There was an error opening up the Backup/Synchronization Preferences. Please close Preferences and try again. || Errors in sharing album to photoshop.com

Recently we saw problem in loading of Backup/Sync Preferences in Adobe Photoshop Elements. One of the users is getting following message on attempt of launching Backup/Sync preferences through CTRL+K or Edit Menu. - 'There was an error opening up the Backup/Synchronization Preferences. Please close Preferences and try again.'

This error was always encountered irrespective of Catalogs of Adobe Photoshop Elements.

So let me share the process that happens on launching Preferences, especially Backup/Sync Preferences. On launch, preferences dialog tries to fetch albums in Catalog and on Photoshop.com. Most of the times this error occurs in case Elements Organizer fails to fetch albums from Photoshop.com. There can be various reason for this, so typical process of narrowing it down is -

1. Try the same steps in fresh catalog. Ideally you should be able to see the problem there as well. If not, then it's something we need to work out together.

2. If above step creates problem in fresh Catalog as well, then check if you are able to load all albums on www.photoshop.com? I mean, go to Photoshop.com account and see if you are able to see all your albums there.

3. If you are facing problems with PSE as well as Photoshop.com, then there can be some case of corruption in Albums.xml or some other malfunction. This is something you may want to raise with Adobe, but before that try steps mentioned at - http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/incorrect-account-information-photoshop-photoshop.html

How to restore Adobe Photoshop Elements after Computer/iMAC Crash

This is one of the common question asked on Adobe Forums, Elements Village or Feedback.photoshop.com, which is very unfortunate condition to be in. If this has happened with you first time and you were only using Adobe Photoshop Elements, there shouldn't be any problem related to installation of Adobe Photoshop Elements on same machine after restoration of Operating System.

Automatically Synchronizing(Backing-up) your files to www.photoshop.com when machine is in Idle state

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Automatically Synchronizing(Backing-up) your files to www.photoshop.com when machine is in Idle state

In 7th and 8th releases of Adobe Photoshop Elements, there is an online service through which files in your Organizer catalog can be synchronized to www.photoshop.com. There is a SynAgent sitting in your system-tray on bottom-right of your screen, which does this work.

This Syncagent work with your Catalog and www.photoshop.com to identify the channges and sync them appropriately. It does this job regularly and immidiate triggering is possible in PSE8 through 'SYNC NOW' button in Sync Status dialog.

Many times I have seen people on forums discussing about some way to run this agent when system is in IDLE state. AND yes, there is a way. Please follow steps mentioned below to activate automatic synchronization when system in is IDLE state.

1. Right click on Syncagent in System-Tray (I assume that you are already using Backup/Sync and Syncagent in running on your machine)
2. There is an option "Sync when Idle"
3. Check this option.

Now onwards, you will see this agent in your system-tray and but it is not doing anything. It will start doing synchronization, as it detects no keyboard/mouse aciton on your machine.

Hope it will help activating synchronization during system idle state. Please write back in case you have some specific queries about the same.