PSP won't close properly

[Stumann666]

I had an issue with my PC and had to restore to a previous version. Ever since, when I use PSP X6 or PSP X8, they won't close. I have to "ctrl/Alt/Delete" and use the task manager to close the program. The program seems to work OK while using it, it just won't shut down without going through task manager. My PSP 2020 works just fine. How can I fix this?

[JoeB]

Check out this thread and see if it answers your question:

https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=66762

[Stumann666]

It sounds like a lot of people are experiencing the same problem, but no one has a solution. What bothers me is that it was not a problem prior to my system restore.

[migf1]

Hello stumman666,

I am not sure I have understood. When you say PSP does NOT close, you mean the PSP window stays open, or it closes but the program keeps running in the background?

If the window stays open, then it is the 1st time I hear something like that, so I can't really help. But if is it the latter, we all have that issue and it has been mentioned that it exists even before Corel acquired PSP from Jasc.

It happens quite randomly and afaik no one has ever managed to consistently reproduce the issue across the several versions of Windows and PSP itself. One thing that seems to trigger it somenwhat consistently is when you close the program and try to re-launch it too fast (in less than 30-40 secs - depending on the system it could be longer or shorter). But in general, it appears quite randomly and for undefined reasons.

A member of this forum has put together a little batch-file, to tackle the issue:

https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?p=379708#p379708

Personally I don't use it, because in my case, when a leftover exists in the background, PSP simply does not open when I launch it. When I see that, I know I have to check the Task Manager and kill the left-over(s) manually. Once I do that, I re-launch PSP and this time it runs normally.

[Stumann666]

The window stays open. Nothing responds. If I right click the tab in the taskbar and click 'close window', nothing happens. My PC doesn't stop working, I can still do everything else with it. The only way to get ride of PSP is 'ctrl/alt/delete' and open the task manager and end program. In task manager, under status, it says the program is not responding.
I was considering reloading the program, but I'm concerned that I would loose all my settings, plugins, paintbrushes I've created, etc.

[migf1]

The window stays open. Nothing responds. If I right click the tab in the taskbar and click 'close window', nothing happens. My PC doesn't stop working, I can still do everything else with it. The only way to get ride of PSP is 'ctrl/alt/delete' and open the task manager and end program. In task manager, under status, it says the program is not responding.
I was considering reloading the program, but I'm concerned that I would loose all my settings, plugins, paintbrushes I've created, etc.

Oh, it sounds like the restoring really messed up existing PSP installations on your system.

Ok, here is what I would do (but it ain't quick, you may want to make a cup of coffee, and maybe a bunch of sandwiches too )

First thing, for not loosing your presets etc, each PSP installation creates a "Corel PaintShop Pro" folder inside your Windows Documents folder. Inside that, you should have sub-folders for each previously & currently installed versions, like:
• Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\17.0\
• Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\2020\
etc

Each of those, should include many sub-folders, intended for user-saved presets, like:
• Brushes
• Bump Maps
etc

If you have never used them, they will probably be empty, because each version of PSP keeps the defaults presets inside its installation folder, or inside:
• C:\ProgamData\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro X7
• C:\ProgamData\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020
etc

To see where is what, the easiest way is to run PSP, then go to:
File -> Preferences -> File Locations

This should open a dialog with a list of ALL CATEGORIES of presets on the left side. By selecting any of those categories, the right side of the dialog should show a list of folders where PSP looks for data for that particular category (e.g. Brushes).

You should do that for EVERY VERSION OF PSP you have installed, and keep a backup of all the listed folders (copy just their parents should be enough).

MOST PROBABLY you also want to keep notes of what each folder holds For example, C:\ProgamData\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020\Corel_01 holds the default PSP2020 brushes. If there is a list somewhere online for the contents of each such folder, I really don't know.

Normally the PSP un-installer does not delete those folders, but I think it has an option to do so if you opt for that.

Anyway, just back them up to be on the safe side!

Then un-install ALL versions of PSP from your system, and for each one of them use the corresponding cleanup tool, from this topic:
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=52337

If you have CCleaner, I would probably run a registry-cleanup ONLY, through that too, as an extra step, although the PSP cleanup tools should be enough.

Then, restart Windows and start installing your PSP versions again (I would do it from OLDEST to NEWEST).

If nothing else has been screwed up in your Windows with the Restore you did, the above steps should fix all your PSP installations. If your presets are missing from any of them, go again to: File -> Preferences -> File Locations... and assign the folders manually for each category.

I know the whole thing is a long and cumbersome process, but I cannot think of anything else less drastic. Maybe the other guys have better ideas.

PS. You can also merge the default presets from all installations to just one place (for example, in a "Documents\My Corel PSP ALL Assets" folder) but keep in mind that across PSP versions same assets may have different folder-names, in which case PSP will warn about duplicates).

[Jean-Luc]

Before to do what migf1 explains, try to launch PSP while holding down the Shift Key until it asks you to accept the reset. This will not delete any of your documents or files. Only your workspace will be set to default (save it before to do the reset).

[Stumann666]

Jean-Luc, your the man! Your idea worked perfect. Thanks a million, I never new that option existed.

[migf1]

Kudos to Jean-Luc!