PE4 doesn't come up

[tjodork]

Help... I launch PE4 and I get the big blue circle but that eventually disappears and the program never comes up.
I know I can reinstall....is that the next step or is there something else I should do ?
Is there any negative effects of reinstalling...overwriting any profiles,etc ? thank again !

[Steve Grisetti]

Uninstalling (selecting the option to remove preferences) and reinstalling usually fixes this.

But it's also a good idea to make sure your firmware and Quicktime are updated. It does make a difference.
http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.3c057647

If those both don't fix it (and they should) go to My Documents/Adobe and delete the Premiere Elements 4.0 folder.

[Chuck Engels]

Go ahead and try a re-install, be sure you have installed the latest version of Quicktime and have the lastest Graphics and Audio Drivers for your system.

[Chuck Engels]

Steve, you beat me by less than a minute

[tjodork]

I wouldn't believe it if I didnt witness it but after
1. installing new video drivers
2. updating itunes/quicktime
3. resetting my display settings (had been doing dual monitor (tvout + monitor) back to just monitor
4. uninstall PE4 (removing preferences)
5. reinstalling PE4

and again I get the blue circle but then it vanishes and app never comes up.

Is there any log files that I can look at for clues ?

[Steve Grisetti]

Go to My Documents/Adobe and delete the Premiere Elements 4.0 folder.

Then, when you launch the program, hold down the left Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys.

You're almost there, TJ!

[Chuck Engels]

If it is a Blue Circle, then it is Photoshop Elements 6 not Premiere Elements 4

[Steve Grisetti]

Once again Chuck takes the time to read the fine print.

Great point, Chuck!

[Jayell]

Once again Chuck takes the time to read the fine print.

I'm glad you have each other.

[tjodork]

dern.... that didn't do it... If I want via Process Explorer I see the PE4 process running and shortly after the purple circle disappears, I see the task go RED and then vanish.
I was thinking about what I may have done...the one thing I thought of is that I loaded windows media player 11 (since we were trying to make it so my son's PS3 could access music via WMP11's sharing features. This was several weeks ago that I updated WMP but I haven't used PE4 for maybe a month (since last project). I've since shut off the WMP sharing feature but that did not help.
I did delete the Premiere Elements 4.0 dir ( I left the 2.0 dir intact ..is that ok ?)
Any other thoughts ?
I'm puzzled as reinstalling usually fixes most things.

[Chuck Engels]

Those kinds of problems are usually a Audio or Graphics driver issue, other than that this is a strange one.
Have you tried starting the program while holding down the Ctrl, Alt and Shift Keys? That will clear the preferences and cache, might fix it.

[Steve Grisetti]

I'm alarmed that all of these rather desperate measures haven't worked for you. There are few things that can't be fixed with an uninstall/reinstall.

It might well be time to call Adobe Tech Support, I'm afraid.

[tjodork]

sorry for the confusion on "colored" circles....but it was always PE4 ...PS6 still works fine.
I've tried it both ways with the alt-shift-cntr combo's ...
Anyways I can contact Adobe Support....
curious about one thing....is there any logs etc that might indicate what is going on ?
Thanks for all of your suggestions !

[Chuck Engels]

There are application logs in the Event Viewer under Administrative Tools in Control Panel.

[tjodork]

I checked the event viewer but nothing.
I sumitted a case on the Adobe support web site.
Interestingly, I can run PE2 just fine ...so I don't think its my video or audio drivers....
I hope they have the solution.