How to re-create the Dreamweaver user configuration folder (CS3 on Windows XP, Vista)

If Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 starts displaying errors, crashing, or behaving unpredictably, it is possible that the Dreamweaver user configuration folder is corrupted. The configuration folder stores individual user's customizations, such as snippets, menu options, extensions, spelling dictionaries, etc. To test for a corrupt user configuration folder, try the following:

Note: This procedure requires you to locate hidden files, hidden folders and extensions for known file types. By default, Windows Explorer doesn't show hidden files, hidden folders, and file name extensions that it recognizes.

To show hidden files, hidden folders, and extensions for known file types:

Note: Re-creating the Dreamweaver Configuration folder restores Dreamweaver settings to their defaults.

To re-create the Dreamweaver user's Configuration folder on Windows XP:

To re-create the Dreamweaver user's Configuration folder on Windows Vista:

If the problem continues, then the Dreamweaver configuration files aren't the cause. To restore custom settings, quit Dreamweaver, then delete the new configuration folder and restore the original name of the previous configuration folder.

If the problem is resolved after re-creating the user configuration folder, transfer any configuration files you may have customized to the newly created user configuration folder, then delete the old configuration folder. Refer to "Backing up and restoring Dreamweaver settings" (TechNote 18736) for instructions. If the problem is reintroduced after transferring old files to the new folder, follow the steps above to recreate the user configuration folder, then transfer customized files one at a time. Test for the problem after each file is transferred to isolate the damaged file(s).



Note: Dreamweaver extensions may write files to subfolders in the Dreamweaver user configuration folder. If you have Dreamweaver extensions installed, we do not recommend transferring existing user configuration subfolders back into the new user configuration folder. Instead, extension users should start from the new user configuration folder and reinstall extensions using the Extension Manager installer one at a time. Test each extension individually after installing it to isolate any problematic extensions.

If the steps above don't resolve the problem, follow the steps above again, but insert the following step after step 3:

Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe doesn't provide support for editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. Make sure to back up the registry before editing it. For more information about the registry, see the Windows documentation or contact Microsoft.

In Windows XP:

In Windows Vista:

If this TechNote doesn't resolve the problem, refer to the following TechNotes for additional troubleshooting:

• Troubleshooting Dreamweaver for Windows (TechNote 15481)
• Troubleshooting JavaScript errors in Dreamweaver (TechNote 19105)
• Dreamweaver crashes when performing a task related to site definitions (TechNote 5989f7f4)