I've just started a new job taking over from a graphics designer who's going back to college.
He uses Corel X3 and since he has all the necessary files and images saved in that format already it made sense for me to get a copy also. So when my boss asked me what software I would require I said to get Corel Draw.
As I waited for my computer to be delivered I downloaded the trial of X4 so I could practice using it. It worked fine on my home PC, bar a couple of chokes on some large .ai files, but I'll forgive that.
Yesterday I got a brand new PC, with Windows XP Pro with 1 gig of ram, a 2 gig processer, not top spec, but more than my home PC and also certainly above the min specs written on the Corel X4 box.
Anyway, the problem that I'm having is that, first off, when I launch the programme, there's a 50% chance that it will choke when I try to open a corel file or just click on "New". If I'm lucky I can then start using it but have no guarantee that it won't then just choke when I import something or try to save. When it eventually crashes (which is the only thing I can be certain of) and I end task it and try and launch it again the same thing happens and the only way I can get the programme up and running again is by rebooting the machine.
I installed the Corel service pack, but it made no difference and also wiped the whole installation and rereinstalled it, still nothing. Having explained the situ to my boss I was told I should get on to the IT guys asap but all I got was the standard "Add More RAM" response and I honestly don't think it's that.
Just for troubleshooting purposes, I took the disc home and installed X4 on my PC here. As with the trial it seems to be working perfectly, on a less powerful PC with a rather battered and worn-out XP pro install. The only thing is that I have Service Pack 3 on my work PC but am still on SP2 here at home. Other than some conflict with other software (Office 2007, Firefox 3, AVG Antivirus, Adobe Acrobat Reader 9, VNC) I have absolutely no idea what it could be.
When stuff happens randomly (e.g. 50% of the time you click on "New"). there's a chance that it's hardware related.
While I can't say for certain, It's possible that you have ram with a bad section that Draw sometimes fills. I would try running a test on your RAM, there's a few good programs for this. I think I've used Prime95 before (free), but I've been told that memtest86 is better since it does it at boot time.
Or, just swap your ram temporarily for testing purposes.
Regards,Hendrik
It's not the RAM. Because I got a replacement PC, basically the same model but a fresh installation. The only difference being that this new install has SP2 rather than SP3. I thought that might be the problem.
Unless it's a conflict with existing software (VNC, Office 2007, Firefox 3, Acrobat 9 [AVG uninstalled]) it can only be an issue with the hardware. (It works on my busted old Dimension 1100 no problem) I also have PSP Photo X2 installed but the problem originally occured before I had installed that. PSP works like a dream, though it may well still be a graphic card problem.
Here's the details from the PC properties:
Windows XP Pro SP2HP dx2400 MicrotowerIntel Pentium R Dual CPUE2180 @ 2.00 GHz1.20 Ghz, 0.99 GB of RAM
Graphics card is Intel G33/31 Express Chipset Family.
Fairly sure that's an inbuilt graphics card that's part of the motherboard. Could that be the problem? (A quick google brought up a load of game forum nerds whining about what a crap card it is so that could well be it)
This is quite a disaster
KuttyJoe said:Same here.
I hate to be criticalbut one has to ask the question. If thousands can use the product and you can't who coul dbe at fault? Ihave CorelDRAW X3 and X4 on hundreds of systems with very rpoduction results in many types of businesses.
<David Milisock> wrote in message news:77116@coreldraw.com... I hate to be criticalbut one has to ask the question. If thousands can use the product and you can't who could be at fault? I have CorelDRAW X3 and X4 on hundreds of systems with very good production results in many types of businesses.
I hate to be criticalbut one has to ask the question. If thousands can use the product and you can't who could be at fault? I have CorelDRAW X3 and X4 on hundreds of systems with very good production results in many types of businesses.
Jeff Harrison said:Same good results here.
Jeff some people can't boil water. Can't blame the tool if you hit your thumb.
David Milisock said: Same good results here. Jeff some people can't boil water. Can't blame the tool if you hit your thumb. [/quote] That's a really dumb comment isn't it. Like most of what you say, it simply ignores what is actually being discussed.
Same good results here.
[/quote]
That's a really dumb comment isn't it. Like most of what you say, it simply ignores what is actually being discussed.
KuttyJoe said: That's a really dumb comment isn't it. Like most of what you say, it simply ignores what is actually being discussed.
No it's the truth. Literally tens of thousand use the application if you can't it has to be you or your equpiment, period.
I've been on the rifle range with combat experienced Marines who couldn't keep the 16 from jamming so it's not hard to imagine people who can't configure a computer system.
I had one guy try and install CD across their network and kept getting corrupt installs, local install solved the issue. Then there was the moron who installed and then tried to limit user privlidges , because everyone steals the graphics.
You say you're using other programs, are you? Or are you barely using them? Who knows? I'm not on site to see. I only know this if you can't get CorelDRAW to work it's you or your equipment.
