TechNote

Installing Dreamweaver CS3 in Selective Startup Mode on Windows Vista

If you are experiencing crashes, errors or other unexpected behavior with Adobe Dreamweaver CS3, it's a good idea to try reinstalling it with all other applications and background processes turned off, to ensure nothing is conflicting with the Dreamweaver installer, like anti-virus software. The Windows installer for Dreamweaver uses Windows Installer packages (MSI), and because of this, you cannot install Dreamweaver in Safe Mode, because Safe Mode disables the Windows Installer service.

If you have Windows Vista, an alternative to installing in Safe Mode is to start in Selective Startup Mode. This mode will disable most nonessential programs and background processes, but it will let you enable the Microsoft services, including the Windows Installer service, so you can install Dreamweaver.

How to start in Selective Startup mode

Note: Make sure your Windows account has administrative privileges before booting up in Selective Startup Mode. If you do not have administrative privileges, you may not be able to return to Normal Mode.

1. In Windows Vista, choose Start, type msconfig in the Search text box, and press Enter.
2. This will bring up the System Configuration dialog box.
3. Click the General tab, and choose Selective Startup.
4. Select Load System Services, deselect Load Startup Items, and leave Use Original Boot Configuration selected.
   
   
5. Click the Apply button and then click the Services tab.
6. Select Hide All Microsoft Services so you only see non-Microsoft services.
7. Click the Disable All button so all non-Microsoft services are disabled.
8. Deselect Hide All Microsoft Services and verify that all Microsoft services are enabled but all non-Microsoft services are disabled.
9. Click Apply and then click OK and restart your machine when prompted.
10. After restarting into Selective Startup mode, install Dreamweaver.
11. Once Dreamweaver has been installed, run msconfig again and specify Normal Startup mode.
12. Restart the machine back into Normal Startup mode and see if the problem with Dreamweaver has been resolved.

Additional Information

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Please refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for more information on Selective Startup Mode in Windows Vista:

• How to perform a clean boot procedure to prevent background programs from interfering with a game or a program that you currently use (Article ID 331796)
• Run Selective Startup using System Configuration
• Using System Configuration

For Windows XP installation tips, see "Installing Dreamweaver in Selective Startup Mode on Windows XP" (TechNote d2b5934d).

For general Windows troubleshooting tips, see "Troubleshooting Dreamweaver for Windows" (TechNote tn_15481).

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