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When I run Photoshop CS4 on Windows 7, other running programs don't receive the ESC key (I noticed in PuTTY and Total Commander's Lister). When I close Photoshop, they start receiving the ESC key again.

  • I tried multiple keyboard layouts, no change.
  • Photoshop is an out-of-box install, no settings changed
  • I exported the list of keybindings from Photoshop (ctrl-alt-shift-k) and ESC isn't used in any combination

Why is this? Is there any way to disable or bypass this so that I could use other programs normally?

user46935
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6 Answers6

23

Photoshop CS4 and ATI Catalyst Control Center both hook the Escape key. To fix it, use Windows Task Manager to terminate ccc.exe and restart Photoshop.

Guru
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Intel chipset users should right-click on Intel Graphics tray icon and disable hotkeys.

Other way to do this (if Intel Graphics tray icon missing):

Control panel → Display → Change display settings → Advanced settings → tab "Intel® Graphics and Media control panel" → button "Graphics Propertries" → Options and Support → Hot Key functionality → uncheck "Enable"

From here http://forums.adobe.com/message/1636488#1636488

Community
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yakunins
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It's a issue with the Photoshop and it happens on other programs too. (It's probably related to some Photoshops plugins) You should be able to use SHIFT+ESC to bypass it.

This issue is fixed in CS5.

You could also try one of these programs from here http://forums.adobe.com/message/1636461#1636461 if you are not happy with the SHIFT-method or upgrading to CS5.

Specur
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The problem wasn't related to any other software in my case.

This is what helped me (Win 7 Professional x64, had no such problem with Win 7 Professional x86).

Run CS3 - esc did not work. Run CS3 in compatiblity mode with WinXP SP3 - that solved it, but no drag&drop into photoshop (due to different user rights maybe).

I turned off the compatibility mode and the ESC still works as it should :)

EDIT: not TRUE that it wasn't related to any other software. When I was testing it I already had Catalyst Control Center (CCC.exe) shut down from another round of testing. So CCC IS somehow involved in this problem. Simply turning off Keyboard shortcuts in CCC DID NOT work I had to shut it down (in my case via the TaskManager, but I guess normal quit would work the same, ie. not leaving some other part of CCC.exe running).

Pavel Linhart
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Photoshop CS3 (32-bits) on Windows 7, SP1

Photoshop itself can use Esc. For example, in open file dialog the Esc key will cancel/close the dialog.

But any other application such as notepad can not use Esc key.

At the same time, Ctrl+Shift+Esc still opens the task manager.

As a vim user, Esc is most frequently the key used to get back to normal mode. Inside vim CTRL+\ CTRL+N is a workaround to bypass the malfunctioned Esc.

If you close the Photoshop application, the Esc hook will be released and works again.

I use hotkey explorer utility to find out which application hooks what key.

How to Fix Photoshop Breaking the Escape Key in Windows

Linger
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zhaorufei
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I have Intel HD Graphics. Hotkeys in it was already disabled, but problem still was not solved.

I killed the igfxHK.exe process and restarted PS - problem solved.

To keep igfxHK from running, go to C:\Windows\System32 and rename igfxHK.exe to igfxHK_.exe.

Edit:

These steps do not solve the problem completely. It seems after a while the error is resumed. I was unable to install because of what. I thought that because of the disguised computer to sleep and recovery, but it is not. It looks like it just happens over time. To remove this problem for a while, just turn on and turn off the processing of global hotkeys in some other application, such as AIMP. Then you need to restart the PS. Now it's helped me.

It looks as if it leads to the restoration processing somewhere. Which then somehow it breaks down.

Windows 7, x64, Photoshop CS 3.

Enyby
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