Photoshop 23.3.2 Freezes on Opening a File

[EdwardCPI]

I've been using Photoshop for a long time but today I am completely unable to use it. I rebooted my computer (which I do periodically to improve performance--perhaps once a week or so) and since that time I have not been able to use Photoshop. I start the program and it responds to menu clicks etc. with no document open; but as soon as I try to open a document, it just FREEZES SOLID. The only thing I can do is kill it in the task manager. I have a bunch of images to edit, so this is frustrating the time out of me. 

My graphics card is running the latest driver. My Windows (10) updates are all up to date. And I am on the latest Photoshop update.

I know someone is going to suggest trashing my preferences. Is there a way to save those somewhere first, so that if that's not the problem, I can get them back?

Below is a screenshot of my Task Manager for the Photoshop entry.

Thank you in advance for any help. 

[TheDigitalDog · Accepted solution]

When Photoshop crashes, this is the first thing to do, try resetting your Photoshop preferences. Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac OS) immediately after launching Photoshop. You will be prompted to delete the current settings. You can also reset preferences upon a quit if Photoshop is running by going into General Preferences>General>Reset on Quit.

(Mac OS only) Open the Preferences folder in the Library folder*, and drag the Adobe Photoshop CS Settings folder to the Trash.

This action only affects the items found in the preferences dialog box. Numerous program settings are stored in the Adobe Photoshop Preferences file, including general display options, file-saving options, performance options, cursor options, transparency options, type options, and options for plug‑ins and scratch disks. Brushes (and lots of other setting) are not affected by the above instructions for deleting preferences. You may wish to make a screen capture of the settings in the Preferences dialog to reset them prior to deleting of this file.

Also: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

*To manually delete Photoshop preferences:
Quit Photoshop.
Navigate to Photoshop's Preferences folder:
MacOS**: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
Windows 10: Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

**Note:
The user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. In the Finder, hold down the Option key when using the Go menu. Library will appear below the current user's home directory. Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe for a back-up of your settings

[EdwardCPI]

@TheDigitalDog Thank you! That has me going again, at least for now.