Restore preferences in Dreamweaver CS4, CS5, CS5.5

Search

For information on resetting preferences in Dreamweaver CS6 and Dreamweaver versions, click here.

Damaged preferences files can cause crashes, errors, and other unexpected behavior in Dreamweaver. Follow the instructions below to restore preferences to the default settings.

Disclaimer: Some of these procedures involve 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.

Windows users: Some of the procedure below require you to access hidden folders. By default, Windows does not display hidden folders or files. For instructions on showing these hidden folders, see Show hidden files and folders.

Mac OS 10.7 Lion users: Some of the procedure below require you to access your user Library folder. Beginning with Mac OS 10.7, Apple made this folder hidden. For instructions to access your user Library, see Can't see user library files in Mac OS 10.7 and later.

Remove existing preferences

To remove existing preferences, follow the instructions below that are appropriate for your operating system and version of Dreamweaver:

Remove preferences on Mac OS

  1. Quit Dreamweaver.

  2. In the Finder, navigate to /Users/[User Name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe.

  3. Rename the Dreamweaver preferences folder:

    • Dreamweaver CS5.5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5.5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.5.
    • Dreamweaver CS5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.
    • Dreamweaver CS4: Rename the Dreamweaver CS4 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS4.

  4. Navigate to /Users/[User Name]/Library/Preferences.

  5. Rename the Dreamweaver preferences file:

    • Dreamweaver CS5.5: Rename the Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 Prefs file to, for example, Old Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 Prefs.
    • Dreamweaver CS5: Rename the Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 Prefs file to, for example, Old Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 Prefs.
    • Dreamweaver CS4: Rename the Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 Prefs file to, for example, Old Adobe Dreamweaver CS4 Prefs.

Remove preferences on Windows 7 or Windows Vista

  1. Exit Dreamweaver.

  2. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe.

  3. Rename the Dreamweaver preferences folder:

    • Dreamweaver CS5.5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5.5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.5.
    • Dreamweaver CS5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.
    • Dreamweaver CS4: Rename the Dreamweaver CS4 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS4.

  4. Choose Start, type regedit in the Start Search, and then press Enter.

  5. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe

  6. Remove the Dreamweaver preferences registry entries.

    Dreamweaver CS5.5

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS5.5 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure the Dreamweaver CS5.5 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.


    Dreamweaver CS5

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS5 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure that the Dreamweaver CS5 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.


    Dreamweaver CS4

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS4 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure that the Dreamweaver CS4 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.

  7. Exit the Registry Editor.

Remove preferences on Windows XP

  1. Exit Dreamweaver.

  2. In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Adobe.

  3. Rename the Dreamweaver preferences folder:

    • Dreamweaver CS5.5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5.5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.5.
    • Dreamweaver CS5: Rename the Dreamweaver CS5 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS5.
    • Dreamweaver CS4: Rename the Dreamweaver CS4 folder to, for example, Old Dreamweaver CS4.

  4. Choose Start > Run. Type regedit in the Open text box, and then press Enter or click OK.

  5. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe

  6. Remove the Dreamweaver preferences registry entries:

    Dreamweaver CS5.5

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS5.5 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure the Dreamweaver CS5.5 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.

    Dreamweaver CS5

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS5 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure that the Dreamweaver CS5 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.

    Dreamweaver CS4

    1. Select the Dreamweaver CS4 key, then choose File > Export. In the Export Registry File dialog box, enter a filename and location, and then click Save.

    2. Ensure that the Dreamweaver CS4 key is still selected, and then choose Edit > Delete. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog box, click Yes.

  7. Exit the Registry Editor.

Try to re-create the problem

After you have removed your existing preferences, restart Dreamweaver. The application creates new preferences files, folders, and registry entries, as applicable, using the default settings. 

Then try to re-create the problem that you had before.

If the problem was resolved, then damaged preferences was the cause.

If the problem persists, then the preferences are not the cause and you can replace the original preferences.

To replace the original preferences:

  1. Quit Dreamweaver.
  2. Delete the new preferences folder and restore the original name of the previous folder.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • Mac OS: Delete the new preferences file and restore the original name of the previous preferences file.
    • Windows: Double-click the registry backup file you created.

More like this

Adobe logo

Sign in to your account

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy