Win 8.1, Plugins & PSP X7

[Leslie]

Hi, All

Hoping some one has an idea on fixing my problem.

I just got a computer that has win 8.1.
I am in the process of installing my plugins.

I have friends who have the same operating system, but who have no problems with particular plugins.

I am trying to install Eye Candy 3.1 (yes, I know it's old but I still use it) and when I hit the exe I get the message that I cannot install in on my computer. I don't even get the chance to try after I click the exe.

I have exempted X7 (X6, too) from the DEP, but it hasn't helped.

I am the administrator, and have picked that mode with which to attempt the install.

I have older plugins than that one that work fine.

Suggestions?

I don't know what else I can try.

[Ken Berry]

Which version of PSP X7 do you have -- the 32 bit or the 64 bit, or both? If you are trying to install the 32 bit Eye Candy into the 64 bit PSP, it simply won't work.

[Leslie]

Hi, Ken

I have both, but use the 32 bit.

The problem is that I cannot get past the screen that comes up to actually point it to a folder in which to install it.

I get that "Cannot install the app to this PC" and then I'm stuck.
It's a darn exe plugin, not an app. I have no idea how to bypass that screen.
I'm wondering if I have to change a setting or something.
Not the only plugin with which I am having issues.

I ran the compatibility utility, it said it was set, and to test the program. No go.

What else do you think I can try?

[Zantara]

I'm afraid that some plugins are too old to work with Windows 8.1
Eye Candy 3.1 is a very old plugin, written when Window XP was the hottest thing in town.

Often PSP is blamed for failing plugins, but it is Windows that is too advanced to handle old 32-bit plugins.

Also, plugins only work if you install the stand-alone 32-bit version of PSP, without the 64-bit version.
With the combination of 64/32-bit, plugins just don't work.

Last, but certainly not least, install Servicepack 1 for PSP X7.
With that installed you can exclude PSP X7 from the Windows DEP security.
Here's How:

Click the Start button and choose Computer | System Properties | Advanced System Settings
From the System Properties dialog, select Settings
Select the Data Execution Prevention tab
Select Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select
Click Add and use the browse feature to browse to the program executable you wish to exclude (for example, excel.exe or word.exe).

[Leslie]

Actually, all my old 32-bit plugins do fine.
I have had to use the FM Patcher quite a bit, but it's all good.

I ended up copying and pasting the old EC 3.1 install file to my C drive from my previous computer.
And, wow, it worked!
The problem I was having was that win 8.1 was not letting me run the exe to be able to install it, not that it was too old to work.
I couldn't install it to even see if it would work.

I only run PSP 32, as you are correct, the 64 bit isn't compatible with the a lot of the old plugins..

I have both updates installed in X7 as well, and did exempt it and X6 from DEP.

I sure do appreciate you taking the time to answer my problem.

I had 2 other older programs, not related to psp, that I also had to exempt from DEP.
8.1 is certainly interesting....sometimes not in the greatest way.

Looking forward to Win 10. Hopefully, PSP and plugins will work ok.

Thanks so much

[JoeB]

Similar to what Leslie said but a bit different:

First, you can install some older plugins into X7 32-bit even if you also have x7 64-bit installed - I have both.

However, some of the older plugins won't even install into X7 32-bit. But if you have an older PSP version that will accept those older plugs and that will install on a Windows 8.1 64 bit system (I have Jasc PSP 9 with all updates installed on such a system and it works fine), then install those old plugs (that won't install in X7 32-bit) into your old PSP version. Then, like Leslie did from her old computer, you can copy the installed plugin folder from the old PSP version that's on your existing computer and simply paste it into the plugins EN folder of your X7 32-bit. NOTE: I'm not saying this will work with ALL older plugs but it worked for me with the Flaming Pear plugins that I couldn't get to install in X7 32-bit.

Now for another tip: Some newer 32-bit or 32/64--bit plugins won't install in X7 32-bit but will install in Photoshop CS6 32-bit. Some simply can't work with X7, but others simply have an installer that can't recognize X7 but would install in X7 if the installer recognized it. In some cases the plugin installer will let you enter the path to X7 but they either still won't install there or the plugin won't work even if it shows up in your plugin menu.

The workaround is to install them in PS CS6 (or a late version of PS CS) 32-bit. If you don't have a late version of PS CS, you can get the trial version. As this will obviously expire you'll want to first have rounded up the plugs you have or plan to get that won't install on X7 32-bit so that you can use this trick before you CS6 trial expires.

NOTE: Doing this takes time and patience, but it's simple otherwise and depends on how important the plugs are for you.

