I posted this back when using CorelX3 and never got any response. I also could not get any response from Corel technical support. Now I am using Corel X4 with the latest service pack, and still getting the exact same problem!
I have been using Corel products for over ten years and have never had a problem like this: I have CorelDRAW X4 running on Windows Vista Business as a client on a Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 network. All drawings are saved in my "Documents" folder and "My Documents Redirection" is enabled on the server. During the course of the workday, CorelDRAW hangs very frequently (sometimes as frequently as every 10-15 minutes) upon attempting to perform a function.
An example would be: I am working on a drawing and, using the text tool, begin typing. After a few characters, the program just hangs. Another example would be: I click an object with the pick tool and attempt to move it, and the program just hangs. Once the program hangs, I can do nothing else in CorelDRAW - it is completely unresponsive. The really interesting part is that once CorelDRAW hangs, I can not begin any new processes in Windows Vista - that is, I can not open new programs (such as Outlook), open Internet Explorer, etc... or even close programs that are currently open. If I attempt to open any other programs or windows, nothing happens. If I bring up task manager and end CorelDRAW (which is listed as "not responding"), then as SOON as Corel terminates, ALL of the programs and windows I tried opening IMMEDIATELY pop up.
This could be some kind of CorelDRAW network issue, as SOMETIMES I can solve this issue by clicking "Sync All" on the "Sync Center" in Vista. If the program syncs successfully, then Corel immediately unhangs, and everything is fine for a few seconds. However, if I attempt to do more than a few functions in Corel after that point, Corel hangs again. I believe this to be an issue with CorelDRAW, as NO OTHER program on this client causes this problem (or has any problem), including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, and several other graphics programs. The client computer in question has Vista fully updated, 2.4Ghz Core2 Duo CPU, 4GB RAM, and plenty of free HDD space. I have multiple client computers here with similarly fast hardware, and every one of them experiences this issue.
There are no unnecessary processes or malware running on this computer. There are no issues whatsoever on this computer except for with Corel. No other program on this computer causes the hanging issue that Corel is experiencing.
I would appreciate any advice. If I need to supply any more information, please just ask.
Thank you.
I appreciate all of the replies and suggestions so far. I am attempting various settings on the different client computer we have so I can be trying multiple suggestions at once (we have a large number of Corel users in my organization).
The suggested linked thread indicated that the OP had problems with Quick Correct corruption. I don't think this is the case in my scenario, as I have several brand new fresh installs of Corel X4 running (even some X3), and get the issue. I'll try disabling every option under "Quick Correct" to see if it makes a difference.
Answering recent questions:
The default printer is indeed a network printer, through our SBS. This printer is never offline though.
By "temp" folder, are you referring to Corel's "Swap Disks" under "Memory"? If so, it was pointing to the default location on the "C" drive. I am currently testing out pointing it to different locations, different partitions, as well as separate physical disks (separate from the drive Corel is installed on). As I've mentioned, we have many Corel users in my organization, so I am trying multiple things at once (on different machines) to save time.
As far as anti-virus and protection software, everything is handled through our server and its hardware firewall. So it should not be an anti-virus program running on a client machine that would be interfering with Corel's operation. To be clear, I have also thoroughly scanned each client computer to ensure that there were no infections of any kind. I've tried to cover all my bases ahead of time.
Thank you all again for the help, and I hope a resolution is reached soon.
To rule out the printer, I would try temporarily removing all printers from windows. I've also noticed that sometimes fonts are actually shared over the network. If Draw has problems accessing the font, some stuff may slow down. It may even be a font that is not used in the document since Draw keeps default styles for several fonts. You can see which fonts are referenced by a file by renaming it to .zip, open it in winzip, and look at metadata\metadata.xml.
Regards,Hendrik
So far, none of the suggestions have met with any success.
I have not had a chance to delete all printers from Windows, but will try soon. How could a printer be causing Corel to hang? The default printer is never offline, and if Corel has crashed on one client's computer, I can still print to the default printer fine from another client's copy of Corel at the same time.
As far as fonts go, there are no fonts being shared over the network at all. All fonts are local and in the typical Windows fonts folder. We are just using standard fonts in the Windows Fonts folder - not anything else, and no font programs or anything like that.
Also, when I say that Corel is hanging, I do not mean that it slows down or takes a minute to catch up. I mean it is permanently stuck. I let one copy sit like that for several hours just to see if it was actually doing anything or if it really was crashed. It never recovered.
Praetereo said:Also, when I say that Corel is hanging, I do not mean that it slows down or takes a minute to catch up. I mean it is permanently stuck. I let one copy sit like that for several hours just to see if it was actually doing anything or if it really was crashed. It never recovered.
Ok, that's one I haven't heard of. There must be something unique to your office's setup that is exposing an issue in Draw. I'm not sure what to suggest, I wish I could debug it :(