XP, Pleez
The About screen for PaintShop Pro v6
I've been using PaintShop Pro as my go-to raster editing software since version 4. Version 6 produced a mature program that does everything I need of it; I did get version 8, but it lost an important feature: the ability to resize an image without losing quality. So, v6 it is.
Here's the thing: PaintShop Pro v6 came out in 2000. Yep, it's 22 years old. But being that old has for me three big advantages that no recent version can boast (it's now owned by Corel or whatever that company changed its name to):
- Being ancient, it was designed to run on computers much slower than today. This means on today's computers it opens in about a second -- two seconds, if the computer is really busy. I want that kind of responsiveness.
- It isn't overladen with functions I don't need nor with innovative user interfaces that hinder, rather than help.
- It has a permanent license. Hurrah for user independence!
It was fine through to Windows 7. With Windows 8 and onwards, the operating system's internal code changed to the point that when now I install PaintShop Pro 6 on a new computer, it complains about the registry. Worse, it displays the dialog box twice.
After putting up with this for a few years, I finally hunted the Interwebs for a solution. It was fun reading Microsoft support blandly advising frustrated PaintShop Pro v6 users to contact the software vendor for an update. Anyhow, thank you to Jeff A. Davis who persisted and clicked enough times to get the problem fixed. Here are the steps he took, and which I took, and which worked:
1. Install the software.
2. Navigate in File Explorer to Psp.exe (in Program Files (x86) > Paint Shop Pro 6 folder).
3. Right-click Psp.exe and then choose TROUBLESHOOT COMPATIBILITY from the shortcut menu.
4, In the dialog box, click TROUBLESHOOT PROGRAM.
5. Uncheck all options and then turn on the I DON'T SEE MY PROBLEM LISTED option.
6. Next choose I DON'T KNOW.
7. And then choose I DON'T SEE MY PROBLEM LISTED, again.
8. Click Next and Windows mulls things over for a bit, and then returns with its report:
Settings Applied to PSP
- Windows Compatibility Mode: Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
- User Account Control: Run as Administrator
9. Click TEST THE PROGRAM to find it works correctly.
No more annoying warning about the registry!
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