Photoshop CS3 Slow as molasses in Vista...

[home...@adobeforums.com]

Q6600 processor, 4GB Ram, Vista 32... and I'm having the same issues as many people with having CS3 loading files (and responding to tools, etc) about 10 TIMES slower than in all other versions of Photoshop.

I've seen as a fix for this, that you have to have all offline or network printers turned off. I've done this, and it doesn't help at all. All my printers are local, and even when all are on and working, it still takes 10x longer to do anything in CS3 than it does in CS2 or before.

I even tried to install the "Generic Postscript Printer" driver in Vista, which is only attainable by a work-around.

When I did this, only when I had this set as the DEFAULT printer did it seem to improve on this somewhat. And I mean, somewhat. The mouse scrolling sped up some, and files loaded a little quicker. Still easily 2 to 3 times slower than all other Photsohop versions on my machine.

THIS IS NO FIX!

Who honestly wants to set a pretend ancient printer as their default one, JUST to get Photoshop CS3 to do what it's supposed to anyway? Adobe really needs to come up with a fix for this... as it stands, CS2 is far superior on my machine, and 5.2 works even FASTER (yes, I still use that version for some things, because it uses simpler methods for text and things).

I have played around with the 3d acceleration on and off, disk cache, swap disks, compatability mode... no matter what I try, the result is the same. The best CS3 can do is to load files 3 to 10 times slower than CS2.

Since Adobe seems to be dragging their feet on fixing what I consider to be a fatal issue... does anyone know of a better fix than pretending your "Generic Postscript Driver" printer is your real one? And then how to speed up CS3 to be on par with CS2?...

CS3 was supposed to be the only version Adobe will make to be "Vista compatable"... and so far... it's the only one I use that ISN'T. Thanks for any help out there....

[boblevine]

> I've seen as a fix for this, that you have to have all offline or network printers turned off.

That's not correct. You need a default printer that's local.

That said, I've got CS3 running on Vista 64 with the same processor and
it's plenty fast.

Why four gigs of RAM in on a 32 bit O/S? I know it's a long shot but try
pulling two out at a time and try again.

Bob

[home...@adobeforums.com]

First... on the question on RAM... Vista uses all it can get... 3.4GB is better than 2GB... I play games... 32 bit's better for that. :P

As to the printers, it IS a local printer, plugged right directly into the machine, that's just the problem. This still happens when this is active OR offline.

It's ONLY when I select the "Generic Postscript Driver" as the DEFAULT printer, does this effect noticeably lessen.... but even so, it doesn't go totally away, just improves some.

Even in this scenario, CS3 opens files and processes files much slower than CS2 or previous versions - by far.

And that "fix" aside... doesn't it just seem wrong that a printer should even effect Photoshop operation in ANY way? I mean, no previous version has this problem, now Adobe has us jumping through hoops to just get basic operation?

Thanks for the input... every little bit helps... any other wisdom? This is really frustrating......

[boblevine]

Yes, it seems wrong but other apps have the same issue...CorelDRAW comes
to mind. I still think you should try swapping the RAM, you know...just
to eliminate a bad chip.

Bob

[home...@adobeforums.com]

it's not the RAM... as I mentioned, all other Photoshops work just fine... so well in fact, i'm wondering why I'm spending so much time trying to get CS3 to work.

Also... I can now scratch off "Generic Postscript Driver" as a real fix too. I just tried this method again... now it DOESN'T have the same effect, even by making it the default. It's now slow no matter what.

Is there a chance that a program is conflicting? I really don't have much loaded on here... possibly mouse config software?

[Trez...@adobeforums.com]

Are you by any chance using a Logitech mouse? If so, check out its controls
and make certain "Disable acceleration in games" is NOT checked. The driver
in some cases mistakes Photoshop for a "game" and causes strange
interactions...

[home...@adobeforums.com]

@ Trez... as a matter of fact... I used to. The software was still installed (Setpoint). I wondered if this was part of it.

This will sound weird, but... I left it installed because, and I know this sounds crazy, I noticed it allowed me to use the mouse wheel to scroll up and down in Photoshop 5.2 (normally it does not). I still have to use this because a client uses old templates which have lots of text formatted HIS way... and he insists it not be changed to the new style.

So uninstalling should fix that particular issue. Thanks!

Maybe I'll luck out and it solves the entire issues I'm having... maybe.

[Trez...@adobeforums.com]

Let folks know if it helps. And before uninstalling, why not check to make
sure the "Disable..." box I mentioned is unticked (assuming it is in your
version of the mouse controls).

[Lawrenc...@adobeforums.com]

I've heard of "Slow as molasses in February", but Vista? :D

[home...@adobeforums.com]

haha... well, I guess that phrase is what pops into my mind every once in a while this time of year (NE U.S.A)

Update so far is this... It seems that uninstalling Setpoint may allow for the scrolling to work properly again, in CS3. At least it seems to.

The file opening issue seems to really be a confusing one - nowhwere near as straightforward as "select a local printer".

I've now found that selecting my "local" printer (Canon MP150) doesn't solve it. Nor does selecting "Generic Postscript", at least not anymore. However, I can select either "Fax" or "Microsoft XPS Document" (two defaults in Vista I guess)... and THAT makes CS3 acta bit more like CS2 and earlier do. Still not as fast, but closer.

This is still no fix, Adobe. We shouldn't need to have to do this. **shakes head**

Guess I'll still have to use older versions for a little while until it's resolved. Also will have to re-install setpoint so I can get my scrolling back in 5.2 (weird how only this mouse driver does that) :P

Thanks, all........

[mdmo...@adobeforums.com]

I'm curious. Are you seeing a lot of disk activity when you are starting Photoshop CS3 on your Vista machine? I noticed when I went into the Task Manager and turned on the column for I/O bytes read, photoshop is spending minutes after it's already loaded reading something off the drive. This causes major lag times in the program's response time.
I've also checked to ensure the local printer is selected by default.
I'm using Photoshop CS for now :(

[Paul_Jar...@adobeforums.com]

I was getting very very slow file loads. Changed my default printer to a local printer and the problem went away... It still doesn't feel as fast as PS2 on XP, but at least the file loads are decent now.

Paul

[Dri...@adobeforums.com]

I know it's been a while now, but I've tried photoshop CS3 again in vista x64 and it seems to work fine now.. Brobably due to some vista update or something.. don't really know why, but it just works now. all for the better.
So for those still having problems, I suggest you make sure you have all updates on your PC.

[Chris...@adobeforums.com]

I know this is a little late, but the Setpoint thing worked for me.. Actually I changed two settings in the setpoint software. My game detection was off, so I turned it on and applied the settings, then turned it off and applied the settings. I also changed the 'Speed and Acceleration' option to 'OS implementation'.

Now it works great. My Photoshop CS3 was VERY slow at updating the screen and you would see it redrawing the rulers very slowly when zooming or applying an effect. Now all is back to normal!

[Chris...@adobeforums.com]

But wait!!! There's more... I actually had to exit the Setpoint software as it reoccured. Also, with my network printer switched on Photoshop slowed done now also. This is probably fixed by reinstalling photoshop, but you shouldn't have to do this, not when the software is so expensive.

[Chri...@adobeforums.com]

Chris - the network printer issue sounds like a problem with the printer driver. Set your default printer to something local (attached, or a PDF printer) so it won't take so long.