Illustrator 8 Problem, Please Help if you can

[Mark_Libertone@adobeforums.com]

I realize that I'm running an old version of Illustrator, but I hope someone can help. I had to reformat the hard drive on my computer and loaded Windows ME on the computer as an operating system. After loading Illustrator 8 back on, it will not open documents itself. If I go to the document a double click it, Illustrator will kick in and the document will open. Illustrator itself will not open any Illustrator files if you go to file, open, then select the file, the system freezes and I have to re-boot.

Thanks,
Mark

[Neville_Lassotovitch@adobeforums.com]

Did you do a full format & recover or just a recover? I'm on Win98SE and Ill9.02 and 2 years ago I had a big crash (not related to Illustrator) which screwed up my device manager (the video driver was in a new position and wasn't recognized). Fortunately I still had the standard video driver and was able to save all my files. Then I did a full system recovery, wiped the HD clean and reinstalled everything. I did not have any problems opening files. Maybe someone else has an idea. Good luck.

Neville

[Mark_Libertone@adobeforums.com]

I did a complete reformat of the hard drive to wipe out everything. All important files were backed up on CD's. I've downloaded all critical Windows updates and installed them. It's really strange cause files will open IF I double click them. Illustrator starts and opens the files. It will open certain files from the program itself, but NOT illustrator files. Figure that one out!

Mark L.

[Brigid_Johanna@adobeforums.com]

Hi Mark. I had to do a complete reformat too, twice, and also I have ME and Ill. 8. I did not have your problem. I am nothing like saavy, so I ask an elementary question: have you tried deleting completely your installation of Ill. 8, and re-installing it? Maybe something got corrupted. I have never had this happen, so maybe it is a quirk. Hope it disappears! Sometimes it is an unstable font. Okay, these are the obvious things. Good luck.
BTW, I like 8- it is not 'sophisticated', it just works.
Brigid

[Christine_Krof_Shock@adobeforums.com]

Also you are going to want to delete your preferences files (do a search for AIPrefs) this could be part of the problem...especially if you are going to re-install Illustrator--the prefs do not get deleted if you re-install