Thumbnail cache initialization failed

[dtngn]

Hi all.

I have just installed Photoshop Elements 5. When I launch Organizer, it say: "Thumbnail cache initialization failed". Then an Open Catalog dialog appears asking for selecting catalog file. I selected "My Catalog.psa" file but the same error displayed.
If I click Cancel, it asks for whether selecting an existing catalog or creating a new one. In either case, the above error still displayed.
In the log file (C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Organizer\Log.txt), the following error is showed:

12125 (+2031) Thumbnail cache init failure: other exception - GetLastError=1008 filePath=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders\My Catalog\thumb.5.cache - returning eThumbailCacheInitializationFailed

Does anyone know how to solve this problem. This is the first time I install Photoshop Elements.

Thanks
dtngn

[Wendy]

Hi dtngn ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Being a Mac user I can't help on this one but hopefully one of the Windows users will be along soon and will be able to help you with it ...

Wendy

[dtngn]

Thanks Wendy for replying.
Can anyone give me a help.
For more information: I have installed Photoshop Elements on Windows XP SP2 and Photoshop Elements Editor works fine.

Best regards,
dtngn

[Wendy]

Hi dtngn ...

Its pretty quiet on the forum at this time of the day ... there is usually only people from the UK, Australia etc online.

Hopefully once folks from the USA are around you will get more replies :)

Wendy

[graficalicus]

two possibilities -

Hold <Shift> when launching to force a rebuild.
Shut down Elements & the Organizer. Find the thumb.5.cache file that's locking you up (probably in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders\<your catalog's name> ) - rename it *thumb.5.cache and restart. The cache should rebuild itself automatically.
-

[dtngn]

Hi!

I have done as you said to force rebuilding the catalog, but the problem remains: "Thumbnail cache initialization failed."

Regards,
dtngn

[dtngn]

Sorry, I forgot one thing: I didn't found the thumb.5.cache file in the catalog folder.

Regards,
dtngn

[southernkiwi]

I am having the exact same problem so am interested to know what the solution might be. Uninstalling, deleting all remaining Adobe Elements folders, then reinstalling doesn't work

[graficalicus]

Start>Search, then choose "All Files & Folders"

Search for thumb.5.cache (If nothing turns up, search for *.cache) - It is a hidden file, so in your search parameters, under Advanced, tell it to search for hidden files & directories. When found, rename it ~thumb.5.cache

(you will find the thumb cache files here - I promise:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders - several folders here, probably, like "My Catalog-1", "My Catalog-2", etc.

These are HIDDEN FOLDERS - if you copy & paste the address above into your IE browser address bar, it will open it for you - otherwise, change your viewing options to Show Hidden Files & Folders)

Delete or rename the files as mentioned - there will probably be one in each of the catalog folders there. You'll also find tn.5.cache - rename or delete these, too.

Restart Elements and the cache will rebuild itself.

[dtngn]

Hi!

I found only one sub-folder named "My Catalog" under "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders". And, there is no file in that folder, even hidden files.

Regards,
dtngn

[Mr.Steve]

I too get the "Thumbnail cache initialization failed" when I try to create a catalog on a network drive: Thumbnail cache init failure: other exception - GetLastError=1008 filePath=\\Speedo\pictures\Catalog Folders\2006b\thumb.5.cache - returning eThumbailCacheInitializationFailed. I also tried mapping a drive letter with the same result.

The generated thumb.5.cache file is 0 bytes.

I'd like to store the catalog on the network drive so I can get to it from 2 computers but have the cache files be local. I'm guessing that is not possible.

Steve

[Ward Grant]

Hi!

I found only one sub-folder named "My Catalog" under "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders". And, there is no file in that folder, even hidden files.

Regards,
dtngn

If you can not find this folder, you can re-create it by opening Organizer and clicking Edit>Select All then Edit>Update Thumbnails of Selected Files. I would do this when you have some free time as it may take awhile for this to rebuild.

I'd re-search for the file again-if you are seeing thumbnails, there has to be a thumbnail file somewhere on your disk.

If this does not solve the problem, please post back and we'll continue to find a solution.

[Ward Grant]

...I'd like to store the catalog on the network drive so I can get to it from 2 computers but have the cache files be local. I'm guessing that is not possible.

Steve

Hello Steve,

Sharing a catalog across two computers is possible, but you have to do some two-stepping to get there. The photos and the catalog have to be on the same node on your network and have to reference the node as the same drive letter.

The hiccup is only one user at a time can access the catalog.

If you want more details, either post back or click my name and send me a message. It is very straightforward and fairly easy to set up.

[southernkiwi]

If you can not find this folder, you can re-create it by opening Organizer and clicking Edit>Select All then Edit>Update Thumbnails of Selected Files. I would do this when you have some free time as it may take awhile for this to rebuild.

