Can't Open Photoshop 6

[Painter]

When I try to open Photoshop 6, the title page appears, then disappears and the entire menu bar goes blank. When I try to open one of my photos in PS the photo appears, but again no menu bar and no tool bar. Doesn't happen with any of my other apps. Several times over the past few weeks when I've tried to open PS, there's a window that pops up connecting me to the internet. I always click cancel, because I'm not intending to go online, just open PS. PS has always opened up until now. Could never figure out how to get rid of that window that pops up connecting me to the internet. At some point I vaguely remember trying to download a doc. or image into a PS folder, but cancelled because it took too long. I've reinstalled PS, I've trashed the Prefs. I only have dial-up. I have a Mac G4. I've tried giving PS more memory and turning on virtual memory. Does software like Conflict Catcher help in this instant? Does anyone have any ideas what's going on with this? Thanks much. Painter

[beacher]

Painter, I've seen the "screen" that says that PS is accessing the net, but that no information is being uploaded, and I really don't know what that's about.  It doesn't last long, so I never worried much about it.  

What system are you using?  You may just have to wind up re-installing it. . .

[tacit]

Photoshop is accessing the net in order to check for updates. You can stop it by trashing the file called AOM, which stands for Adobe Online Manager. It lives in the system folder->Application Support folder.

When the Photoshop splash screen appears, you will see text flashing on the screen--"Initializing," "Measuring Memory," "Reading Fonts," and so on. This will tell you why Photoshop is crashing. Look closely at the splash screen. What is the last thing it says before it crashes?

[Painter]

Tacit, I trashed the AOM,  but did not see any splash screens after that, or when I tried to open Photoshop. I've zapped the PRAM, and  rebuilt the desktop, but still can't open PS. I can open all my other applications. I can open a file which I formatted in PS, but the menu bar is blank--I can't access the tools, etc. Even the clock and date are gone when  I try to open PS.  The Finder indicates that PS is open, but the menu bar is blank. Any ideas?

[Scott]

Are you running OSX? If so, launch classic then launch Photoshop. Don't allow Photoshop to launch classic for you.

[Painter]

I'm running OS 9.2. I've noticed that  when I click  to open PS6, the menu bar goes blank just like it does when I first open my Netscape 7. It looks like when I try to open PS6, I'm also going online, but it doesn't go online. The menu bar is blank, so I can't get at the tools. Evidently PS 6 is open as indicated by the Finder, but something is keeping PS from displaying the stuff on the menu bar. Any got any ideas at all?? I need to get at my graphics and I can't until this problem is solved.

[Painter]

I still can't open my Photoshop 6. I've run Norton Disk Doctor besides reinstalling Photoshop. Is there anyone out there that  has any suggestions. Thanks much.    

[giantmike]

I have a feeling it's some type of extensions conlfict. What happens if you use the extensions manager to select the base extensions, restart, and then try to launch photoshop? If it now works properly, You may have to try to find which extensions are conflicting.

In the meantime, if you have to get at your graphics, you may want to try Graphics Converter.

[krissel]

Mike has good advice. An extension conflict is a possibility.

Also there is a slight possibility that a font could be causing the problem. A corrupt font can prevent Illustrator from launching so maybe it has the same effect on PS. Try to open each font from the system Font folder and if it gives you an error message or refuses to open it most likely is corrupt. You will need to replace it with a new copy.  If you can't throw it away you will have to quit all applications then move the Font folder to the desktop. It should then let you throw it away.

Let us know if any of this helps.

[Painter]

Thanks to everyone. I tried the suggestions, but still couldn't open Photoshop. I finally called Apple, and the  tech guy said to depress the  following  keys with the computer on: Apple, Option, R & P together all at once. Keep them depressed until I hear four chimes while it's rebooting.  Then release the keys. He said this resets the memory and cleans out the fragments in RAM. Of course I had to reset  Preferences.  Also, before, I did the above, he told me to Trash the Adobe Preferences. I was able to open PS 6. Thanks again for all the  suggestions.   Painter

[krissel]

Painter, what the Apple tech told you to do with the keys and restarting is "zapping the PRAM" which you said you already did earlier.

I think just thowing the Adobe prefs away did the trick.