Photo, Designer & Publisher now all hang on attempted startup.

[Rebound55]

In the last two weeks or so I have been unable to start Photo, Designer or Publisher. All three applications show the initial splash screen but then just hang, with a spinning icon.

Any idea of what the problem is please and how to solve it.

I am running version 1.10.5.1342 of all 3 apps on Windows 11.

[Komatös]

Hi, @Rebound55and welcome to the forums.

Please try with deactivated hardware acceleration in all 3 apps. Edit -> Preferences -> Performance. Untick Hardware acceleration (OCL).

[Rebound55]

Hi Komatos,

Thanks for the welcome.

As the programs won't open past the initial splash screen, I deactivated OCL within the Settings files for all three (True -> False).

After a cold reboot, the changes made no difference; the programs still hang at the splash screen.

Any other suggestions would be welcome please.

[walt.farrell]

Have you checked this list?

 

[Rebound55]

Hi Walt.

I looked at this list previously and none of the programs listed are on my machine.

I also just tried forcing the graphics card choice, but it made no difference; still won't get past the splash screen.

I have two GPU listed on my machine: For power saving: Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics; For High performance: Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Max Graphics.

I've tried forcing either one to no avail. All drivers are up to date.

All programs worked until a couple of weeks ago no problem. A windows or drivers update must have changed something.

However, if I try and Restore from a previous restore point, I lose the drivers for my Internet card. Don't know why that happens....

Stuck.....

[v_kyr]

You can tryout the behavior by installing an older Intel GPU driver version, see at the following page the top "date -> version" pull-down menu ...

• https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19344/intel-graphics-windows-dch-drivers.html

 

[Callum]

Hi Rebound55,

Welcome to the forums

Please could you tell me how many fonts you have installed on your system? Please could you also try right clicking the apps and choose run as admin to see if this solves your issue? If you haven't already it might also be worth reinstalling the apps. I understand the app is just hanging and not crashing but please could you check to see if any crash reports have been generated by following the below guide?  Have you installed any anti virus software recently that might be interfering with Affinity in any way? Please could you also tell me how much RAM you have installed in your computer?
https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/98904-where-to-find-crash-reports/

Please could you also try V_kyr's suggestion above and let me know if this makes any difference at all.

Thanks
C

 

[Rebound55]

Hi Callum.

Sorry for the delay, I've been away working.

Not sure how many fonts, but I have not loaded any fonts apart from the free ones obtained when I purchased the three apps. So no change for 2 years there.

I tried forcing graphics card: no change. I tried deleting and full reinstall of all three apps again, downloading from the Affinity website: no change.

I tried toggling hardware acceleration on and off: no change.

I then tried V_kyr's solution: no change.

I have checked the Events file in windows and note that igfxn was not started, (driver name oem131.inf).

Could this be the problem and anyone know how to fix it?

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, Rebound55 said:

... note that igfxn was not started ...

See for example and try another Intel driver:

• Device not started(igfxn) uhd 770

• device not started on uhd 770 (igfxn)

• Iris Xe - Event 4101 - Igfxn stopped responding (others having too problems with Intel drivers under Win 11, see last post there)

• How to Fix "Display Driver Igfx Has Stopped Responding and Has Successfully Recovered"

Quote

"Igfx" refers to the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, an onboard graphics chip.

 

[Rebound55]

Hi V_kyr.

I tried the last option in your list and downloaded the latest Intel driver for Iris Xe graphics. (My pc has both Iris Xe and Iris Xe MAX)

I had done this before to no effect, but this time it worked!

I now have all 3 Affinity programs working again.(At least, they started OK, and each within 5 seconds).

Many thanks to all who helped with this.