TechNote

Error "Could not complete your request..." or "File...already exists..." when you try to open or save a file (Photoshop CS)

Issue

When you try to open or save a file in Adobe Photoshop, one of the following occurs:

-- When you try to open a file, Photoshop returns the error message, "Could not complete your request because it is not the right kind of document."

-- When you try to save a file, Photoshop returns the error message "File [path to file] already exists. Do you want to replace it?"

Solutions

Do one or more of the following solutions:

Note: These solutions require you to locate files by their extensions (for example, .jpg). By default, Windows Explorer doesn't show file name extensions it recognizes. Before completing these solutions, enable Windows Explorer to show all file name extensions. For instructions, see the documentation included with Windows.

Solution 1: Re-create the Photoshop preferences file.

1. Exit from Photoshop.

2. Rename the preferences file (for example, to Adobe Photoshop CS2 Prefs.old, or to Adobe Photoshop CS Prefs.old).

-- In Photoshop CS: Rename the Adobe Photoshop CS Prefs.psp file, located in the Documents and Settings/[user profile]/Application Data/Adobe/Photoshop/8.0/Adobe Photoshop CS Settings folder

-- In Photoshop CS2: Rename the Adobe Photoshop CS2 Prefs.psp file, located in the Documents and Settings/[user profile]/Application Data/Adobe/Photoshop/9.0/Adobe Photoshop CS2 Settings folder.

3. Start Photoshop. Photoshop creates a new preferences file.

Solution 2: Remove or replace periods from the file name.

If the file name contains more than one period (for example, filename.1.JPG), remove the extra period or replace it with an underscore (for example, filename_1.JPG).

Note: Photoshop can open and save files with file names that contain more than one period; however, if you've configured Windows to hide file name extensions, Photoshop automatically appends the file format's extension to the file name immediately after the first period. For example, Photoshop changes "filename.1.JPG" to "filename.JPG."

Solution 3: Add an extension to the filename.

Make sure that the filename includes an extension, and that the filename extension matches the file format:

1. In Photoshop, choose File > Save As.

2. Select a format from the Format menu in the Save As dialog box. Photoshop appends the correct file extension to the end of the filename.

Note: Don't change this extension. Photoshop requires it to open the file.

Solution 4: Verify that Photoshop works as expected in a new user account.

If Photoshop doesn't append an extension to the filename, create a new user account and verify that Photoshop works as expected. For instructions on creating a new user account, see the documentation included with Windows.

To verify that Photoshop works as expected in a new user account:

1. Restart Windows and log in to the new user account.

2. Start Photoshop and open a file.

3. Choose File > Save As, and choose a file format from the Format menu.

4. Do one of the following:

-- If Photoshop appends the extension to the filename, the original user account or the Windows registry entries for that account are damaged, incorrect, or conflict with the Photoshop Save As functionality. Work with Photoshop in the new user account, and see your system administrator to troubleshoot the original user account or Windows registry entries.

-- If Photoshop does not append the extension to the filename, the original user account is not damaged. Proceed to solution 5.

Solution 5: Contact Adobe Technical Support.

Call Adobe Technical Support at (206) 675-6500 to finish troubleshooting this issue.

Background information

A Windows filename extension is a multi-character suffix added to the end of a filename. The filename extension enables Windows applications, such as Photoshop, to recognize whether a file is compatible with the application. File extension information that determines how Windows and Windows applications respond to different file formats is stored in the Windows registry.

Photoshop relies on file extensions to determine the file format and to determine if it can open or save a file. When you save a file, be sure to include filename extensions that enable Photoshop to open and save your images (for example, PSD, JPG, and TIF).