I've got a few old frames plugins which don't seem to work in 64 bit cs4 but every time I try to go to explorer "open with" and select photoshop from the program files x86 (32 bit version) it still opens it with 64 bit.

Is there any way not to have it use 64 bit photoshop?

Tim

You have to change the file associations to open the 32 bit version instead of the 64 bit version. Instructions below. In this case you would browse to the adobe/photoshop folder under the program files(x86) directory.

For vista but probably the same in windows 7



or another:

Change file associations

That doesn't work though.

I've done all of those steps, selected the 32 bit executable, it still opens 64bit.

Anyone else using windows 7 have same issue? It's really annoying having to launch 32 bit manually.

Tim

What if you open the 32bit version first and then open the files from the program?

Same behavior here Vista or Seven same pain in the arse.
I pin Photoshop 32bit to the task bar and open files from Photoshop or bridge once the 32 bit version is running just have to remember not to double click to open a file for photoshop.

dan727 have you actually done this successfully or are you pointing out the obvious trying to be helpful? Its never worked for me with photoshop 32 and 64bit versions. Do you do a reg hack at the same time?

where did you get windows 7?

The solution is a simple Windows Registry fix. I came across this solution a few months ago while researching how to make Lightroom open 32-bit Photoshop by default. I found an unrelated article in Adobe's Knowledge Base that gave the location of the Photoshop registry keys and I modified it to work. Here's the Adobe KB article: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/401/kb401629.html

If you are uncomfortable editing your Windows Registry do not attempt this fix. I will not be responsible if you screw up your computer in any way. As a precaution its advisable to back up your Windows Registry before attempting to edit it.

1. Go to Start and in the Search box type either regedit or regedt32 to open the Registry Editor

2. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Photoshop.exe

3. The keys in the right pane of the Registry Editor should read something similar to the following:
Default C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Photoshop.exe
Path C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\

4. Right-click each key, select "Modify" and change them to the following:
Default C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Photoshop.exe
Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4

5. Click File > Exit to save and exit the Registry Editor.

These instructions assume you have a standard installation of Photoshop. If you installed it in another location you'd have to modify the paths to suit.

This fix also works with Lightroom. If you have Lightroom 64-bit version installed you'd notice that when you use the "Edit in Photoshop" option it opens Photoshop 64-bit by default when in most cases you want the 32-bit version since that's where most currently available plug-ins are installed. So this fix will force both Adobe Bridge and Lightroom to open the 32-bit version of Photoshop by default.

If you subscribe to Microsoft's TechNet you can download the various versions of Windows 7.

Also the Windows 7 Release Candidate is still available.



Michael White wrote:
where did you get windows 7?

James_N wrote:
If you subscribe to Microsoft's TechNet you can download the various versions of Windows 7.

Also the Windows 7 Release Candidate is still available.



Michael White wrote:
where did you get windows 7?


One caveat... Windows 7 will be out in a few months. Although you can DL the Release candidate version and use if for a year... you will have to reinstall it from scratch to go from RC to retail version. Which a lot of people don't mind... but it can be a long process setting up all your programs again.

Thanks James_N but dose not solve problem at least in Seven looked promising though. talexander did it work for you? anybody else?

WAYCOOL wrote:
dan727 have you actually done this successfully or are you pointing out the obvious trying to be helpful? Its never worked for me with photoshop 32 and 64bit versions. Do you do a reg hack at the same time?

Hmmm it has worked with other file types... like .mp3 or .zip files. Usually I will close everything, change the associations, and reboot. But apparently this does not seem to work with photoshop. Quite possibly due to the fact that both exe's are named photoshop.exe and using the GUI may not overwrite the appropriate spots in the registry.

You are correct that the final version of Windows 7 will not automatically install when Windows 7 RC is present. The workaround is to extract the Windows 7 disk to your hard drive using tools like Winrar or a virtual cd/dvd drive then edit the cversion.ini file in the Sources folder by setting it to a lower release number than the Windows 7 RC.

