Expert: Glen Demers - 11/6/2009

Question
I run Windows XP, and due to a virus had to recently reinstall. I already had Photoshop 5.5 on my computer and just purchased the upgrade 7 for Photoshop. I cannot get 5.5 to open so I think I may have to reinstall it before I can install the upgrade? If I do have to reinstall, will all my images, gradients, brushes, etc. be lost?

Answer
Hi Elaine,

When you reinstall Photoshop your images won't be affected but it will reinstall your brushes, gradients and actions and they'll be reset to the defaults. To save your old settings and any custom brushes, actions etc. Try renaming your Photoshop application folder so that the reinstall will not overwrite folder. Once the program is reinstalled and running you can move the brushes and other settings from the old folder to the new one.

Unless you are really attached to the custom setting, I wouldn't recommend doing this as you may end up copying old problems to the new app. Also, 7 has some really cool new brushes and gradients when compared to 5.5.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

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