# How do I allocate more memory to a program that won't open?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 24, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782 "2007-08-24T16:52:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/1 "2007-08-24T16:52:12Z")
Greetings, Computational-Engine Savants!
I have a problem. I have a cheap, old, copy of Photoshop 3.0. Yes, I know - but I only need it for some photoretouching processes and don’t need al the modern bells and whistles of the newest version.
Anyway, it was working fine, but now when I try to open it, it tells me “Could not initialze Photoshop because of a program error.”
Now, I recall that the Photoshop of old was a memory hog, but I’ve got 120 gigs of hard drive and 512 MB of RAM. I’m guessing that something is not allowing Photoshop to have the memory that it thinks it needs to open.
How do I let it have more?
Or is this another problem completely?
Thanks,
-H.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/2 "2007-08-24T17:03:01Z")
What makes you think a “program error” is a “memory error”?
What OS version are you running?
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/3 "2007-08-24T17:07:53Z")
Is PhotoShop 3.0 compatible with Windows XP? I am assuming that is your operating sysem.
[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Adobe+Photoshop+3.0+for+Windows+now+available%3B+new+version+comes+with+](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Adobe+Photoshop+3.0+for+Windows+now+available%3B+new+version+comes+with+)…-a015922291
> [@](#):
>
> Minimum system requirements for the Adobe Photoshop 3.0 Windows version include an Intel i386, i486 or Pentium processor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 or Windows NT version 3.5, 10 megabytes One million bytes, or more precisely 1,048,576 bytes. Also MB, Mbyte and M-byte. See mega and space/time. of RAM (16 megabytes of RAM for Windows NT), at least 20 megabytes of free disk space, a color VGA display adapter The Graphics Pipeline
> The display adapter’s primary purpose is to continuously convert the graphic patterns (bitmaps) in memory frame buffers into signals for the monitor’s screen. However, high-end adapters do a whole lot more. They move the image through a graphics pipeline adding texture and 2D and 3D effects, all functions that used to be done by the computer’s CPU. and compatible color monitor, and a mouse or other pointing device.
>
> For optimal performance, recommendations include a Pentium processor, DOS 6.1 or greater, Windows 3.1 or Windows NT version 3.5, 16 or more megabytes of RAM (32 megabytes of RAM for Windows NT), at least 50 megabytes of free disk space, a color display adapter and compatible color monitor, mouse or other pointing device and acceleration products bearing the “Adobe Charged” logo.
That release date is in 1994, so it predates XP by nearly 8 years, so there may be a compatibility issue.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/4 "2007-08-24T17:08:11Z")
If you figure this out, be sure to let **NoCoolUserName** know so he can test to see if it solves [his problem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=433081&highlight=photoshop)!
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### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/5 "2007-08-24T17:14:34Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself]
Is PhotoShop 3.0 compatible with Windows XP? I am assuming that is your operating sysem.
[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Adobe+Photoshop+3.0+for+Windows+now+available%3B+new+version+comes+with+](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Adobe+Photoshop+3.0+for+Windows+now+available%3B+new+version+comes+with+)…-a015922291
That release date is in 1994, so it predates XP by nearly 8 years, so there may be a compatibility issue.
[/QUOTE]
Since it ran just fine for about six months I’m guessing that yes, it’s compatible. And yes - I’m running XP.
I’m thinking that it’s a memory-allocation issue because reinstalling the program didn’t help.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/6 "2007-08-24T17:16:49Z")
[QUOTE=Hentzau]
I’m thinking that it’s a memory-allocation issue because reinstalling the program didn’t help.
[/QUOTE]
Did you uninstall before reinstalling?
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/7 "2007-08-24T17:49:42Z")
Do you have a patch for that version, that you need to install. It may be an incompatible .dll which happens a lot. I don’t know how you’d find out without the help pages that are no longer there.
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### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/8 "2007-08-24T17:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself]
Did you uninstall before reinstalling?
[/QUOTE]
No, I’d hoped it would see a copy already there and just replace the corrupted bits. For my next trick I dump the whole copy in the bit bucket.
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### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/9 "2007-08-24T18:26:47Z")
Okay, that didn’t work. I dumped it, reinstalled it and I still get “Could not initialize Photoshop because of a program error.”
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### Author:  [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/10 "2007-08-24T18:28:06Z")
Getting a 13-year-old program to run on any modern computer is going to be a task in itself. Are you sure you need Photoshop to complete your photo retouching tasks? There are several modern photo-editing alternatives (and many free ones) available if you don’t want to shell out the cash for a new version.
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### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/11 "2007-08-24T18:37:40Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR]
Getting a 13-year-old program to run on any modern computer is going to be a task in itself. Are you sure you need Photoshop to complete your photo retouching tasks? There are several modern photo-editing alternatives (and many free ones) available if you don’t want to shell out the cash for a new version.
[/QUOTE]
All I really want from it is for it to allow me to maniuplate the photos and export them to something that my copy of PageMaker will use to lay out my CD jackets.
All I really use from Photoshop is:
Image/Adjust/Levels
Image/Adjust/Curves
Path Tool
Crop Tool (both free and Specified Size)
Image/Adjust/Desaturate
Mode: Lab Color
Save as: (gif, jpeg,bitmap…)
…and some filters to add noise or something
If there’s a way to do those things, I’d be happy to dump Photoshop. Can you point me to something good?
Thanks,
-H.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/12 "2007-08-24T18:39:52Z")
Thread on free graphics programs.
> **[Recomend a good free Photoshop-type program](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=433310)**
>
> I had downloaded a freeware photo editing program years ago, but can’t remember what it was called. Either way, I need a good photo editing program, and hope you can offer some good suggestions. I’m running Windows XP, not Vista, if that makes a...
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### Author:  [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/13 "2007-08-24T19:20:09Z")
Some programs can be adjusted to take more memory (or do other load configurations) by launching them with a command line switch, like c:\software\photoprogram.exe /use\_all. I forget whether you use forward slashes or dashes. It seems like there are times when one or the other is used. But the program typically would make use of the switch before it finishes loading and starting.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/14 "2007-08-24T19:39:54Z")
Do you have a restore point set to before the trouble began? If so, could you roll back your computer to there? You said it worked for 6 months, so something more recently installed probably clobbered it.
If no restore points, did you install anything new? If so, could you uninstall that, then uninstall/reinstall Photoshop?
FWIW, I’ve used several versions of PS on many models of computer and all the combinations I’ve tried so far have worked fine.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/15 "2007-08-24T19:41:00Z")
[QUOTE=Hentzau]
I’m thinking that it’s a memory-allocation issue because reinstalling the program didn’t help.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t follow your logic.
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### Author:  [@Hentzau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentzau)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-allocate-more-memory-to-a-program-that-wont-open/416782/16 "2007-08-24T19:50:52Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
Thread on free graphics programs.
> **[Recomend a good free Photoshop-type program](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=433310)**
>
> I had downloaded a freeware photo editing program years ago, but can’t remember what it was called. Either way, I need a good photo editing program, and hope you can offer some good suggestions. I’m running Windows XP, not Vista, if that makes a...
[/QUOTE]
Thanks! I’ve got that bookmarked, and I’ll do a thorough investigation.