Organiser not loading

[Bayla]

This started happening last week. The Organiser starts to load and then I get an error message 'Out of Memory' When I click OK the Organiser closes down. I can load and use the editor no problem albeit a bit on the slow side. What does 'Out of Memory' mean? I have about 25% free space on the C: drive. Is it referring to RAM? I only have 512 mb of RAM. If it's a RAM problem how easy is it to fit it myself?

All suggestions/help gratefully received.

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Hi Bayla,

Well 512 Mb isn't very much RAM, and your performance will almost certainly benefit substantially from adding more.

Having said that, I wouldn't expect that to be responsible for stopping Organiser loading when it was loading before. Have you installed anything else on your PC, or are you running something else at the same time which you weren't previously?

If not, can you start Organiser while recovering your catalog? Hold down the CTRL key while starting Organiser and it should run a catalog recovery before starting up. That might fix it if it's a problem with your catalog.

Nick

[Bayla]

Nick,

Thanks for replying. I tried your suggestion of holding down Ctrl, but just got the same 'Out of Memory' error message. Wasn't able to download photos from my card through the Adobe Photo Downloader either - same response. Also tried holding down Alt as I tried to open the Organiser & I was able to open my other catalog(ue) (I have a second one titled PSE learning which just contains images that go with various courses I've taken) but not the main one.:(

I haven't added anything to my computer recently. I've tried making sure that nothing else is running at the same time but it makes no difference. Any other suggestions?

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Bayla,

When you held down "CTRL", did the error message come up before or after the dialog box that asks if you want to attempt to compact and recover the catalog?

It looks as though there's a problem with your catalog , since PSE will open another one, but if the error came up before it even tried, then that might not be the case.

Have you got a backup?

Nick

[Bayla]

Nick,

The error message came up after. It went through all the motions of doing a compact/recovery, hung for a bit and then up popped the error message.

I've never backed up the Organiser, just backed up my photos to CDs/external HD.

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Bayla,

I'm afraid that's bad news. I'm pretty sure something's happened to corrupt your catalog - which is why PSE will open up with another one, but not your main one. And why the error message appears once the compact/recovery process starts.

In the absence of a backup, all that you can do is reimport your pictures, but you'll lose all the tags, collections, creations, etc, with the exceptions of those tags that have been written out to files. Unless you have deliberately written tags to files, then they'll only have been written out to files if you've edited them after doing the tagging. And they won't have gone to RAW files at all.

I can't rule out some other cause, but that's what it looks like to me.:(

Nick

[kimi_boo]

Bayla... I got the same message. I had to increase my ram and it fixed everything. :) I also got an External Drive and moved my images to it. That freeded up my disk space. I was down to 13% and my machine was moving like a snail. :o

[kimi_boo]

Try here: http://www.crucial.com/

It will help with the ram issue. I changed mine myself. It was not hard. :)

[Bayla]

Nick,

:(:(:(:(.

But on the bright side of things, at least I haven't lost my pictures which is what happened to my poor sister & nephews! They're all still there on the HD and backed up on DVD.

But how do I reimport my pictures? Do I have to uninstall/reinstall PSE?

Bayla

[Bayla]

Kimi,

Saw your post after I answered Nick. I've just transferred stuff to an external HD and whilst it's freed up the internal ones so that I've between 20-30% free on each one, it's still running at snail's pace. Maybe I'll try that first as I really should increase the RAM. I've been wanting to do that for ages anyway. I already went to that link and apparently I have two slots each with 256mb in and no extra slots. It recommends replacing with two 1gb units. Is it simply a question of unscrewing the back, taking out the old RAM & putting in the new? I've never tinkered with anything at the back of the CPU before & I'm quite nervous!!

Bayla

[kimi_boo]

Bayla... it really is that easy. They just pop out and your pop the new ones in. :D

I have two slots also and you have to put equal amount is each slot. I added 1 gig in each of my slot which bumped me up to 2. Now I am in fine shape.

I would try that before you start messing with your pictures.

On another note. I also got that message after I had worked on a poster. It was huge. I opened my files and deleted it and the Organizer opened up after that. Was your last save a rather large PDS file? It could be getting hung up trying to open it. I have stooped saving large PDS files into the organizer.

[Bayla]

Kimi,

Now you come to mention it, the last few things I did save were three rather large layered scrapbook pages......I'm not sure really why I bother saving the files as PSDs once I'm happy enough with them to print off.....

I think I'm going to order that extra RAM....I'm trusting on your recommendation Nick:)....watch this space....I'll scream if I need help!

Bayla

[NickLewis]

I didn't give you a recommendation!! :confused: -- but if I had it would have been to go to the same site as Kimi quoted and run the system scanner! :)

Changing memory is easy enough, as long as you're happy to lift the lid. Crucial send a little leaflet on how to do it with each order.

Good luck - and I hope it fixes it!

Nick

[kimi_boo]

Kimi,

Now you come to mention it, the last few things I did save were three rather large layered scrapbook pages......I'm not sure really why I bother saving the files as PSDs once I'm happy enough with them to print off.....

