Recently when i opened Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended – I came across an error that was preventing me from selecting any controls.
The Hand Tool was selected by default and i wasn’t able to select anything else.
The solution was pretty simple, but took awhile to figure out.
- Close all adobe applications running, then open your C Drive.
- Find and Open Documents and Setting Folder
- Then $USER Directory (This is your logon username)
- Open Application Data Folder
- Open Adobe Folder
- Finally you should see the folder Adobe Photoshop CS3. Don’t delete it, instead rename it to something else (for example: Old_Adobe Photoshop CS3).
Hopefully your problem should be solved 
But hold on for a second, i have noticed that some people have reported that using this method they get another error that says something like Something prevented the Text Engine. If that is the case continue reading below.
Adobe Photoshop CS3 – Something Prevented The Text Engine Error
When you try to select the Text Tool from within photohop and get this error you should follow the below steps and your problem should be resolved.
- Close all adobe applications running, then open your C Drive.
- Find and Open Documents and Settings Folder
- Then $USER directory (Just like above)
- Then Local Settings Folder
- Then Application Data Folder
- Then Adobe Folder
- Then TypeSupport Folder
- Delete everything inside the TypeSupport Folder
Note:- Some directories are hidden by default so make sure to set the explorer to display all hidden files.
I hope this fixes your problem with Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended – Please leave your comments if or not this has helped you resolve your problem.
So, Did you like it?
Loading ...
Thanks a lot, it worked like butter!!
Thanks… you just made my day. I updated to CS5 and this text bug got me.
Thank you again.
thanks a lot, this really solved the problem.
noticias tecnologia recently posted..E3 2011 Tráiler De Alice- Madness Returns
Hey, it works great, i thought i lost my file but thanks to u. I didnt know what to do at all. but i found out that in the folder ” font ” in Adobe, there was a file .lst too. i deleted it all.
Hey.
Could not complete your request because something prevented the text engine from being initialized !
Help !
Hi,
is any know how to resolve the same issue in MAC?
To Nogizaka =
Thanks i was looking for that in my vista system i was tryin for a half an hour and was just roaming around in circles. thanks for posting that i hope it helps others too.
C:\Users\your username here\AppData\Local
^ here’s the directory for Vista users. I had a lot of trouble finding it =_=;
Worked like a charm
Thank you so much! this really helped me.. i was at it for hours and kept on reinstalling the software hoping everything will go back to normal. Frustrated and hopeless, i gave up. Until i searched for a solution on the net, and luckily found your post. THANK YOU! It saved my thesis.
You’re welcome
Glad it helped you out
thanks it’s really helpfull and it’s work. its fixed my problem.
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended – Something Prevented The Text Engine
I did as your instruction and it’s work !!!
U R Genius MANNNNN !!
Good lookin. I had the type error I just renamed the files in the type support folder and it worked. Why did this happen tho?
Hi!! thanks its fixed my problem too..
Even easier fix… Press the space bar.
thk
Thank you so much! This worked just like clicking your fingers. I’ve went and searched multiple times on how to solve this problem. None worked until I found this page! Thank you !
You solved my problem. Thank you!!
Man, this helped me THANKS, YOU ARE GENIUS
TY
Glad it could help you out
I wonder if by deleting the TypeSupport folder, it will affect other CS3 applications like Dreamweaver…
@Jethro Gibbs:
i am not 100% sure, but i guess it might affect other adobe applications – you dont need to delete the TypeSupport folder (only the contents of that folder).
Awesome thanks
You’re welcome
ty so much. workeed perfectly
I did as you told but it still gives me this error
Ohh thank god there is an easy fix. Thanks so much for the information, you are a life saver.
@chukles:
it is my pleasure, I’m glad it helped you out
Excellent! been searching everywhere for a solution and I finally fount it =) Thank You so much!
Great to hear that it helped you out
Thanks for your reply
Thank you! The font error its ended!
thanks a lot for saving me from re-installing again and again…….
Thank you! This helped, now I can get on with my project
You’re welcome
great to know it helped you out 
Bravo…it worked! Thanks for your help!
Great to know this is helping you guys out
Thaks a lot, the 2nd way did work great to me!
Thanks so much. You are a genius.
I have had this happen before but never knew how to fix it. Since I use Photoshop extensively, it is a really good tip.
Thanks
Worked like a charm. After renaming, my computer automatically reverted it to it’s original name, and voila! i was back and running? weird. I don’t understand, but I understand easy fixes, and I like!
I tried the above, and unfortunately, it didn’t work. I’ve practically tried every fix and it hasn’t worked for me.
Photoshop worked for me before I reformatted my computer, but I was unable to back it up at the time. Now that I have it, I recently downloaded some new fonts, and now the text engine has given me problems.
Before anyone gives me the solution to moving my fonts around to figure out the font that’s giving problems: I’ve already tried it.
it works!!!!
thank you
Hey this fix worked great, here is a tip that may serve very useful in conjunction with this fix.
I notice by following the steps mentioned here, I would lose all of my custom shortcuts and actions, as well as virtually any custom preferences or presets made in photoshop.
However I was able to fix the white hand problem and retain all my presets, simply by following your instructions (the first half, i did not have to do the other steps for the text engine error) and then one extra step…
After adding ‘Old_’ to the folder name, and opening photoshop, ensure the white hand issue is resolved. Once you are certain functionality is back to normal, close Photoshop again, delete the new Adobe Photoshop CS3 folder, and rename your Old_Adobe Photoshop CS3 folder back to (you guessed it) Adobe Photoshop CS3.
Next, open up Photoshop again, no hand, and all of your presets are back to normal.
Must just be a glitch in adobe misreading your presets and preferences :]
Oh and thanks to the author for this tip!
Thanks Kyle for posting this useful information, i’m sure many other users who are still facing this issue would find this more convenient =)
thank you so so much! i was really very frustrated already coz i couldn’t do what i was supposed to do. so… thanks again! it really helped a LOT!
You’re Welcome, Jake
I’m glad it helped you out.
You’re a genius. Thank you!
@Mohammad Raihan:
Have you tried the above instructions to fix your problem?
The above instructions are for Windows XP but i dont think there is much difference in Vista and XP’s FileSystem structure.
Basically – just find the folder written above and clean it.
you can also use the windows search option to search for the folders one folder that you have to clear is “TypeSupport”.
When i open Adobe Photoshop CS3 in windows vista home edition and i try to use text tools for writing thats time i got ERROR MESSAGE & AUTOMATIC QUITE this software.
Now i want to know how can i solve this problem? Who want to giving me solve solution???
raihan
+6 0172299553
raihan_mazumder@hotmail.com
Malaysia