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Photoshop 6.0.01 not working after Windows 10 update

Community Beginner ,
Aug 14, 2020 Aug 14, 2020

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Ok, I know, I'm old! I am still using PS6 ! I have it on my laptop and it does everything I need, so why pay for  a newer version?

 

So my problem is that after doing the latest Windows 10 update this week, I was getting an error that would not allow Photoshop to open, it would start to open and then just stop and give an error. I did some searching and found people saying to reset the preferences to open in a previous version so I tried this, but it didn't work. I was only able to get it back by uninstalling the Windows update and Photoshop is now working. 

 

The problem now is, I keep getting a pop up from Windows telling me to install the update every half an hour or so. So what are my options? Obviously I will eventually have to install the Windows update, but then I am left with no Photoshop. It looks like my only Photoshop option now is a monthly subscription at $30 a month? I don't want to do this as I only do a few photos a month , so it's just not worth it. I saw that there is a free to use basic version that I can download to use with Windows ( Express?), but it only does the bare minimum and doesn't for example, resize photos, which I use on all my photos,  for a small website that I have.

 

What I use Photoshop for is, resizing and cropping photos, rotating and contrast/brightness, some touch ups such as clone stamp, blur tool, paintbrush and sometimes using layers. Nothing fancy.

 

So I guess my question is, is there a work around to fix my problem that I haven't tried yet or is my version just too old so it's now good for nothing? And if it is too old, what should I use now?

 

I would appreciate any suggestions for something that isn't a subscription and that is not complicated to use. I am worried that my basice knowledge will not be enough if I get the latest version and I will be paying for things that I don't need or even know how to use. Any ideas?

Thanks so much.

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Adobe
New Here ,
Apr 27, 2023 Apr 27, 2023

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I realize this is an OLD thread - but I decided I had to answer this question:

 

1. I tried setting compatibiity mode - but this will not work SOMETIMES. Why? It is because Microsoft changed several parts of Windows 10. Photoshop v6 worked for me until Microsoft made it not work. As far as I can ascertain, this is just how Microsoft is trying to get everyone to update everything. Kill something here - maybe the person will update. Or to put that more basically - they want to make money. Period. Can't blame them. Photoshop v6 is great. I use it all the time. Ok - so what's next?

 

2. Virtual Box. You can download FOR FREE Virtual Box and install Windows XP (either x86 or x64) and run Photoshop v6 there. I do it because my scanner is so old everyone whoever made it is long dead. Like Egyptian mummies. I use a Visioneer 7100 OneTouch scanner. The driver only works up to Windows 7 (if I remember correctly). So I use Virtual Box and Windows XP x86 to use the scanner and Photoshop v6 is the best program to use with the scanner. So what else?

 

3. Option #3 is harder to do. I can not remember the program's name, but there is a program that will run under ALL versions of Windows (except v3.1) that will tell you exactly what libraries are being used in a program. Let me repeat - it will tell you EXACTLY WHAT LIBRARIES are being used in a program. Now. The way Windows works is - it looks FIRST in the directory a program is run FROM and loads all of the libraries FROM THAT DIRECTORY. Those that it does NOT find - it gets out of the system directories (or directory). So what you can do is - is to use #2 above to get Windows XP x86 up and running, install Photoshop v6 THERE and then install the program into WinXP x86, run Photoshop, then run the program and get the list of libraries you need OUT of the Windows XP system. Make a ZIP file of those files and transport them back to your Windows 10 system and then put them into the Photoshop v6 directory where all of the other libraries are located. THEN - when you run Photoshop v6 - it will only use the XP libraries instead of the Windows 10 libraries thus circumventing the problem. Note - this will NOT affect your Windows 10 system because all of the libraries (ie: .DLL files) will be in the Photoshop directory. However, this is a lot of work to do just to get Photoshop v6 back up and running. But it does work because now I use Photoshop v6 under the current Windows 10 system (latest updates too).