Now install those newer 32-bit plus into CS6 (and also choose the path to X7 32-bit if the installer lets you). ALWAYS INSTALL AND TEST ONLY ONE PLUG AT A TIME! If you install a bunch and have issues with your host programs you won't know which plug caused the problem, and troubleshooting will take more time and frustration than doing one plug at a time!

Reboot then see if the plug (a) appears in X7's menu, and (b) see if it works. If it works, fine. If not but it appears in the menu, then delete that plugs folder from the X7 plugins folder. Then, in Preferences>File Locations, point X7 to the EXACT folder in the CS plugins folder in which the plugin resides (NOT just to the CS Plugins folder!). Then close programs and reboot again. If the plug appears in X7's menu AND works, you can try removing the path to CS and instead COPY the EXACT plugin folder from CS to your X7 plugin folder, reboot and try again. If the plug still works then great. If not, but works when pointed to the CS/specific plugin folder, then just point X7 back to that location.

Repeat for any such plugs that install in CS 32-bit but not X7 32-bit. Some will work, some might not. For me, the Alien Skin Eye Candy 7 and Exposure 7 plugs which wouldn't install or work in X7 32-bit work just fine after installing in CS6 Trial and then copying their folders from there to the Plugins>EN folder of X7 32-bit.

I suspect (but have not tried this although I do have X7 64-bit installed) that the same workaround might work for SOME 64-bit plugs that won't install in X7 64-bit but will install in CS6 64-bit. It's an installer/support problem from the plugin developers. I'm learning and playing on 32-bit X7 because of its use of more plugins than are available for 64-bit programs.

SECOND LAST POINT - About DLL files:

Some plugins, especially legacy ones, depend on specific DLL files in the Windows/System 32 folder. Many are installed in the latest OS's or may have been installed by various plugs/programs you have. The Plugin.DLL is Adobe's, but it usually installs with almost all their programs, even free ones like Reader (I think). One that is needed with some legacy plugs is Msvcrt10.dll. I believe there is a link to it (if you don't have it) at The Plugins Site.

AND (LAST POINT), in case I might get comments that this is an improper use of Adobe's programs: I would like to say that (a) everyone is entitled to use the trial CS programs for a limited time. Also, the plugins you install into those CS plugins folders are licensed to you by the plugin developer, not Adobe, so you are entitled to them, even if the installer is lame. It's just that those developers don't have to support the plugs in X7 if they don't want to. But you do have a right to use those files if you've paid for that use, without restriction as to your preferred graphic program, as long as you accept they might not support you with help, etc., if they don't support your preferred graphic program. You aren't taking any Adobe files by copying the specific plugin folder from an Adobe program, just files provided by the plugin developer that you purchased the license from.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

JoeB

[Leslie]

Wow, Joe, what great info.

I have X6 installed as well as X7, but can easily put the older ones on.
I had psp 7, 9, X2, X6 & X7 installed on my old computer.
At one time or another I used them all.

I'm hoping that my old computer will boot up into windows another time so that I can copy some of the installed files.

Hopefully, with an older version I can copy and paste into that as you have done and I can get some working.

Do you recommend putting the copies into the My PSP Plugins file, or directly into the psp program itself?

Oh, do you think it has to do with the operating system as well? All was good with Win 7.

I sure do thank you for the info and all the time you spent to post it.

I'll report back in a few days and let you know what happened.

Thanks again!
Leslie

[JoeB]

I'm a firm believer that the operating system used is always a factor, along with the versions of programs and plugins used of course.

When you say "copy the installed files" from your old computer, I'm a bit fuzzy about what you mean. If you mean "copy the plugin folder of the installed plugin" from your old computer, I'm not sure that will work but you could give it a try. But I suspect that the plugins would have to be freshly installed on your new computer.

What you CAN'T do is copy the installed files of your older versions of PSP. You have to have the installation files on your new computer for the older version of PSP to install it on your new computer, so if you have those installation files saved on your old computer or on disc you can place them in your new computer and then install the PSP program from them. All PSP program version (including Jasc, like PSP9, and Corel) exist comfortably side by side.

So first install your older PSP on your new computer. Then take your old install files of our plugins, put them into separate folders on your new computer (e.g, a folder named LEGACY PLUGINS TO TEST, or something like that), and then try installing those plugs individually into your older 32-bit PSP version (if they won't install in your latest 32-bit Corel PSP version). Then make sure they work in your older version of PSP and, if so, follow the instructions from my first post.

I presently have those plugin folders that I COPIED directly in the X7 Plugins/EN folder, but you could just as easily have them in MY PSP Plugins folder as long as you point the File Locations to that folder. If they work in the programs plugin folder then they should work in any folder you point your plugins file locations to.

