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Anshie
Known Participant
April 18, 2016
Answered

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

  • April 18, 2016
  • 26 replies
  • 57157 views

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?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jensr8220862

Hi Anshie,

I had the same problem with a perfectly fine working CS2 on Windows 7 64-bit. The problem started about 6 days ago. I ended up uninstalling all Microsoft updates since 4/14/2016 and it looks like I have isolated the problem to KB3145739 (Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-039, Security update for Windows Graphics Component). I have reinstalled all other updates and have not seen the problem anymore. I will update this post in case the problem shows again.

26 replies

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D
dewey1945
New Participant
October 8, 2016

I'm running Windows 7 64 bit and Photoshop CS2 and I used the solution posted by Dan2000 (post #53 on Aug 13).   It seems to be working perfectly.   I did not do the 3G thingy since I'm not running 32 bit.   Seems this is a much better alternative than constantly removing security updates that might prove to be a disaster down the road.   Big thanks to Dan2000.

D
Dan2000
Participating Frequently
October 8, 2016

I don't remember what I found in my research, but I'm not sure the 3gb switch is necessary.

You may still see some quirkiness after having PS open a while with other programs.

Here are some other things that seem to work well for me, after setting the options mentioned in my older post:

I set the Photoshop memory use to maximum, then make that the first program I open. Then I open Imatch (my image database - and an amazing program), then I open Lightroom. Seems the order is important. I can also open email and Chrome.

Since CS2 is a 32-bit program, I'm not sure it uses an inordinate amount of RAM. (But, I'm no expert.)

These are my latest tweaks to my process and so far, they seem to work well. If Photoshop ever starts to get quirky, I just close and repoen it.

Dan

p.s. It is helpful to monitor memory usage in Task Manager.  I also use a program called Memory Cleaner, but I'm not sure it's necessary either. I can only spend so much time on tweaking.

Hyoumaru
Hyoumaru
Participating Frequently
September 14, 2016

Well, it's update time again

hope for anwers if something breaks with this one

A
Anonymous
September 15, 2016

The latest update is causing the usual problems

The following security updates were installed

3175024

3177186

3184122

3185319

3185911

I've uninstalled all of these for now but if there are any that I can reinstall please let me know. Thanks!

A
Anonymous
September 15, 2016

you have to deinstall

KB3175024

KB3185911

    Hyoumaru
    Hyoumaru
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2016

    I have a feeling that due to Microsoft's upcoming "updates are now cumulative untoggable patches only" policy that soon we won't be able to do anything about this anymore.

    D
    Dan2000
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2016

    The steps I took above helped a lot. It will still get erratic when I have a lot of programs open, but when it does, I close and restart Photoshop and it goes back to behaving normally.

    Hyoumaru
    Hyoumaru
    Participating Frequently
    August 19, 2016

    The thing is, I keep seeing that "3gb switch" thing coming up for 32-bit versions of Windows 7, and I have the 64-bit version. I tried looking it up and what I found said that turning it on in the 64-bit version of Windows 7 causes problems.

    Can anybody verify?

    L
    Lumigraphics
    Brainiac
    August 11, 2016

    Seriously? You are disabling Microsoft security updates so you can run 12 year old software?

    This is a TERRIBLE idea. There will be side-effects all right, sooner or later your computer will be pwned and either part of a botnet, have a cryptolocker on it, or just have data stolen.

    This situation is a message from God that its time to move on from CS2.

    D
    Dan2000
    Participating Frequently
    August 13, 2016

    I think I found a decent solution!

    BUT SEE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM

    I found a solution that works on my machine.

    This is what worked for me: PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK. I'm not responsible if you mess something up.

    I suspected it was a memory issue, which seemed crazy, since I have 32gb of RAM in my machine.

    First, I reinstalled Windows 10 (but this solution should also work with Windows 7 WITH the security patches installed).

    I set the 3 GB switch in Windows as in this post (never even knew this existed):

    Fixing memory issues with the 3GB switch for Vista and Windows7 (32-bit) - Software/Hardware Requirements - TUFLOW Forum

    Next I opened MSCONFIG.EXE, clicked the ADVANCED button and noticed that the number of processors in my system was listed as 1 (it's an 8-core AMD). I changed that number to 8 (set yours to however many cores you have in your processor (check device manager to see that info.).

    Next to the number of processors box is a box to set the Maximum Memory. I checked that and I thought I changed it to 32000, though in this screen it shows 0, which I think tells the system to use all the memory available. It would not let me enter a 0 though.

