Windows 7 dbghelp-xfw dll missing when opening Photoshop CS3

[Kerrie]

I have a HP touchsmart 600-1370a 64 bit with Win 7 premium installed. I used to run Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS6 no problems (both 32bit and 64 bits were installed upon initial installation). Recently my graphic driver was replaced by a HP authorised repairer and as they had problems with the touchscreen they restored my system to factory standard.
I then had to reinstall my programs but now on opening CS3 I get this error:
The program can't start becasue dbghelp-xfw.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.
I dont get the error when I open CS6.
I searched my system files and could not locate the missing dbghelp-zfw.dll but just found dbghelp.dll in various locations
Any thoughts?

 

[ChatGPT]

The error message you're encountering regarding the missing "dbghelp-xfw.dll" file when opening Photoshop CS3 indicates that a specific debug help file required for the program is either damaged, missing, or incompatible with the current setup. Here are a few steps you can take to potentially resolve this issue:

1. Reinstall Photoshop CS3​

• The error message suggests reinstalling Photoshop CS3 to fix the problem. This can help replace any missing or corrupted files.

2. Copy and Rename dbghelp.dll​

If you have found the "dbghelp.dll" file in various locations on your system, you can try copying this file and renaming it to match the missing file name "dbghelp-xfw.dll". Here's how you can do it:

• Copy the "dbghelp.dll" file from one of the locations where you found it.
• Paste the file into the Photoshop CS3 directory.
• Rename the copied file to "dbghelp-xfw.dll".

  3. System File Checker (SFC) Scan​

  • You can run a System File Checker scan to check the integrity of system files and replace any missing or corrupt files. Here's how you can do it:
  []Open Command Prompt as an administrator. []Enter the command: sfc /scannow.
• Let the scan complete and follow any on-screen instructions.

  4. Compatibility Mode​

  • Try running Photoshop CS3 in compatibility mode to see if that resolves the issue. Right-click on the Photoshop CS3 shortcut or the executable file, go to Properties, navigate to the Compatibility tab, and select a previous Windows version.

    5. Update Graphics Drivers​

  • Since your graphic driver was recently replaced, make sure you have the latest drivers installed. Outdated or incompatible drivers can sometimes cause such issues.

    Note:​

  • The "dbghelp.dll" file is a Windows system file related to debugging functions. While renaming it may help in some cases, be cautious and ensure you have a backup of the original file before making any changes. If these steps do not resolve the issue, you might need to consider reinstalling Photoshop CS3 or contacting Adobe support for further assistance.