As I said, not all plugs will still work with this workaround but some good ones seem to for me. And for older ones make sure to get the Mscvrt10.dll just to be safe, not to mention having the plugin.dll in your Windows/Sste32 folder.

Let me know if you have further questions, and I look forward to hearing if any of this worked for you. I, for one, was surprised that the Alien Skin 7 plugins worked in X7 after I installed them in the trial of PS CS6 and then copied their folders into the X7 plugins folder (because Alien Skin says they no longer support PSP), but it just goes to show that the plugins do work with X7 but that the plugin developer doesn't want to support them in programs other than Adobe and therefore won't create an installer to recognize other graphic programs. JMHO

Regards,

JoeB

[Leslie]

I surely will let you know.

I did have the EC 7 installed on my Win 7 in X7, and it worked fine.
I loved using it, but it was way too expensive to buy it.
Did you see that Alien Skin is offering dowloads of some of their older programs? EC 6, for one. I thought they were doing it for free, but it popped up that one needs a license from an old product. They are not selling the verions anymore.

https://support.alienskin.com/hc/en-us/ ... installers

Yes, I have all my cd's of the old psp programs. I have never been fond of downloading psp programs . I always want the hard copy. And there is a site that keeps the old updates & patches for download.

Copying my EC 3.1 installed folder from my old computer into X7 onto the new 'puter worked when that exe wouldn't run.
That was a last ditch attempt, and when it worked I was happy dancing. So perhaps it'll work with something else as well. Alhto ec 3 also worked fine in X7 32 bit. Just wouldn't install on my win 8.1

I've never had a problem, either, with having 4 or 5 psp versions installed at the same time.

I put all 10 of the dll's into syswow & sys 32.. I can't remember offhand, but I think some plugins need a dll in their folder as well.

I tried to install some Andromeda freebies, but they wouldn't even show up, so those are going to be my first experiment.
Do you remember which ones you had to put in an older psp version? It would save me a bit of experimentation.

I'll let you know what happens.
Again, thanks, Joe.

[hartpaul]

It is understandable that old installation files may not work on newer systems. Imagine writing a program today and an installer and trying to make it available to download on Windows 13 in 10 years time.

I have jad a number of plugins installed on my old XP computer. I tried to use the Eyecandy installer on the Win 7 laptop and it said it could not load on this system. Same on a Win 8.1 Laptop.
However I located the folders that contained these plugins and copied them to the Win 7, Win 8.1 machines and laced them in the proper areas in Documents.
Then with PSP open I directed the file location to those folders and then found that Eye candy worked as did all the others that I had used on the XP machine.
In one case the Eye Candy installer ws looking for a Photoshop 4 Plugins folder and just hung.
So the installed filters unlike many programs can be moved from one machine to another and then linked to the different versions of PSP you may have on there.
I only tested with X4 at this stage.

[JoeB]

I only put Flaming Pear from PSP9 into X7. I actually didn't have many plugins installed in PSP9 because of a couple of hard drive failures the past year or so and also not being available to do much computer stuff for the past year or so. Being active again is what got me to decide to try the X7, and so I've been experimenting with it and trying to get a bunch of plugins I used to use in the past with PSP9 to work with X7, which is how I came up with these workarounds. Took some time but I have that now.

And yes, some older .exe plugin files will not work with newer Win OS's so that's going to be an issue. Like I said, the OS is always a factor.

I still haven't figured out how to get Nik plugs to work, but maybe if I go back to older ones they might. Haven't had time to check that out yet.

Keep me posted, and I will also, although it may be awhile before I go further with this.

On another note, the Athentech Perfectly Clear plugin is a gem - even better than the Clarify filter in PSP9 (which is one filter in PSP9 that Corel messed up so why I kept PSP9 around for so long) or any of the One Step Photo filters in any PSP version!

Regards,

JoeB

[Leslie]

Just a quick note~~my Nik plugins work perfectly with win 8.1 and X7. Go figure.

[JoeB]

Just a quick note~~my Nik plugins work perfectly with win 8.1 and X7. Go figure.

What version of those plugins do you have? And are they the ones since Google bought out Nik (the Google Nik Collection) or individual Nik plugs from before that?

Regards,

JoeB

[JoeB]

It is understandable that old installation files may not work on newer systems. Imagine writing a program today and an installer and trying to make it available to download on Windows 13 in 10 years time.

I agree. And thanks for your further info on installing from older computers. At least there are some workarounds for some issues with installers.

Regards,

JoeB

[Leslie]

I really don't remember.
Geez, they are over 2 yrs old and a computer or two ago.

I know I wouldn't have spent $499 on them!