I'd re-search for the file again-if you are seeing thumbnails, there has to be a thumbnail file somewhere on your disk.

If this does not solve the problem, please post back and we'll continue to find a solution.


Having the same problem, including finding no cache files, this solution won't work as Organizer won't even open at all to even try this. No thumbnails are seen to begin with.

[Ward Grant]

Having the same problem, including finding no cache files, this solution won't work as Organizer won't even open at all to even try this. No thumbnails are seen to begin with.

Thanks for the follow up
Okay, let's see if we can force a new catalog build.
Hold down the control key while opening Organizer (I believe an earlier post said Shift). See if you get a pop up asking about resetting settings or such. Answer yes.

If this does not work (assumes you are installing Elements for 1st time and do not have an existing catalog to convert)
Close Organizer
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog and find the My Catalog.PSA file. Move this to a temp location (say C:\Temp).
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Catalog Folders and move My Catalog folder to the same temp location.
This should break any link Organizer has to these files.
Open Organizer and you should get a pop up saying something like Catalog Not Found-do you want to create a new one. Answer yes and see if you can create a new one.

[southernkiwi]

Have already tried that a few times without success. Trying to create a new catalog gives the exact same error message

[Ward Grant]

Have already tried that a few times without success. Trying to create a new catalog gives the exact same error message

Just to be clear when you say "already tried that". Do you mean moving the Catalog and Catalog Folders or holding down the Control key while launching?
If you've moved the folders and still getting this message, we may have to call in the big guns.

[southernkiwi]

Just to be clear when you say "already tried that". Do you mean moving the Catalog and Catalog Folders or holding down the Control key while launching?
If you've moved the folders and still getting this message, we may have to call in the big guns.

I have tried both holding down the control key while launching and moving the Catalog and Catalog Folders.

[Ward Grant]

I have tried both holding down the control key while launching and moving the Catalog and Catalog Folders.

Southernkiwi
Thanks for posting back-at this point I am open for suggestions from other forum members. Perhaps a uninstall/reinstall (be sure anti virus software is turned off). This will not delete any catalogs so any work done so far should still be available to your afterwards.

[southernkiwi]

Southernkiwi
Thanks for posting back-at this point I am open for suggestions from other forum members. Perhaps a uninstall/reinstall (be sure anti virus software is turned off). This will not delete any catalogs so any work done so far should still be available to your afterwards.

I have already tried the uninstall/reinstall option (deleting all folders associated with Elements before reinstall) and turning antivirus software off.

[Ward Grant]

I have already tried the uninstall/reinstall option (deleting all folders associated with Elements before reinstall) and turning antivirus software off.

Southernkiwi

I'm really puzzled, but not ready to give up yet.
Are in installing V5 for the first time or did you upgrade from a previous version?
Will you do a Search for *.PSA (be sure Show Hidden Files is turned on under More Advanced Options) and let's see if we even have an Organizer file to begin with.
This is a standard install-no networking or esoteric configurations, right?

I'll be off line until the middle of next week, but I'll check back then.
Hope you have a great holiday.

Ward

[southernkiwi]

Southernkiwi

I'm really puzzled, but not ready to give up yet.
Are in installing V5 for the first time or did you upgrade from a previous version?
Will you do a Search for *.PSA (be sure Show Hidden Files is turned on under More Advanced Options) and let's see if we even have an Organizer file to begin with.
This is a standard install-no networking or esoteric configurations, right?

I'll be off line until the middle of next week, but I'll check back then.
Hope you have a great holiday.

Ward


Yes this is a standard install. Searching brings up one PSA file - My Catalog. I can delete it, along with catalog folders and try to open Organizer again but it fails as usual though does recreate the file in the process. This is a first install.

[Rod Shaw]

I too have just installed elements 5.0 and am getting this error when trying to view and organize photos, it won't let me in and I have also tried all the options outlined in this thread. I can't find the cache file mentioned either, the only one I have relating to Elements is WatchFolder.3.Cache.

Rod

[Rod Shaw]

I don't know whether this is related to the "thumbnail cache..." problem, but when using the Editor application, if I try to use the Create drop-down to create a photolayout, album pages etc, I get this error:

"Could not complete your request because of a program error".

Any help on this and, more importantly, the thumbnail cache error would be greatly appreciated.

I'm finding it hard to believe that such a well-known product is misbehaving in this basic way.

Thanks

Rod

[NickLewis]

This is a bit of a long shot, but this problem has the feel of something external to Elements preventing it from creating its cache. A few thoughts:

It isn't some sort of file access permissions problem is it?

Are you logged in on the same user account that installed the software?

You haven't got any protective software running (e.g. an antivirus solution) that may be interfering with file creation, have you?