 

Notes: I do not remember the name of the program. However, you can just make a ZIP file of all of the files in the WinXP system directory and go with that. But if you want to look for the program. I think I just put in "get all libraries a program uses under wndows" into Google. But it has been almost a year since I did that. So you will probably have to play with that search request.

 

More notes: There is a FREE program you can get that will stop Windows from updating at all. You can also turn this back on via the program and yes - here is the name of it : Windows Updater x64 (You don't need the x64 if you are looking for the x86 version - but same name,)

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New Here ,
May 13, 2023 May 13, 2023

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I found I had to keep going back in compatibility mode all the way to Windows 95 before it would run for me. I nearly gave up after trying various modes.

 

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New Here ,
Jul 13, 2023 Jul 13, 2023

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I have blogged about another workaround which doesn't require changing the compatibility mode here:

https://softbiz.com.au/windows-10/fix-photoshop-6-0-in-win10-2004/

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Community Expert ,
Jul 13, 2023 Jul 13, 2023

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Michael Csikos,

 

That's interesting about the SettingsFilePath in HKCU\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Photoshop\6.0

 

I have both Windows 10 and Windows 11 with phortoshop 6.0.1 and did have the “Unable to continue because of a hardware or system error. Sorry, but this error is unrecoverable.” briefly, but went on away after another update on both systems, though i couldn't say for sure why photoshop 6.0.1 started working again with no compatibility mode required.

 

Anyway it might of use to see if there is a difference in the SettingsFilePath between a system with the error and without the error.

 

This is on Windows 11 x64 22H2 (OS Build 22621.1992)

 

Screenshot-(108).png

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New Here ,
Jul 13, 2023 Jul 13, 2023

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On my desktop this problem magically disappeared some time in the last 12 months, but I have had to revisit it as I've just set up a new laptop with identical software to my desktop, however, the error now appears on the laptop even with the same version of Windows, 19044.3208.

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New Here ,
Oct 23, 2024 Oct 23, 2024

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First, I really need to know which update you removed. My Photoshop v6 CD won't allow me to install Photoshop v6 (which I use all of the time). I decided to uninstall and re-install it because I was seeing some strangeness. Well - now I can not even install the software.

 

Now, on your other problem. There is a FREE program you can download called "Windows Updater". There is a 32bit and a 64bit version. This simple program will stop ANY updates from Microsoft. Go find it, download it, and run it. You may also find it as "Wub.exe" or "Wub_x64.exe"

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New Here ,
Oct 23, 2024 Oct 23, 2024

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Last post but a good one. If you Google "Virtual Box" you can get that software and install it. THEN set up a hard drive and put Windows XP onto the hard drive. Then install Photoshop v6. Now, Photoshop v6 is an old program. Made years before a lot of the install stuff that you use now was ever even thought up. This means that the folder that Photoshop is put IN to contains the entire program. You can then ZIP up that folder, and put it in your shared folder. THEN you can unzip the file into a folder on your Windows 10 box. I put such files into a folder called "Programs_Files". I did this because then #1 - no space in the directory path, and #2 - Unlike the "Program Files" and "Program Files(x86)" folders - there are no restrictions on what you can do in a directory just called "Programs_Files".

 

Amazingly, Photoshop v6 will "self heal" itself. Putting in anything you left out. This is what I am going to try here in a few.

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New Here ,
Oct 23, 2024 Oct 23, 2024

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Ok. Yes! If you install Photoshop v6 on a Virtual Box Wndows XP system and then use 7-zip to zip up the Photoshop folder and then move that ZIP file to your SHARED folder - and then get out of Virutal Box, make a directory with Program_Files->Adobe, put the ZIP file in this directory and then use 7-Zip to "Extract Here" the ZIP file - THEN you will have a working copy of both Photoshop v6 and ImageReady. On BOTH programs you then have to single-right-click on the Photoshop v6.exe file (and the ImageReady one after this), select the Properties option at the bottom of the pop-up menu. Once the dialog box comes up, select the Compatibility tab. Select the check box for "Run in compatibility mode" and then select Windows 98 from the drop down menu. Then select Apply and then Ok. Now you have a working Photoshop v6 and ImageReady on your system.

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