communicate with Bridge CS5 through SwitchBoard, then Mini Bridge will not be able to access your files or folders.

For more information about Mini Bridge, see "Mini Bridge" in the Adobe Creative Suite 5 Help.

J

juliem321

Participating Frequently

There is now a knowledgebase record available that will hopefully resolve this issue for Windows users. See the record titled 'Error "Waiting for Bridge CS5" and no content is displayed when you browse in Mini Bridge (Windows)':

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/830/cpsid_83045.html

Regards,

Julie

M

MikeV99

Known Participant

Win XP -- I have done the things listed in the KB and Mini-Bridge works only if Bridge was started previously in the session (does not need to be active). For example, login, open CS5, click Mini-Bridge and get the waiting message. On the other hand, login, open and close Bridge, open CS5, click Mini-Bridge, and it works fine. I can close CS5 and right click the Quick Launch Bridge icon and click Exit Bridge, then restart CS5 and Mini-Bridge continues to work. Once I logoff I have to go through the Bridge initialization process again.

Oh well, at least it works.

Mike

M

MikeV99

Known Participant

Win XP/CS5

Just to update, Mini-Bridge still does not start correctly unless Bridge was started previously. I think I know why, but do not know how to fix it.

The Adobe Switchboard service is suppose to load which leads to a switchboard process being loaded. The switchboard service does not load (error information below) and the switchboard.exe process is not started in the Windows XP run list when one logs on. Hence, mini-bridge has no switchboard to use to start bridge.

However, if one starts Bridge first (even if one closes and exits bridge) the switchboard.exe process is started by Bridge. After that, mini-Bridge works correctly.

I have attempted to start the process from a command window, but nothing happens and no event is recorded.

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard>dir
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 88E4-EDB7

Directory of C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard

07/28/2010 03:26 PM    <DIR>          .
07/28/2010 03:26 PM    <DIR>          ..
02/19/2010 01:37 PM           422,400 adobe_caps.dll
07/28/2010 03:26 PM    <DIR>          AMT
07/28/2010 03:26 PM    <DIR>          Legal
02/19/2010 01:37 PM           517,096 SwitchBoard.exe
02/19/2010 01:37 PM            30,489 SwitchBoard.pdf
               3 File(s)        969,985 bytes
               4 Dir(s) 84,354,781,184 bytes free

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard>switchboard.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard>

So Bridge can start the process but I cannot (even with an administrative account).

The following is the error information about the Adobe Switchboard service error:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7009
Date: 8/24/2010
Time: 4:29:05 PM
User: N/A
Computer: MAINXP
Description:
Timeout (30000 milliseconds) waiting for the Adobe SwitchBoard service to connect.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Date: 8/24/2010
Time: 4:29:05 PM
User: N/A
Computer: MAINXP
Description:
The Adobe SwitchBoard service failed to start due to the following error:
The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

sc query Adobe SwitchBoard

C:\Documents and Settings\testuser>sc query Adobe SwitchBoard
[SC] EnumQueryServicesStatus:OpenService FAILED 1060:

The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

C:\Documents and Settings\testuser>

I have done all the things listed in the KB and various posts. Evidently, different operating systems may have their own problems that do not relate to all the others.

Any thoughts?

One more update, I upgraded my laptop to CS5/LR3. It runs Vista. I am seeing the same issue on that machine as well. The switchboard process

does not get started unless I first start Bridge. After that everthing works as it should. Two different computers, two different operating systems, two different user accounts and same problem.

I asked a friend to open PS without starting Brridge first and his mini-Bridge shows images without any problems.

C

clemmi

Participant

I fixed the problem in Windows XP-Pro 32 bits.

To fix Minibridge: "searching for Bridge CS5"

Go to:

C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

open with Wordpad

added # to: 127.0.0.1 localhost

reopen PS CS5 and Minibridge now works!

V

ValMc1

Participant

I have spent hours trying all the fixes suggested and still the thumbnails are not loading. I have CS5 loaded on my other computer and the MiniBridge is working fine on that one yet everything is set the same. On the working copy I can scroll down at the top where it says Desktop to get to other folders but on my main computer in MiniBridge it just says Desktop with no option to change it. This is really driving me mad. Come on Adobe - it seems lots of people are having this problem - it is time it was sorted once and for all!!!

C

cpssep

Participating Frequently

I finally got my mini bridge working by fixing the hosts file. Once it was working, I used it with no problems all evening and then turned off my computer. The next day, when I started photoshop and had the same problem, no mini bridge but this time, the hosts file was ok. So, I did this, (something adobe support said to try): First make sure you have the "show hidden files and folders" checked under folder options, then

Go to all programs, accessories, run, type in appdata and enter, open roaming folder, adobe, adobe photoshop cs5, click and drag the adobe photoshop cs5 settings folder to your desktop. then start photoshop again and it will create a new settings folder. You can then delete the one on your desktop. After I did that my mini bridge worked again and has worked ever since. Maybe it will work for you.

A

Anonymous

thnks john, finally got my mini bridge working

km79

Participating Frequently

I edited my hosts file and tested both versions default entry and empty hosts file.

But I have still "Waiting for Bridge CS5" in Photoshop.

I also started PS as an administrator.

But nothing changed.

I use Windows 7 Prof. 64bit.

Any further ideas or patches?

What is Photoshop doing when it starts "Mini Bridge"? Does it run an extra process? Calls it bridge.exe with some parameters? Does it try to run a windows service that I can look for?

Thanks

Konrad

J

juliem321

Participating Frequently

Konrad,

Mini Bridge uses the SwitchBoard server process to communicate with Bridge CS5. Opening the Mini Bridge panel in Photoshop or launching Bridge CS5 should start the SwitchBoard server process.

Since editing the "hosts" file didn't work for you, try the following:

Add SwitchBoard.exe to your firewall's exception list. SwitchBoard.exe is located as follows:
Win 32 bit machines: \Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard\SwitchBoard.exe
Win 64 bit machines: \Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\SwitchBoard\SwitchBoard.exe

If that doesn't help, try creating a new user account, log into that account and run Photoshop CS5 and Mini Bridge. If Mini Bridge works logged into the new account, you can follow the steps in post 16 above:

1. i created a new user (TempUser), logged in to it, launched photoshop - and made sure everything (minibridge i.e.) works

2. then i logged back into my account and replaced my C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Adobe\SwitchBoard folder with the one from C:\Documents and Settings\TempUser\Application Data\Adobe\SwitchBoard

Note, on Win 7 systems, the user's SwitchBoard folder is located in \Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\SwitchBoard

Regards,

Julie

J

JohnWil

Participant

My hosts file on Vista was named "hosts" (no extension) located at:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.

Look up "hosts file" in Wikipedia and it tells you the location on other operating systems.

Edit it with notepad. I modified my hosts file by putting a "#" at the beginning of the line with my hosts file information, which disables it - everything after a # on a line is considered a comment and ignored.

A

Anonymous

can someone please explain to me where the host file is located and how i modify it?

J

JohnWil

Participant

using Vista 32 bit

my hosts file had only this line:

::1 localhost

I put the # sign in front of it to disable it.

Worked! I can now access minibridge.

Thanks for the tip!