    Please read this post first, to understand the hows and whys:

    Fix the Maximum Amount of Memory Usable by Windows 7 64-bit

    Here is a screen grab of my MSCONFIG screen:

    Reboot your system.

    I have Photoshop, Lightroom, Imatch5, Chrome and MS Mail open and just edited a huge 350mb file with 0 issues - no flashing screen, no disappearing image, no stubborn stay-on-top window. Widows also seems much more responsive than it did before I changed these settings.

    NOTE: OK, everything was perfect. I have PS set to use a 1.6 GB Ramdisk for its primary swap space. With the large file above, that was going over that space and into the 2nd swap disk. No problem with that. But when I went to EDIT/PURGE/HISTORIES thinking that would free up the primary swap space, it did, but then the Photoshop window had to be minimized to bring other program windows to the foreground. Except for this behavior which showed only after 45+ minutes spent editing a huge file, it ran flawlessly. I think the bad behavior we've experienced has been related to memory issues. I'm going to increase the RAMDISK (or just not use it for Photoshop) to see if that eliminates that behavior completely, though I rarely edit files this large anyway.

    Sorry this was such a long post.

    Again, please proceed cautiously. If you don't understand what you're doing, please ask a computer nerd friend.

      D
      Dan2000
      Participating Frequently
      August 14, 2016

      One followup:

      I had a few of those old issues after editing that huge file, and then ran into Windows memory errors. A little research on that pointed to virtual memory / swap file issues.

      I have Windows 10 on a system with only a 128gb SSD drive with swap file set for that drive. I have three additional drives in my system, one of which had a swap file on it. I created a 1GB swap file on drive C: (the SSD drive) and then an additional SYSTEM MANAGED swap file on Drive D (also an SSD), and an additional SYSTEM MANAGED swap file on Drive G (a HDD). I also have increased the size of the RAMDISK that holds the Photoshop swap file to 2GB.

      I just spent about two hours editing a 47mb tiff file and had no issues at all with flashing screens, disappearing windows or any issues where the Photoshop window insisted on staying on top of other windows. I'm really happy with this.

      Some techies might argue that the 2gb ram disk is a waste of memory, but it works well for me to have that for my Photoshop swap file. Your mileage may vary.

      Hyoumaru
      Hyoumaru
      Participating Frequently
      August 9, 2016

      We've got new Microsoft Updates

      Can anybody confirm if any of the new ones disrupt things or not?

      D
      Dan2000
      Participating Frequently
      August 9, 2016

      I cannot, but I am having terrible issues with CS2 and Windows 10, so I will revert to Windows 7 and would also be interested in the answer to your question, anyone. Thanks!

      JJMack
      JJMack
      Community Expert
      August 9, 2016

      I do not use CS2 on Windows 10 much to be able to answer the question.  When I do use it on Windows 10.  The only problems I seem to have is some of my scripts have been updated to use features not in CS2.  CS2 otherwise seem to be OK and is open  bellow the Chrome append I'm making now. I had to comment out a line in my script to build this collage..

      JJMack
      D
      Dan2000
      Participating Frequently
      July 19, 2016

      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.

      D
      Dan2000
      Participating Frequently
      July 29, 2016

      UPDATE - CS2 gets erratic under Windows 10 too. It works normally for a while, but then starts the same behavior of staying on top of other applications, or blanking out the window when certain filters are applied. It's seems a bit more tolerable though, in that closing and restarting the program sets it back to normal for a while. I also got a memory error from Windows once while using PS CS2. I had about 4 programs open (including Lightroom and Imatch), but I have 32GB of ram, so that should not have been an issue. That's only happened once so far, but that and the way restarting seems to fix things for a while makes me feel it's a Windows memory issue.

      A
      Anonymous
      July 14, 2016

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

      The-Ghost
      The-Ghost
      New Participant
      June 11, 2016

      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).

      A
      AnshieAuthor
      Known Participant
      June 11, 2016

      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. :/

      A
      Anonymous
      June 17, 2016

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

      KB3164033

      KB3164035

      KB3161664

      S
      suziw80119885
      New Participant
      May 17, 2016

      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

        D
        Dan2000
        Participating Frequently
        May 17, 2016

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

        M
        maxflags-chris
        Known Participant
        May 11, 2016

        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.

        A
        AnshieAuthor
        Known Participant
        May 12, 2016

        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.

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