Something Going Wrong with InDesign

[Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com]

Starting today, every time I try to use the Selection Tool or the Direct Selection Tool, InDesign crashes. I get that Microsoft message saying "InDesign.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." I have rebooted the computer more than once and it doesn't help. Is there anything I can do about this bug or whatever it is?

[Dennis Gordon]

Have you tried deleting your preferences? (Hold ALT-CTRL-SHIFT when opening
the program)

<Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com> wrote in message
news:3bb4bb1b.-1@webx.la2eafNXanI...

> Starting today, every time I try to use the Selection Tool or the Direct

Selection Tool, InDesign crashes. I get that Microsoft message saying
"InDesign.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for
the inconvenience." I have rebooted the computer more than once and it
doesn't help. Is there anything I can do about this bug or whatever it is?

[Jim_Oblak@adobeforums.com]

Have you done anything new to the program lately? Installed updates?

Try trashing your preferences.

[Bob_Levine]

FWIW, a couple of weeks ago, ID started crashing everytime I launched
it. Trashing prefs didn't fix it so I finally just uninstalled it and
reinstalled.

Bob

[Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com]

I've only had the software for a few days, and haven't changed or updated it or anything during that time. This problem arose for the first time yesterday, so it was all fine before that.

I'll try dumping the preferences and then uninstalling and reinstalling if this continues. I just wondered if it might be a common problem that you have to download some patch for or something.

[Andy_Fielding@adobeforums.com]

This is probably obvious (but my wife says I have a talent for the obvious, so I may as well use it):

Have you scanned your system for viruses? If a virus has infected any of the many system files ID uses, that could cause the behavior you describe.

FYI, here's an excellent, free, up-to-date, online scan:

Symantec Security Scan
<http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym>

My second suggestion is that it may be a RAM problem. Complex programs like ID are especially sensitive to RAM that's not performing up to a certain tolerance. (Simpler programs seem less picky.)

Here's a great RAM-test program, free for a limited time:

Doc Memory
<http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp>

Cheers, Andy

[Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com]

Thank you for the advice. I uninstalled and reinstalled, and that didn't solve the problem. I have Norton scan my computer for viruses regularly, but I just ran it again to make sure and it didn't turn up anything. Haven't tried the RAM-test yet.

Incidentally, the trial version of InDesign works fine on my computer. It has no problem with the functions that crash the regular version of the program.

[Bob_Levine]

Whoa!

You have the demo and the retail version installed? That's a big no-no.
The demo should be unistalled before installing the retail version.

Bob

[Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com]

OK, Thanks. I'll give it a try. I wanted to have the demo to fall back on until I know I can get the other to work, but it runs out today or tomorrow anyway so I'm not losing anything by dumping it.

[Craig_Gabriel@adobeforums.com]

I uninstalled again, and I also uninstalled the demo that's about to run out anyway.

After reinstalling it seems fine. It hasn't crashed yet. I've got my fingers crossed that the problem is solved. Thanks again for the suggestions.

[Bob_Levine]

It should be fine now. I believe the readme file points out the need to
uninstall the demo first.

Bob