Software installs then does nothing

justinr · 06-05-2011, 01:25 PM

I installed the Digital Camera Utility 4 that came with the K5 and it worked OK. However, due to me not being familiar with the software I got in a right muddle (or there was a problem with the software) so I thought I'd reinstall and start from scratch. Have done this but now the programme won't run and I get the message -

'Runtime error

Abnormal programme termination.'

I have also tried opening the RAW files from the K5 in Pentax Photo Laboratory but there the message is 'Failed to preview'

The jpegs of the same shots display fine in Photoshop etc.

Any ideas?

imtheguy · 06-05-2011, 04:29 PM

Would need to see more information to give you a "why" but suggest you uninstall the package, reboot, install again if you have not already. If a clean install does not run as it did the first time, something has changed in your environment and you will need to think about what that might be. (other new software? new hardware? broken uninstall?, etc). See if newer versions or updates are available online to use instead of or to patch the current version. Good luck

K57XR · 06-05-2011, 04:39 PM

Try and do a "All files and Folders" search in your system for this file - checkinfo.ini
It will be in a Pentax folder. If you find it you can either rename or delete it.
Hope this helps! Cheers!

imtheguy · 06-05-2011, 04:47 PM

Agreed. If Uninstall does not remove the .ini file.
On Win7 its located in C:/Users/<username>/AppData/Local/Pentax/Digital Camera Utility 4/

JeffJS · 06-05-2011, 07:14 PM

If that doesn't work for you there are always other programs. The undeniable truth, in my experience, is that the PDCU software has always crashed if it started to begin with. That's been true with 4 different versions on 3 different computers running various versions of windows.

justinr · 06-06-2011, 01:48 AM

Many thanks for the fix. I've removed the checkinfo file and it's now working well enough to process a jpeg from the RAW (better image quality than the in camera one) but I can't use the White balance, Lens correction etc functions as the software thinks that all the files are jpegs and won't allow the appropriate boxes to be ticked under the 'Windows' header on the menu.

I am now hopefully out of trouble sufficiently to get the present job done but I'll need to look at it again soon.

Alan Bird · 06-07-2011, 12:59 AM

Thanks for this information, all. I've had the same problems with this software since I got my K-x a year ago and tried everything I could think of - uninstall, reboot, registry clean etc. I've now renamed the checkinfo.ini file and all is well!

Thanks guys

K57XR · 06-07-2011, 06:41 AM

If the check-box is clicked on any of the thumbnail photos and leave it there, the “checkinfo.ini” file is created in the DCU4 folder as the application is closed. If this file is either renamed or deleted for the “fix”, a new one will be created and will cause the same problem.

To prevent the issue from reoccurring, make sure there are no checks in any of the thumbnail photos before closing the program.

**Bill_R** · 06-07-2011, 06:51 AM

Originally posted by justinr

Many thanks for the fix. I've removed the checkinfo file and it's now working well enough to process a jpeg from the RAW (better image quality than the in camera one) but I can't use the White balance, Lens correction etc functions as the software thinks that all the files are jpegs and won't allow the appropriate boxes to be ticked under the 'Windows' header on the menu.

I am now hopefully out of trouble sufficiently to get the present job done but I'll need to look at it again soon.

Have you installed the latest update? That might be enough to get it fully workimg again.
The latest update also allows processing of jpeg if it recognises them as being shot with a supported Pentax camera. The problem can be if they are imported with the Windows photo import then they aren't recognised (Import with Windows Live Photo Gallery or PDCU itself and they are ok). I don't know if that might affect RAW files as well.
If all else fails, backup what might be lost to My documents folder or sub-folder and roll back and start again.
I actually quite like PDCU4 because it is dedicated to Pentax and ... free. It was problematic for me for a while until it decided to behave and I've had no crashes from it since (running on Windows 7 64 bit).
The beta of PhotoDirector recognises Pentax RAW files and is ok: PhotoDirector 2011 Beta Version ? Professional Quality Photo Editing Software
Download the beta, review it and the released version is free.

Alan Bird · 06-08-2011, 12:50 AM

Originally posted by K57XR

If the check-box is clicked on any of the thumbnail photos and leave it there, the “checkinfo.ini” file is created in the DCU4 folder as the application is closed. If this file is either renamed or deleted for the “fix”, a new one will be created and will cause the same problem.

To prevent the issue from reoccurring, make sure there are no checks in any of the thumbnail photos before closing the program.

Just found this out the hard way! What a brilliant piece of software design! Thanks for the tip.

justinr · 06-09-2011, 09:54 AM

Many thanks for the help folks but this is proving a tough nut to crack.

I have now cleared out, rebooted and installed the software several times and still the problem of not being able to tick any of the boxes in the 'windows' menu for RAW files persists! I have also downloaded and installed the latest update.

This really is the most uncooperative piece of software that I have come across, or is it me?