And the really silly one - there is disk space available, isn't there? Disk is defragmented, etc etc?

Nick

[Rod Shaw]

I have just installed Elements 5 onto a second PC (a laptop) and I get exactly the same "Thumbnail cache initialization failed" error when trying to view and organize photos, as well as the other program errors mentioned in my second posting.

This is extremely frustrating as it makes much of the application unusable.

I may be jumping the gun but I do not think it's related to specific exceptional PC configurations, I suspect it's a pretty fundamental error that a lot of people are going to get.

I don't suppose I'm going to be able to return the product to Amazon as it's obviously not in its original shrink-wrapped state. What is the best way for a humble one-off non-corporate customer like myself to bring it to Adobe's attention and raise its profile? Their website looks very off-putting as regards problem resolution.

I think they need to issue a bug fix asap. Of course, I'd be delighted to be proved wrong by someone posting a solution.

Rod

[NickLewis]

Well, I doubt that it's a fundamental flaw as such, simply because there are loads of people, myself included, who are running the software perfectly successfully. And it's been out in the field now for about three months, which is plenty of time to flush out a basic issue, even if it missed testing.

The fact that the problem is replicated on your laptop could be either because a problematic configuration or conflict is replicated there, e.g. if you've perhaps installed the same software on both machines, or, of course, that you've got an installation disc that is faulty in some way.

I'm sure Amazon have some way of swapping out faulty product, which wouldn't be affected by the shrinkwrap issue. That should eliminate the faulty disc possibility.

I know what you mean about Adobe's site, but it does get responded to. It's probably worth a post into the Elements User to User forum: http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.eeb4f8b/

I can't find any existing posts refering to thumbnail initialisation problems, I'm afraid. (Which, unfortunately, is also indicative that it's not a widespread issue. Not that that helps you. :( )

This document:
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/333200.html is a systematic walkthrough of how to resolve program errors etc, that I'd suggest going through.

All I can think of, sorry.....

Nick

[Rod Shaw]

Thanks for the links Nick, I'll give them a try.

I understand what you say about successful users, but I'm not the only one having problems and I think it odd that the problems occur on two totally different types of PC with different s/w configurations on them. There is plenty disk space and memory on both.

I've tried installing/uninstalling without any resident antivirus or spyware programs and still get the problem.

I'm inclined to think it could be a faulty CD.

Rod

[Rod Shaw]

I am now in dialogue with Adobe UK about this problem. They have emailed me a list of things to try and I'm wading through it, though none has worked so far. I'll post any solution I find.

If anyone is interested, their UK customer support number is 020 7365 0733, you have to quote your licence number if you haven't been in contact before.

Rod

[southernkiwi]

I don't think it is a faulty disc problem as I have installed the program on my desktop and laptop and only have the problem on my desktop. Everything works fine on my laptop.

I tried running the Organizer after "clean booting" the computer with no startup services or programs loaded to see if any background task was interfering with things but had the same error message

[Ward Grant]

Forum user Barb Olson has pointed out some known problems with permissions changing on V5 installs. Perhaps this might be part of the problem.

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/11333434.html

[NickLewis]

I don't think it is a faulty disc problem as I have installed the program on my desktop and laptop and only have the problem on my desktop. Everything works fine on my laptop.

I tried running the Organizer after "clean booting" the computer with no startup services or programs loaded to see if any background task was interfering with things but had the same error messageThis sounds more and more like a configuration/permissions issue to me.

Are you running the same version of XP on the two machines (i.e. Home or Professional)? Have they got similar software builds, sets of user accounts etc?

Nick

[Rod Shaw]

Yes, the two PCs have similar configs and I've tried the permissions stuff as suggested by Adobe (thought to do the security stuff I have to boot in safe mode because I have home edition).

Can I just verify that people are running Elements 5 successfully on XP Home Edition? I'm about to give up and return it to the supplier.

Thanks

Rod

[graficalicus]

confirmed.

[NickLewis]

Yes, the two PCs have similar configs and I've tried the permissions stuff as suggested by Adobe (thought to do the security stuff I have to boot in safe mode because I have home edition).

Can I just verify that people are running Elements 5 successfully on XP Home Edition? I'm about to give up and return it to the supplier.

Thanks

RodRod,

Just for clarity - my question about similar configurations was directed at southernkiwi, who has been able to get PSE5 to run successfully on a laptop but not on a desktop. I was hoping that any differences between the two setups would have cast some light on why the problem is arising. And in the process hopefully illuminated your issue.

I'm using XP Home as well, by the way.

Nick

[southernkiwi]

My laptop has XP Pro and the Desktop is newer with Windows Media Center Edition. Other than that, they have similar configurations (only 1 user account) and software installed.