Also, if you create an image of your hard drive with tools like Norton Ghost or True Image all you have to do is install the new operating system then restore your programs from the drive image. Since I test a lot of software I do this frequently and it takes 15-30 minutes tops.


dan727 wrote:
James_N wrote:
If you subscribe to Microsoft's TechNet you can download the various versions of Windows 7.

Also the Windows 7 Release Candidate is still available.



Michael White wrote:
where did you get windows 7?


One caveat... Windows 7 will be out in a few months. Although you can DL the Release candidate version and use if for a year... you will have to reinstall it from scratch to go from RC to retail version. Which a lot of people don't mind... but it can be a long process setting up all your programs again.

I've used the same fix under Windows XP X64, Vista 64-bit, and currently Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. It works.



WAYCOOL wrote:
Thanks James_N but dose not solve problem at least in Seven looked promising though. talexander did it work for you? anybody else?

James I made reg change shown in photo. Assoc. .tiff and .tif with x86 photoshop double click tiff and x64 photoshop opens. Where did I go wrong? Thanks

Found this on an adobe forum...

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/openwithadd.htm

Run this program.
Add the photoshop.exe from the program files(x86) directory.
Right click on any .cr2 file.
Select 'Open With'
Make sure the check box that says always do this is checked
Browse to the photoshop.exe in the program files(x86)
Done

Unfortunately I did not run a compare on my registry before and after. So I do not know what was added. If someone runs this maybe you can isolate the keys. Seems like this may be an adobe programming issue rather than windows.

Thanks dan727 ran the program didn't seem to work. Tried the file assoc. again on cr2 working now tried again with .tif and working now.

I think what worked was the reg change then reboot then assoc. file then open correctly (that is the way I want it to ). But open-with-add could have changed something. Now have to remember what when I get Seven final release installed.

Thanks again Dan and James.

Sorry for the late response....I think we're discussing two different problems.

As far as I know, the solution I posted earlier only works from within either Lightroom or Bridge. Both programs automatically open the 64-bit version of Photoshop when you click the "Open" command or double-click on a thumbnail in Bridge, or the "Edit Photo in" command in Lightroom. This workaround forces it to open the 32-bit version of Photoshop instead, and its entirely different from issues with File Associations.

I'm not sure if it will work if you attempt to open image files from Windows Explorer. What I do is Right click and use the context menu to select the program I want to open my files. So for example, I would right-click on a JPEG, select "Open With" and by default the context menu just shows the 64-bit version. Now select "Browse" and navigate to the folder where the 32-bit executable is located and click on it. Now everytime you right-click on a JPEG the 32-bit version will be at the top of the application list.

I prefer this solution since there are some times I want an image to be open in the 64-bit version and I don't want to be locked into having the 32-bit version open every time.

Not to drag out a problem solved but thanks James you helped with a different problem but if I ever switch over to Lightroom I'll be glad I'll know to edit the reg for that behavior.

Dan credit due, logged into Vista and it was indeed the open-with tool you linked to that solved my and the OPs problem. It was more of an irritant than a real problem but that itch is gone. I use Photoshop x86 most of the time so that the plug-ins are available. I don't tend to max out the memory usually working on one file at a time with a few layers. Giving up the 10% speed increase of x64 for the convenience of the plug-ins. Use x64 for the big-uns stitches and such.

After following the posts above, which proved to be partially unsuccessful, I began digging around a little, and I believe I have found a solution (it worked for me anyway)...

When installing Photoshop on a 64-bit operating system, you will have the choice of installing either the 64-bit version of Photoshop or BOTH 64-bit and 32-bit installations.

If you choose to install both, by default, the 64-bit installation will associate itself with relevant files. All attempts to "Open With..." or associate the files with the 32-bit installation will fail and resort back to opening with the 64-bit version.

So, there are two ways to work around this issue...

1. Simply open the 32-bit version, and select File > Open, to open your files. (This works fine, but it can become tedious and time-consuming, when you are in a hurry.)
   
2. Apply the registry fix, to manually associate relevant files to the 32-bit version**. (This will allow you to double-click files, which will then open in the 32-bit version.)
   

This forum is amazing....!!!