06-05-2011, 01:25 PM	#1
justinr Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tipperary Photos: Gallery Posts: 394	Software installs then does nothing I installed the Digital Camera Utility 4 that came with the K5 and it worked OK. However, due to me not being familiar with the software I got in a right muddle (or there was a problem with the software) so I thought I'd reinstall and start from scratch. Have done this but now the programme won't run and I get the message - 'Runtime error Abnormal programme termination.' I have also tried opening the RAW files from the K5 in Pentax Photo Laboratory but there the message is 'Failed to preview' The jpegs of the same shots display fine in Photoshop etc. Any ideas?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Looking for new PP software	interested_observer	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	5	11-14-2010 10:12 PM
Which software do you use?	Capslock118	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	16	11-12-2010 05:02 AM
Software	Smolk	Pentax Medium Format	4	04-01-2010 07:11 AM
software	houstonmacgregor	Pentax DSLR Discussion	3	03-19-2010 11:03 AM
Does K-x come with K-7 software?	hinman	Pentax DSLR Discussion	2	12-03-2009 02:16 PM

06-05-2011, 04:29 PM	#2
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Would need to see more information to give you a "why" but suggest you uninstall the package, reboot, install again if you have not already. If a clean install does not run as it did the first time, something has changed in your environment and you will need to think about what that might be. (other new software? new hardware? broken uninstall?, etc). See if newer versions or updates are available online to use instead of or to patch the current version. Good luck

06-05-2011, 04:39 PM	#3
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	Try and do a "All files and Folders" search in your system for this file - checkinfo.ini It will be in a Pentax folder. If you find it you can either rename or delete it. Hope this helps! Cheers!

06-05-2011, 04:47 PM	#4
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Agreed. If Uninstall does not remove the .ini file. On Win7 its located in C:/Users/<username>/AppData/Local/Pentax/Digital Camera Utility 4/

06-05-2011, 07:14 PM	#5
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	If that doesn't work for you there are always other programs. The undeniable truth, in my experience, is that the PDCU software has always crashed if it started to begin with. That's been true with 4 different versions on 3 different computers running various versions of windows.

06-06-2011, 01:48 AM	#6
justinr Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tipperary Photos: Gallery Posts: 394 Original Poster	Many thanks for the fix. I've removed the checkinfo file and it's now working well enough to process a jpeg from the RAW (better image quality than the in camera one) but I can't use the White balance, Lens correction etc functions as the software thinks that all the files are jpegs and won't allow the appropriate boxes to be ticked under the 'Windows' header on the menu. I am now hopefully out of trouble sufficiently to get the present job done but I'll need to look at it again soon.

06-07-2011, 12:59 AM	#7
Alan Bird Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Posts: 30	Thanks for this information, all. I've had the same problems with this software since I got my K-x a year ago and tried everything I could think of - uninstall, reboot, registry clean etc. I've now renamed the checkinfo.ini file and all is well! Thanks guys

06-07-2011, 06:41 AM	#8
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	If the check-box is clicked on any of the thumbnail photos and leave it there, the “checkinfo.ini” file is created in the DCU4 folder as the application is closed. If this file is either renamed or deleted for the “fix”, a new one will be created and will cause the same problem. To prevent the issue from reoccurring, make sure there are no checks in any of the thumbnail photos before closing the program.

06-07-2011, 06:51 AM	#9
Bill_R Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 262	Originally posted by justinr Many thanks for the fix. I've removed the checkinfo file and it's now working well enough to process a jpeg from the RAW (better image quality than the in camera one) but I can't use the White balance, Lens correction etc functions as the software thinks that all the files are jpegs and won't allow the appropriate boxes to be ticked under the 'Windows' header on the menu. I am now hopefully out of trouble sufficiently to get the present job done but I'll need to look at it again soon. Have you installed the latest update? That might be enough to get it fully workimg again. The latest update also allows processing of jpeg if it recognises them as being shot with a supported Pentax camera. The problem can be if they are imported with the Windows photo import then they aren't recognised (Import with Windows Live Photo Gallery or PDCU itself and they are ok). I don't know if that might affect RAW files as well. If all else fails, backup what might be lost to My documents folder or sub-folder and roll back and start again. I actually quite like PDCU4 because it is dedicated to Pentax and ... free. It was problematic for me for a while until it decided to behave and I've had no crashes from it since (running on Windows 7 64 bit). The beta of PhotoDirector recognises Pentax RAW files and is ok: PhotoDirector 2011 Beta Version ? Professional Quality Photo Editing Software Download the beta, review it and the released version is free.

06-08-2011, 12:50 AM	#10
Alan Bird Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire Posts: 30	Originally posted by K57XR If the check-box is clicked on any of the thumbnail photos and leave it there, the “checkinfo.ini” file is created in the DCU4 folder as the application is closed. If this file is either renamed or deleted for the “fix”, a new one will be created and will cause the same problem. To prevent the issue from reoccurring, make sure there are no checks in any of the thumbnail photos before closing the program. Just found this out the hard way! What a brilliant piece of software design! Thanks for the tip.

06-09-2011, 09:54 AM	#11
justinr Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Tipperary Photos: Gallery Posts: 394 Original Poster	Many thanks for the help folks but this is proving a tough nut to crack. I have now cleared out, rebooted and installed the software several times and still the problem of not being able to tick any of the boxes in the 'windows' menu for RAW files persists! I have also downloaded and installed the latest update. This really is the most uncooperative piece of software that I have come across, or is it me?