HELP--replace color window error

[meg a.]

I'm having a problem with the replace color window in Photoshop Elements 3. When I open the window it opens so large that I can't see or reach the blue bar on top and I can't get down to the last slider. It's so frustrating and when I called adobe they want to charge me $50 to tell me how to fix it! It worked on my old PE2 but never on this one. Anyone know how to re-size that window?
Thanks

[Jodi Frye]

they were going to charge you 50 bucks to tell you to set your monitor to display at least 1024 X 768

[meg a.]

Thanks for the hint. I tried that and although I can now see the bottom of the box, I still can't reach the top blue bar so I can't move it around at all. I changed my monitor settings to the highest resolution but no luck. Any other thoughts on how to change the size of the window?
Thanks

[MikeH]

Meg,

Two suggestions...

1. Try deleting the preferences file. To do this hold down the CTRL, ALT and SHIFT keys together (Mac Users Apple, Alt and Shift). Click on the Elements start up icon, keep holding these keys until a windows comes up asking if you want to delete Settings, select Yes.

2. Are you running a PC or MAC? If it's a PC, then go to your Desk Top and right click on the Elements icon. Select Properties from the menu and under the Shortcut tab, check what setting is under Run. Set it to Normal. Click Apply and then close the window.

After doing these restart Elements.

Mike

[Jodi Frye]

Thanks Mike..I didn't get back here soon enough...as usual.

[meg a.]

Thanks for the reply. I tried both things and no luck. Any other thoughts? You know what is strange is when I go to the higher resolution and can see the bottom of the box I still can't resize the box by putting the cursor in the corner. Do you know what I mean? Most dialog boxes give the ability to resize by putting the cursor in the corner. Yikes.
M

[MikeH]

Meg,

Are you running XP? If so, try number 2 again, but set it to "minimised" and see what happens then?

Mike

[MikeH]

Meg,

Sorry I have just read your opening post properly :oops: :oops: :oops:.

Apart from deleting the preferences file, the other things I suggested are for the main program window - not a menu window like Replace Color.

Sorry...

Mike

[MikeH]

Meg,

Can you see the top of the Window and the title bar, where it says "Replace Color"?

If you can, right click where it says "Replace Color" and select Move. Either using the mouse or the arrow keys, move the window into the screen.

Mike

[meg a.]

Mike,
O.k. I'm back--I tried the other things and then decided to re-start my computer. I can't see any portion of the top blue bar that reads "replace color". There isn't the tiniest little edge to grab with the mouse and drag the box. It does nothing if I right click. Like I said it openend this way from the start. Argh. By the way I am running XP.
M.

[MikeH]

Meg,

The only references I can find to this sort of problem with xp programs go into windows registry issues...

If setting your screen resolution to 1,024 x 968 and deleting the preferences didn't work, then the only thing I can suggest is to reinstall the software... make sure you disable anti virus and anti spyware software during installation.

Mike

[Mary]

Hi Meg - the Replace Color box is not an ordinary dialog box and there is no way to resize it. Is your Elements screen maximized?

When you look at your screen and see the title bar reading Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 ....... and look at the far right end of that bar - the 3 screen size indicators should be visible. Make sure that the box inbetween the - and the x is a double box. If it is a single box - click on it to maximize your screen.

If your screen resolution is set at 1024 X 768 and your program screen is maximized it should work.
Let us know. :)

[MikeH]

Mary,

I have tried various combinations of settings to recreate Meg's problem tonight, including PE3 being minimised, without success. :? :(

Windows like Replace Color should be fully visible regardless of whether PE3 is minimised or maximised.

I was banking on the screen resolution... :?

Mike

[Jodi Frye]

Mike, so was I . My replace color screen is actually kind of small...no way to lose it. I too went looking through all the settings and couldn't find anything that would help...found a chocolate chip cookie i lost last week tho. Ya think trying the reset palette locations would work ??

[MikeH]

Ya think trying the reset palette locations would work ??
Hmm.. it's worth a try...

found a chocolate chip cookie i lost last week tho. :lol:

Mike

[meg a.]

Hi guys, hope you're still there. I had to step away. My screen is maximized and I'm at 1024x768 resolution and no luck. I do notice one weird thing: When I click on the button so that the screen is not maximized (so the button between the - and the x only has one window) my window is larger than if it's maximized. I can move it around, but I can't get to all parts of it. Isn't that the opposite of how it's supposed to be? I tried accessing replace color when the screen wasn't maximized (but huge) but it wasn't any better. How do you resize a regular windows screen like that if you can't get to the bottom corner with the mouse?

Do you really think I should try to re-install? It's weird but on my PSE2 that I had/have on this computer the replace color screen is smaller, more like a box and on PSE3 its really really tall.
M.[/i]

[Mary]

This is one of the times that terminology really gets in the way :(

If you see one box between the - and the x your screen is not maximized. Click on the single box to maximize it and then you should see the two boxes.

When your screen is maximized you will not be able to move or size it from the corners.

With your screen maxed can you see even a sliver of the top of the Replace Color screen? If you slip your mouse up there you should be able to drag it down even if just a sliver is showing and your mouse is right on that sliver.

Let us know :?

[meg a.]

Mary,
Maybe I'm covering too many things at once. I'm pretty familiar with windows and I usually work with a maximized screen. In PSE3 I do have the window maximized (two boxes between the - and x) and can't see even the teeniest of the blue bar across the top of the "replace color" window. It opens with just a little space above the light bulb.

It was another thing that I noticed that when the screen is minimized (one box between the - and x) the pse3 window is larger than when it is maximized. I can move it around but not much because it's so big. Isn't that weird? Aaaaaahhhhhh it's so frustrating.

Meg

[MikeH]

Meg,

Something is obviously not right somewhere but I think we have tried all of the things we know about - oh did you try Jodi's suggestion to reset the palette locations?

As I said in one of my replies, I saw numerous posts on other forums about this problem in Windows (not with PE3) and many replies referred to a Windows registry error...

The only course of action I can suggest is to reinstall PE3...

Mike