Reformat - How to restore Photoshop settings?

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Ok, my system is slowing getting to the point where I'm going to have to do a complete reformat and start fresh. No big, I've done it plenty of times before but the one thing that kills me is setting up Photoshop over and over.

I have so many actions, scripts, filters and custom settings that it's a complete pain to start from scratch (I can reinstall the filters easily so that's not a big prob).

So I'm wondering if there's any way to save/restore a Photoshop environment?

_/oe

[JohnT]

Someone will have to confirm this, but... If you will go into your Adobe Photoshop CS3 folder (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS3) and save the folders that you need from there, put them on disc, then copy them over when you're ready, you should be good to go.

[Roy]

I can't say for certain but I have reinstalled and copied over the install from a back-up copy on my Cad software and it was just like it always was with all my custom settings in place. I think what John suggested will work for CS3.

[jeffkohn]

The actions are easy, you can save them to an ATN file from the action palette in Photoshop. Most of the other settings are under your user profile, the exact location of which varies depending on the OS version (MS can't make up their mind where this stuff should go and moves it with every new OS release).

For Vista, it's under C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\, with a separate directory for each application. You probably don't want to restore _everything_ in that subtree, but if you dig around a little you shouldn't have any trouble finding the important stuff.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Thanks all, for the tips. I'm working on it now.

_/oe

[Roy]

Let us know if it works Joe.

[DigitalDiva]

I have made a folder on my c drive named photoshop extras then have subfolders with brushes, shapes, backgrounds, textures and fonts etc. Then when I need a brush or action whatever I load it as I need it. I go a step further and keep brushes sorted for example swirls, grunge etc. then do a backup on an external drive so if trouble comes and it does eventually, I don't have to reload all my tools and textures I just add & remove as needed. I think loading an item as you need it keeps the program running more efficiently.
I just got done installing a new hard drive on what has been a lemon of a laptop and finally spoke with customer service rep at hp and told him that enough was enough, and they are sending me a brand new laptop finally!

[picman]

Don't forget to deactivate Photoshop you reformat