Photoshop CS4 missing tools

[kaoha]

On another help site (Adobe), a poster said he got help for same problem from a saviour at SpywareHammer:

The tool box window in Photoshop CS4 is missing tools - the only tools visible are the Pen, lasso and text tools. The other boxes are blank (see attached screen capture). On mouseover the empty boxes turn brighter white but the tools do not appear. The pull down menu for key-savers also lacks the tools that are missing in the tool box.

Details: I am running Vista with 3 Gigs of memory at 2 Ghz; all other apps in the CS4 suite work without a problem. CS2 works fine.

What I have done to date: I have uninstalled and reinstalled the entire suite several times; uninstalled Nero; installed another copy of the suite; installed, uninstalled and reinstalled a stand-alone version of PS CS4. Nothing so far has solved the problem.

II am not a new comer to computers but this problem has my frustration level up to a new high.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

Joe

[Mister2]

Hi kaoha, and Welcome to SpywareHammer ;D

I have never seen this unusual (not to say annoying) effect in any version of Photoshop I've used, so I'm shooting in the dark here.

First, I suggest you install the latest CS4 update if you haven't already.  Also, check you have at least 512MB memory and the latest drivers for your graphics card.

Click the double arrow at the top of your Toolbox to revert to the default single column view.  Now go to Window and uncheck Tools to hide the Toolbox.  Next, go to Edit, Preferences, Performance and make sure 'Enable OpenGL Drawing' is unchecked.  Finally, go to Windows, Workspace and select 'Essentials (default)' or, if that is already checked, select 'Basic'.  (Silly as it may sound, there are things in Windows and, I suspect, Windows applications that don't 'take' until they have been toggled off and on).

Now close PS and re-open it.  Go to Window, check Tools again and let me know if the Toolbox is behaving itself.

[kaoha]

Mister2,

Thanks for taking your time to help. I followed your direction but no luck.

A couple of things I forgot mention in my original message: PS CS4 worked when I first installed it and I updated the Nvidia driver a week ago as a response to this problem. I have 3 gigs of memory.

The 'Enable OpenGL Drawing' checkbox was not available to check - it was unchecked.

Again, thanks and I hope you have more suggestions.

- Joe

[Mister2]

Curiouser and curiouser.
Have you installed any other software since it was working?

Try this:
Download Process Explorer .  Boot into normal mode, open Photoshop and run the downloaded file (named procexp.exe), go to File, Save As and save to your Desktop with the default name (procexp.txt).  Attach that file to your next post.

I will see if there is anything running that may interfere with the PS loading process - I think that may be where the problem lies.

[kaoha]

Mister2 -

Attached is the text file from Process Explorer.

Thanks again.

- Joe

[Mister2]

Thanks for that log.

A couple (or three) questions:
1 - What version of Photoshop is reported in Help, About Photoshop?
2 - Did the update throw up any errors?
3 - What graphics card are you running?

I will get back as soon as I've researched a few things in that log.

[Mister2]

While I'm doing that, please try the following:

Download CKScanner from here

Important : Save it to your desktop.

• Doubleclick CKScanner.exe and click Search For Files.
  
• After a very short time, when the cursor hourglass disappears, click Save List To File.
  
• A message box will verify that the file is saved.
• Double-click the CKFiles.txt icon on your desktop and copy/paste the contents in your next reply.

[kaoha]

Mister 2 -

What is discomforting about the list on the attached ckfiles.txt is that they are almost all apps I've received from friends or from the IT managers at the offices of companies I work with. And, yesterday, after downloading the newest upgrades from Adobe, I  ended up with a corrupted ip system file. I fixed it easily but it is seems coincidental.

Thanks again.

Joe

[Mister2]

Hi kaoha,

An inability to update a piece of software is a classic sign it is hacked/cracked, so it may not be a coincidence at all.
The case isn't helped by the fact that you have a torrent client running on your system.  This is one of the easiest ways to end up with illegal files and malware.

Some of the programs in that log are definitely cracked, others most likely are.
It would appear that your 'friends' may have lumbered you with up to $2500 worth of illegal software.

SpywareHammer staff cannot be a party to assisting with illegal software and so I am closing this thread.