Premiere (and After Effects) crashing upon opening preferences menu

[QuasiAbstract]

For some reason, both Premiere and After Effecs crash when I try to open the preferences menu.

I have the most updated version of Creative Cloud, Premiere, After Effects, etc. I have the most updated NVidia driver.  I've used the Adobe Cleaning tool to uninstall, and then reinstalled the apps. Still crashing.

Not sure what else to do.

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Windows 11
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900 CPU @ 2.80GHz 2.81 GHz
Installed RAM 128 GB
NVidia GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB

[MyerPj]

Hmmm.... Where could corrupt preferences sneak in? Usually that Adobe cleaner can get rid of anything. I wonder if your creative cloud is syncing your preferences before you get to trying the preferences in those apps?

I would typically uninstall everything using the adobe uninstall, not using the Adobe Cleaner. After all is uninstalled I reboot and then use the adobe cleaner, then reboot, and then try an install. You want to make sure somehow the the preferences aren't reinstalled. Also, on Premiere you can hold down shift while you start the app from the normal PP icon, and will get a dialog allowing you to delete prefs. Try that, go in right away and try the  prefs.

[QuasiAbstract]

@MyerPj,

 I've used the Adobe Cleaning tool to uninstall, and then reinstalled the apps. Still crashing.

Not sure what else to do.

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Windows 11
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900 CPU @ 2.80GHz 2.81 GHz
Installed RAM 128 GB
NVidia GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER 8GB

By @QuasiAbstract

Already done.

[QuasiAbstract]

@MyerPj 

I've already uninstalled everything without using the tool as well.

Holding Alt or Shift, doesn't help either.

[MyerPj]

Uninstall without the tool, then reboot and use the tool, then reboot. then try again.

[QuasiAbstract]

@MyerPj Can preferences be scrubbed from syncing or can I turn off syncing preferences?

[MyerPj]

Yes, open the preferences and .... Oh... 🙂

You must get into prefences to turn off the sync preferences.

[MyerPj]

Here's where the preference are, this link should take you right there.

%UserProfile%\Documents\Adobe\Premiere Pro

The highest #'d folder is the current one. You can see I play with mine all the time. Rename it, (if it's 23, maybe 'x32' or such.) Then start pp, it should take you to the app, then from the initial screen select from the main menu EDIT\Preferences try to get there quickly. You don't need to open a project before you go to the menu.

[QuasiAbstract]

@MyerPj after uninstalling with the app, rebooting, and reinstalling, still crashes on opening preferences.

I'm going to clean out the folder next.

[QuasiAbstract]

Cleared out the folder, but didn't reinstall. Still froze on opening Preferences.

[MyerPj]

OK, good effort! 🙂

The only thing I can think of is your Windows User Account. Can you create a new one, log in with that and try it. Otherwise, you can try Adobe, you can use the Chat button from Creative Cloud.

[QuasiAbstract]

Well, I had tried one last time with uninstalling and reinstalling, opened preferences - locked up. I had to leave, so I just left it as it went unresponsive.

When I came back, preferences was loaded up. Once I changed some preferences and clicked OK, it locked up again. Still locked up five minutes later. I'm going to just leave it to see if it ever unlocks, but this isn't sustainable, regardless.

[MyerPj]

I still say add a user account.

Settings/Accounts/Other Users/Add account.

I would uninstall first, Add the user. Using the new account, reinstall. Then give it a shot.

[MyerPj]

Oh... create a restore point first. That way you can always go back to where you were.

Settings/System/About - then System Protection/Create (of course make sure it's on for your c: drive)