Hi Jeff Good to hear from you. This is all the info I can glean re CPU is there anything else required?

   Intel Core i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz
  

Regrds Alan

Hi No fault notification showing in Reliability monitor.

@Alan-Workman

Thank you for the additional information. I confess I am rather surprised that Reliability Monitor shows nothing!

However, now we need to look into your CPU and Graphics Card drivers, I think. Can you check, by going to the intel and NVidia sites (the latter will enable you to install the GeForce Experience software) and ensure you have the latest drivers installed? Don't depend on Windows Update for checking on this!

This page lists the technical requirements for a computer to run PS2025; I have a feeling yours meets the "minimum" but is rather below the "recommended", especially with that NVidoa card..

Jeff

CPU and Graphics card drivers now updated as suggested. Task manager displays the Magix program is tying up 20% CPU when displaying the splash screen. It appears this screen eventually disappears after about 30 mins and then I can use the program. The splash screen sits centrally and cannot be hidden or moved, so not a very usable product as yet!

@Alan-Workman

Thanks for the further update!

I'm glad the updated drivers seem to have allowed you to at least open the program! However, a 30 minute wait is a serious pain!

When you had installed the updated drivers did you do a full computer Restart? (Shut down or sign out>Restart, so not a simple Shut Down.) In essence, this allows your computer to reset all sorts of things and is often found to clear problems similar to yours. If you didn't do the Restart, there's nothing to prevent you doing it now! Just make sure any ongoing work is saved first!!

HTH

Jeff

Now done full shutdown. No difference.

@Alan-Workman

"Shut down" or "Restart"? They are NOT the same thing! The former saves your computer configuration as it was at that moment and then reloads it when you start again; the latter does not. In effect, it creates a "vanilla" configuration.

Jeff

Hi Jeff Done both - no change. Took the video card out and plugged into the onboard card -no change. After 30 mins of the updating program layout, it disappears but then back to a completely frozen program. I have gone ahead and opened a ticket if that's OK with you? Cheers Alan

Is it worth me deleting the program and reinstalling? If so, do I need to deregister first? Regards Alan

@Alan-Workman

I, like all the forum moderators, am not a Magix employee, just a fellow-user, so yes, raising a support ticket is absolutely the right course!

I would not, at this stage, even think about uninstalling and reinstalling. Hopefully, Magix Support will ask you to download and run their SysCheck app and send all the resulting data to them. From that, they can take a detailed look at your system and, in my experience, offer guidance on what the problem(s) may be and how to resolve it/them.

Should you eventually be advised or decide to uninstall then yes, deactivating the program is a good idea BUT this is done via the Help menu with the program open and running! The other route is via your Magix account but is really only vital when/if your account shows two activations in use and you attempt to activate the program again.

Jeff

@Alan-Workman

Hi

I have removed superfluous information from your post above regarding the CPU.

. . . . It appears this screen eventually disappears after about 30 mins and then I can use the program. . . .

I have the same CPU in my PC and the start takes no more than 15 seconds to get to the stage where it is usable.

The length of time you are experiencing would suggest that:

• There is something which is slowing down the VST/Effects scans eg unsupported, a very large number of items, or rogue items in the locations where these are stored.
  
  And/or
   
• Your Antivirus program is slowing down the scan, possibly due to on demand scanning.
  
  Which Antivirus program are you using?
  
  Or
   
• There is an issue with the drive the VSTs and Effects are stored on, ie it is deteriorating/failing, the probability of this is low, however it may be wise to download the drive manufacturer's tools to diagnose the drive(s).

John EB
Forum Moderator

Hi John Thanks for your input. Easy one first I'm using AVG I have two Crucial SSDs have run their software windows and Tune up which show no drive errors As to the VST storage I'm not sure what that means. Regards Alan

@Alan-Workman

Hi

. . . . AVG . . .

Try disabling this completely, your computer will revert to using Windows/Microsoft Defender, and try Photostory again.

I no longer use AVG/Avast due to issues with them detecting too many false positives and blocking Magix programs.

HTH

John EB

Hi John Thanks for suggestion. AVG completely disabled--No difference. Regards Alan

@Alan-Workman

Hi

Check that there is not a hidden dialog box waiting for a response from you - point / hover the mouse pointer over the program icon in the Taskbar, if you see 2 icons for the program press the Enter key, if nothing happens press the Esc key.

If possible can you grab a screenshot of the second dialog box, you may able to bring the dialog to the front by pressing Alt + Tab to switch to it.

John EB

Hi No second dialogue box shown. Only the smiling bearded chap and the child seen displaying updating program layout

@Alan-Workman

Hi

This issue has me puzzled, try disabling off both AVG, and in Windows /Microsoft Defender the Folder protection feature and start Photostory.

If this still hangs, right click the Photostory shortcut and select Run as administrator.

If neither help than I would suggest you raise a Support ticket - link is at the top of the page, select Photostory, scroll to the bottom of the next page and select Contact support, select work through the following pages always selecting Email support or Contact support.

John EB

Hi John No change with AVG and Defender off Nor run as administrator. I infact took out a ticket Monday AM not heard from Magix as yet other than blank confirmation email. Any idea as to how long before i hear from them? I will have to purchase an alternative soon as my project is due early next week. All a bit frustrating.

@Alan-Workman

Hi

Reply to the email, even though it is blank, indicating that the ticket response email is empty and state that the issue has not been resolved, also give a link to this topic.

John EB