Expert: Amy - 10/24/2006

Question
thank you for getting back so quickly. yes i did tab, and my tool box turns on and off with the tab, but still no palettes. I think i might just reinstall tommorow. but wait, yes i did install photoshop cs about a month ago.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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I trashed the prefs and restarted illustrator and no palettes!
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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using PC, illustrator 10, I cannot get the palettes up. I've tried use the function keys and the up under the pull down window but no luck. please help.
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Hello Patti!

Try this:
Quit Illustrator (or make sure it's not running).
Do a search on your machine for a file called AIprefs.
When you find it, throw it in the recycle bin.
Start Illustrator. That AIprefs file will re-create itself. From time to time, that preferences file becomes corrupt... deleting it while AI is not running will solve many problems like the one you are describing.

Let me know!
Amy
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Hmm. Mysterious.

Trashing the prefs usually works. Have to make sure you do it when Illustrator's not actively running, which it sounds like you did. (Official instructions on how to do that)
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.eed5198.2cd0b46e

Just because...hit the TAB key and make sure the TAB toggle isn't somehow messed up. Hitting TAB hides all menus.

Check your File > Preferences > Plug-Ins & Scratch Disks and make sure the plug-ins folder is correctly targeted. Even if it is, "choose" it again.

If that doesn't work, you might have to try a re-install.

Have you recently installed any other Adobe software? Even Acrobat Reader? Let me know.

I will continue looking for solutions for this particular problem.

Let me know if you figure it out and I'll get back to you after dinner.

-Amy  

Answer
Hi Patti,

I found something else to try before reinstalling. Adobe says the problem may involve reduced system resources.

They say to remove some of your truetype fonts (don't remove system required fonts) from the Windows fonts folder and try launching Illustrator. It's worth a shot.

That got me to thinking maybe this is the old font list problem that seems to cause so many other errors. With Illustrator not running, do a search on your machine for Adobefnt*.lst files and delete any files you find. It's safe to do this because, again, these are files that are re-created every time Adobe programs are launched. So please try that, too.

If that doesn't work, I'd try the reinstall. That's the recommended course of action for a problem that appears after installing another Adobe product.

Please let me know how it turns out!
Amy