Strange Issue, Corrupted file, garbled image, artifacts

[PaleoSun]

Ok, this is a very strange problem. We are using CS2, and work in Photoshop every day. A few days ago while working in a certain file, after performing certain simple operations (resizing, cropping, etc) the entire image became... it's hard to describe... garbled and really screwed up looking. And then almost anything I do in any other files will cause the image to become very screwed up.

So, here are some symptoms:
- I can work in some files fine, doing whatever, and nothing gets garbled. Let's call these "Good" files
- There are "Bad" files, that are become garbled up when I perform simple operations on them such as image resizing
- After a "Bad" file has been opened and garbled up, even the "Good" files will become garbled if I do anything to them in that session of using photoshop (but they would still be "Good" if I were to close photoshop and reopen it, without reopening the "Bad" files)
- I have tried many many things, such as reinstalling CS2, wiping the preferences, removing all plugins, defragging, testing RAM, nothing has worked
- If I move one of the "Bad" files to another computer and open it, it has the same effects, getting all garbled up and screwing up other files.

Here are some screenshots that might help describe the problem. This is one of the "Bad" files before doing anything to it:
http://www.paleosun.com/misc/1_justopened.jpg

and here it is after a simple resizing:
http://www.paleosun.com/misc/2_resized.jpg

Has anyone seen this issue before, or have any clue what could fix it?

[artd]

It would help to know what Operating System you're using, are you on a Mac? Did you recently install any new software, including updating your OS? Also, what method did you use to resize the image in the example you posted?

[PaleoSun]

I am running Windows XP SP3. Windows auto-updated to SP3 a good bit ago. I can't think of any new software I've added recently.

I just went to "Image" --> "Image size" and specified a new width in pixels, with "Constrain Proportions" checked. I changed it to an arbitrary size, which isn't a factor I think because the issue arose with any image size.

The strange part, I think, is that the problem shows up only when working in photoshop after a "Bad" file has been opened. So something about the file is affecting the photoshop program... somehow.

Argh!

[artd]

Hi PaleoSun,

Thanks for that information. The reason I wondered about your operating system was because I recently ran into a similar problem with a person on a Mac. In that case it turned out to be a conflict between his OS and CS3. When he ran the latest OS update, the problem was solved. Although similar, your problem appears to be different.

Judging from your first post, it sounds like you've taken all the right steps in trying to solve this strange problem. The one thing I'm wondering about is Photoshop's preference file. You mentioned something about "wiping" the preferences, but I'm not sure what that means. Also, keep in mind that reinstalling Photoshop does not install new preferences; a preference file is not created until you run the program. So, if that file was corrupt, reinstalling would not fix it. I'd suggest you actually recreate new preferences according to the instructions found by clicking on THIS LINK (then scroll to number 10).

There are of course other possibilities, but since you've made no recent OS or Applications changes I would certainly think that if it's a PS problem, then trashing the Prefs and reinstalling would fix it.

[PaleoSun]

Thanks for looking into this, artd. By 'wiping' the preferences, I mean that I had done what that link you posted described.

I actually found this article and tried most of the troubleshooting ideas posted there:
http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=322563
and it talked about rebuilding the preferences.

We ordered a new hard drive, and are planning on re-installing XP on that drive, and starting from scratch. This is going to fix a host of unrelated annoyances, and I'm curious to see if it clears up the problem. I have a feeling, though, that as soon as I open up one of the "Bad" files, it'll still be messed up. I'll keep this forum updated.

[artd]

Okay, I wish you the best of luck PaleoSun. Please do keep us informed; knowing how folks fixed a problem can help us help someone else in the future. One last thought, you might want to check your video card manufacturer's site to see if there are any software updates. That really is a weird problem!