Of course CorelDraw is perfectly usable. One could wish for better stability though. When I use the workspace I have customized, after a while I get problems, and they disappear when you do a workspace reset. Too bad you have invested hours in that workspace and also learned a workflow that utilizes it. I bet the better stability of some Adobe apps, is due to the fact that the customization is limited to a few keystrokes, if that much, and that you can move toolbars around. But what use is a customizable workspace if it is not stable? Maybe Corel should limit the customization to fewer, safe, options?
Lars Forslin said:Too bad you have invested hours in that workspace and also learned a work flow that utilizes it.
Hey Lars how are you?
The reality here is this when you have a situation like this the technician is responsible to recognize that the task is beyond them and it's time to hire a professional.
The fact is that there are people like me and others who do nothing but support Corel and it's time we speak out against this nonsense that Corel does not work.
We make it work period and we make it work on all systems where the task is appropriate for CorelDRAW.
Lars Forslin said: Of course CorelDraw is perfectly usable. One could wish for better stability though. When I use the workspace I have customized, after a while I get problems, and they disappear when you do a workspace reset. Too bad you have invested hours in that workspace and also learned a workflow that utilizes it. I bet the better stability of some Adobe apps, is due to the fact that the customization is limited to a few keystrokes, if that much, and that you can move toolbars around. But what use is a customizable workspace if it is not stable? Maybe Corel should limit the customization to fewer, safe, options?
I've been with DRAW for a while and I've never had to reset my workspace. I see it as the answer to many posts here though?
Puzzling...
-John
David Milisock said:No it's the truth. Literally tens of thousand use the application if you can't it has to be you or your equpiment, period.
You assume that because tens of thousands aren't on this forum arguing, that they aren't having problems. And you put that forth as some sort of valid argument.
David Milisock said:I've been on the rifle range with combat experienced Marines who couldn't keep the 16 from jamming so it's not hard to imagine people who can't configure a computer system.
Why configure a system at all when competing products do not need systems to be configured for them? They just work. Where in the Corel documentation does it say that for Corel to not crash all over itself, the system must be "configured". Just totally ridiculous comments from you. How about the Tens of thousands of satisfied customers, are they all "configuring" their systems to work with Corel? I can't believe how little sense what you're saying makes. It's actually an argument AGAINST Corel. Your ridiculous comments could be used in an Adobe commercial against Corel. On the one hand there's a product that merely needs to be installed. After that, it just works. On the other hand, we have a product that needs, (copy the ridiculous recommendations from this forum about going into the registry, temp folders, video drivers, and other stuff that people never mess with) LOL. But hey, if you can't, or won't do all of that, then you're too dumb to use Corel's superior software and all the crashing is because....you're dumb. And don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly capable of making registry changes and doing all of the nonsense I see posted as "fixes" or "configurations" for Corel Draw to work without crashing, but logic tells me that it's better to change the program, than the perfectly functioning system. Only two kinds of people would think otherwise. One I already mentioned, a moron. 2. Someone with some invested interested in the product in question.
David Milisock said:I had one guy try and install CD across their network and kept getting corrupt installs, local install solved the issue. Then there was the moron who installed and then tried to limit user privlidges , because everyone steals the graphics.
So?
David Milisock said:You say you're using other programs, are you? Or are you barely using them? Who knows? I'm not on site to see. I only know this if you can't get CorelDRAW to work it's you or your equipment.
Yes, that's how you do it. Raise doubts about the user. It's the common attack vector running through everything you've said. The user, the user, the user. Every example was a moronic user culminating finally in, I'm also a moronic user. What a surprise. You're using "tactics" and assumptions to make your point. No real substance. You're preaching to a choir of a handful of faithfuls. Hopefully, everyone else is willing to notice the elephant in the room. In the end, you've said plenty to support what I've been saying. The day I have to jump through hoops to make a program work, is the day I will use a program that doesn't require it. If that makes me a moron, then I'll just have to be a moron.
David Milisock said:The fact is that there are people like me and others who do nothing but support Corel and it's time we speak out against this nonsense that Corel does not work.
I didn't say it doesn't work. I actually used almost exclusively between 1994 and 2002. I just never said anything about the bugs. But what I said was that Corel products were among the buggiest applications I've ever used. My apologies for saying it. The truth is that Draw and Photopaint are numbers 2 and 3 with only one other application being buggier. That was true 10 years ago, and is still true today. Recently, I discovered a bug after about a minute into Photopaint while discussing something with Jeff regarding Photoshop. This bug will poof Photopaint from screen 100 times out of 100 and it doesn't require any waiting. It's instant. I mentioned it to him and it immediately crashed Photopaint for him as well. He said he would kindly report it to Corel. But don't be troubled by things like that, I'm sure it was just my " poorly configured system". Just nonsense on my part. The fact that it also crashed someone else's system can also be safely ignored as pointless.
David Milisock said:We make it work period and we make it work on all systems where the task is appropriate for CorelDRAW.
Yes, you make it work. Someone from Corel should probably tell you to just stop talking. You're not doing them any favors.