PicasaStarter says it is already running, won't open database

[Huck Rorick]

I am repeatedly getting this error message:  “Picasa 3 is presently running on this computer” (see screenshot below)

 (PicasaStarer01.jpg)

 

It is not running.  I click OK and it goes back to the PicasaStarter window and doesn’t open the database.

I restarted my computer.  Then restarted PicasaStarter.  I got a message saying, “PicasaStarter may have ended unexpectedly and change the Picasa database location.  Do you want to restore the original default of: P\PicasaData\ Directory”

 

See screenshot below

(PicasaStarter02.jpg)

I said Yes.  Then I got another message (see screenshot below)

(PicasaStarter03.jpg) 

I answered “Yes”.

I then got the same error message I started with, “Picasa 3 is presently running on this computer”

 

At some point in the beginning of this process, Norton Antivirus said it deleted a file it thought was a threat.  The file name was long without an extension.  Unfortunately I didn’t copy it.  I am wondering if this is part of the problem?

 

Can anyone help me with this?

[earlboss]

Hi Huck:

It sounds like Picasa starter & Picasa stopped unexpectedly.

You should be able to clear the flag file that tells Picasa the database is open:

Try this:

Exit Picasa and PicasaStarter.

Go to the Database folder (It looks like yours is P:\PicasaData\).

Look for a file in that folder called "Picasarunning.txt" and if it is there, delete it.

PicasaStarter and Picasa should now run normally.

There are a couple more things that could happen, so let me know if this doesn't fix it.

Earl

[earlboss]

BTW Huck:

Did you answer Yes to the to the Message in the 3rd screenshot above?

If so, it should have cleared the flag file I just talked about.

Earl

[Huck Rorick]

There was no PicasaRunning.txt file on the P: drive (where my database is) or on the C: drive.  I did answer Yes to the question in image 3.

 

Attached is what I see in FileExplorer for the directory P:PicasaData where the database should be.  I don’t see any database there. ??????

 

I tried running PicasaStarter just now.  The message from Norton came up again.  Here is a screenshot (PicasaStarter05.jpg)

It says it has removed a file.  This is what it said before. 

Do you have any idea what this is?  Did it mess up my database?

 

And now, if I click “Run Picasa!” again, it gives the message:  “Picasa 3 is presently running on this computer”

When I check P again, the PicasaRunning.txt file, is there.

Looks like my database is GONE.

 

Help!!!

[Huck Rorick]

Now, I just exited from PicasaStarter (and a few other programs), and suddenly Picasa3 has come up.  It seems to have my Albums, People, etc. 

Where did it come from?  I didn’t start it.  I tried to start it from PicasaStarter, but nothing came up.  When I exited PicasaStarter, Picasa3 came up after a bit.  ????

 

Where is it stored?

How can I find out where it is?

I’m afraid to exit, for fear it will all disappear.

 

Any help?

[earlboss]

Hi Huck:

It sounds like maybe Picasa had tried to start, then crashed making it look like it was running to the computer. Have you tried turning off your computer and rebooting? (I imagine you have)

Uhhh... The message from Norton is worrying, maybe you recently imported of downloaded a photo that had a virus attached>  I would run a scan just to be sure. If you have recently added any photos you might want to look at them with a Photo Viewer to see if they are really photos.

Your Database folder should contain a subfolder called Google, and in the Google subfolder should be 2 more subfolders called Picasa2  and Picasa2Albums.  Inside the Picasa2 folder should be the database and supporting files.  The database is actually in the Db3  subfolder.

Do you ever use Picasa by itself without PicasaStarter?  Used this way it should show you the photos you have in the My Pictures folder, and everything should be exactly the same as if you ran it from PicasaStarter and selected the "Personal Database".  If it doesn't do that, Picasa's default database setting may not be correct.

What version of Windows do you have?

Earl

[Huck Rorick]

I was relieved to see that the database is there.  I just wasn’t looking in the right place.

I found it where you said it would be at P:\PicasaData\Google\Picasa2\db3

It is about 4 GB with 120 files.

I deleted the PicasaRunning.txt

Then restarted my computer.

Now things are working again.

I’m not so concerned about the Norton message because it deleted the suspicious item.  I was concerned that it deleted something important for PicasaStarter because it didn’t recognize it.

But, for whatever reason, PicasaStarter and Picasa3 are working again.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Huck

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