Photoshop File Locked!

I have installed Photoshop 5 on my new AMD 2400 computer with Windows ME. On closing it down after checking the program had installed okay, it gave a warning Headed Adobe Photoshop - “Could not save Preferences because the file is locked. Use the ‘Properties’ command in the Windows Explorer to unlock the file"

What do you think this might mean? I had already deselected the ‘Read Only’ in Properties and cannot see any other commands in Properties!

Regards,
Pat

 

I assume by your explanation that you have gone to your version 5 Photshop generally located at
C Drive > Program Files > Adobe > Photoshop 5.5 > "Adobe Photoshop Settings" folder > Adobe Photoshop 5.5 Prefs.psp and made sure "read only" option was unchecked on the preference file (*.psp) which is in bold text . You may also wish to do this to the parent folder, "Adobe Photoshop Settings" folder ". Some subfolders and files can inherit the properties of a parent folder. Not being familiar with winme does the properties settings (for the file or folder as mentioned) have a security tab or sharing tab?

You may also wish to check the properties of:
>photos55.ini
>Actions Palette.psp

Also did you do a customized install or use an option to move or desiginate a different location for photoshop's scratch file?

Did you reboot after the initial install and before making any option setting changes?

Did you copy anything off the cd, as opposed to install. It's possible anything copied has read only attributes. CDrom disk folders/files are always "marked as read only ".

If you are networked, working with files on a network or a removable device, errors similar to yours can occur:
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/322391.html

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Although some of these directions make reference to version 5.5 they will still hold true for 5.0. Not knowing exactly which version you have ie; 5.0, 5.2, 5.5 I did notice an update for 5.0 to 5.2:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=205

But I would fix your current problem before doing so. Note the above is plain wrapper Photoshop. If you have some other package such as "Photoshop Elements" this will not apply.

 

Thankyou Anne for that very comprehensive troubleshooting guide. Once I had unticked the three .psp files plus the .ini file the warning disappeared, which is a great relief. An extra thankyou for mentioning the 5.0.2 update which usefully overcame two of the impediments I have lived with for the past 4 years .

Kind regards,
Pat

 

Hi Pat,
Whew, I'm glad this problem is behind you and I could help. Now you can save your preferences for the toolbars etc. Photoshop, as wonderful as it is, becomes downright painful when TWO elements can't remember things...1 being Yourself and 2 being Photoshop. Thank you for the post update and I hope you enjoy Photoshop.