Bayla

Bayla, try deleting them and see if that helps you over the hump. ;)

[Bayla]

Nick,

I already read your recommendation in THIS POST (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showpost.php?p=300850&postcount=5) on another thread about RAM!!

Well. I've ordered the RAM through Crucial. Took the back (actually it's the side on my CPU) off to have a look .........not sure yet what is supposed to come out and be replaced, hopefully all will become crystal clear once the new memory arrives!!

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Ah - I wondered if that might be it!

When your memory arrives it'll be obvious which bits are involved. There nothing else in a PC that the same size and shape as the memory cards.

They will be mounted in slots/sockets, with a clip arrangement at each end. It really isn't very difficult - often getting at the sockets is the worst part!

Any problems, shout!

Nick

[Bayla]

New RAM modules arrived......wrong ones sent - I shouldn't have trusted the online scanner from Crucial.com!!

Second lot of RAM arrived, right one for my computer this time. Had a bit of difficulty locating where they were supposed to go as the slots are buried under a load of wires and other things. Managed to get the old modules out. Then the fun started, I had problems fitting the new ones in. It was like trying to push two metal edged six inch rulers down, and I could only see what I was doing on one side. I have quite large hands and fingers and found the going tough. Finally got the first one in. The second one was further back and as I was pushing down (the instructions said it might need between 20 & 30 lbs of pressure:eek:) my thumb slipped and I broke off one of the retaining clips which is attached to the mainboard:eek:

So I've now got 1gb in my computer, but the second module isn't being recognised cos it won't clip in properly....and I'm not sure if the onsite maintenance warranty includes damage done by the consumer whilst upgrading the RAM!!

Anyway, the company I bought the computer from is going to try and sort me out one way or another next week.....

I'm really cross with myself because I was so impatient to do it and I was tired and it was hot and very humid and my hands were sticky.....I should have waited until the morning!

But it looks like you were right Nick - having 1gb of RAM however has made no difference to my Organiser problem.....so I'm back to square one. Would appreciate help getting that sorted out. I have all my photos backed up to the external HD & CDs/DVDs - if I have to retag everything it won't be the end of the world, just completely in the dark as to how to reimport the pictures to the Organiser!

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Hi Bayla,

Oh, my goodness - what a sorry tale! :eek: You've the dubious distinction of two firsts - I've never known known the Crucial scanner report wrong information, and never known anyone break the clips!! Although, I must admit I've had my heart in my mouth sometimes when I've encountered a card that really does want pressure applied to seat properly. And I sympathise with the access problem. Some PC cases are the very devil to work inside. I deliberately built my current PC inside a big case, so there was room for my big mitts!

As far as loading photos into a new catalogue is concerned, you use the File>Get Photos>From Files and Folders menu option. Just browse to where your photo files are on your hard disk, and select them for import. You can do whole folders at a time. They will import into your new catalogue in the same way they did into the old one.

If any of your photos have tags written to them, then a dialogue box will open up asking if you want to import the tags as well, and asking how youwant to match them up with your tag structure (this is really for photos that may have come from another source)

I would suggest importing batches of photos rather than the whole lot at once. Depending how your photos are organised on your disk that may make your re-tagging exercise easier, and it will also minimise the risk of PSE hanging up because you're trying to do to much at once. I have seen some people report that happening when they've tried to import batches of thousands of photos. But it hasn't happened to others.

Any queries, post back - and I hope your company can help with the socket.

Nick

[Bayla]

Nick,

How do I actually create a new catalogue to import my pictures into? I've only ever created a new catalogue from within the Organiser which I can't access.

Bayla

EDIT: Scrap that question - I'd forgotten that I could access my Learning PSE Catalog & create a new one from there. I've named it My New Catalog.psa. I'm slowly adding my photos and doing a bit of pruning and tidying up at the same time. Once I've imported everything can I then delete the old My Catalog.psa?

[NickLewis]

Bayla,

Yes, the only reason for keeping your old catalogue would be in case one day we work out how to open it.......

But in reality once you've got a new, pruned and tidied catalogue, you'll be working with that, so the old one wouldn't have much value anyway.

For future reference, you can set up a new catalogue even if you can't open an existing one. Hold down the Shift key while starting Organiser, and the Open Catalog dialogue appears. Click on Cancel, and a box opens up that gives you the chance to create a new catalogue.

Are you getting any of your tagging back?

Also, can I suggest that you back up your new catalogue once it's done?

Nick

[Bayla]

Nick,

Thanks. Yep, all my tags are there! That was a relief! I'm going very slowly, a folder at a time, moved about 1000 pictures so far....

I'll definitely be backing up the catalogue once i've got it all set up!

Thanks again for your yime & advice.

Bayla

[NickLewis]

Bayla,

That's good news!

Once you've finished, you might want to do a search for Untagged Items (In the Find menu).

The reason is that, as far as I can see, PSE adds tags to image files only when they are opened for editing after tagging (unless you deliberately write the tags out). So if you have tagged anything, but not subsequently opened it in Editor, the tag won't have been written.

It's a bit tricky to pick that up on an image which may already have other tags, but you can look for any which have no tags at all.

Nick