Luminar 4 hangs on the splash screen after the update: solutions
Answered
Hello Everyone,
We're currently investigating this issue and we will do our best to provide a solution.
Please, kindly try the solutions listed below if you're facing this issue:
First, please try the following solution:
- Turn off Windows Defender Firewall: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028544/windows-10-turn-windows-defender-firewall-on-or-off
- Either turn off your anti-virus or add Luminar to its list of exclusions. Consult your anti-virus manual for help.
Please make sure to do that for all the security software you have on your computer.
If you have the Avast firewall, try switching it to private mode additionally.
Besides, please download Process Explorer via the link below and kill all processes related to your antivirus software:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer
If none of these help, please perform the following steps that may help resolve the issue:
1. Reboot your PC.
2. Uninstall Luminar.
How to uninstall an app on Windows 7 (click this text to open link).
How to uninstall an app on Windows 8 (click this text to open link).
How to uninstall an app on Windows 10 (click this text to open link).
3. Clear your registry:
- Visit https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download?pc
- Scroll down to the bottom of the table and click Download from CCleaner.com in the first column.
- Once the download has finished, launch the file and install CCleaner on your computer.
- Launch CCleaner.
- Click Registry on the left.
- Click Scan for Issues in the lower left. Wait for the scan to finish.
- After the scan has finished, click Fix Selected Issues in the lower right.
- Close CCleaner.
4. Type %appdata% in Search (folder Roaming should open).
Find the folder “Luminar 4” and rename it to "Luminar 4 old". Please note that this folder contains your license for Luminar 4, as well as your Custom and downloaded Looks. You will be later to access them later if necessary.
5. Go to Pictures folder and rename the folder called "Luminar 4 Catalog" (if you have your Catalog anywhere else, find it and rename it to "Luminar 4 Catalog old").
Open the folder and locate the file with .luminar file extension. Change the name of this file to "Luminar 4 Catalog old" as well.
6. Reboot your PC.
7. Download the latest version of Luminar from here: https://downloads.skylum.com/luminar4/win/Luminar4Setup_offline.exe
- Right-click on the Luminar icon.
- Go to Properties > Compatibility.
- Enable 'Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 8' checkbox.
- Press 'Ok'.
If the steps above don't help, could you please let us know your hardware configuration and send it via https://skylum.com/support?
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Type msinfo32 in the dialog box that opens and hit Enter on your keyboard.
- In the window that opens, make sure you have System Summary highlighted on the left.
- Click File > Export.
- Type the name of the file (you can choose any you like), save it somewhere where you can easily find it and attach this text file to your reply to the contact form.
N.B. The links are clickable and show the screenshots that can guide you, if necessary.
Here is the video tutorial on how to retrieve your system info: https://www.loom.com/share/97aff7951ee3412daa020f1d88eb36e8
Besides, please send us event logs:
- Reproduce the issue.
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Type eventvwr in the dialog box that opens and hit Enter on your keyboard.
- In the window that opens click the triangle next to Windows Logs on the left. A directory tree should open.
- Click Application in the directory tree.
- In the main part of the window find the two topmost entries marked with Error named Application Error and .NET Runtime.
- Hold CTRL and click your left mouse button on each entry to select them both.
- Right-click on any of the two selected entries and click Save Selected Events.
- Name the file, save it, and attach it to your reply to the contact form https://skylum.com/support
If nothing helps, you can install Luminar 4.2.0 following the link below.
https://downloads.skylum.com/luminar4/win/Luminar4Setup_offline_420.exe
We will do our best to fix this issue asap.
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Hi, I've also tried (most of the) suggestions provided. None worked beyond a one-time application launch. The very next starting attempt ended up in a permanent splash screen. After one week of messing around I'll give it up for now and wait for a more sustainable solution. Meanwhile I'm even unable to reinstall version 4.2. Ok, my own fault I should have let it untouched.
I've read several posts here and I learned that both MacOS and Windows users seem to have this problem. If that's true, I'd doubt, that a specific component in the operating environment is the only culprit like an antivirus scanner. Beyond that, both operating systems are based on different platforms (some kind of Linux or Unix and on the other hand the Microsoft code base). Anyway ...
I saw that serveral people meanwhile have sent you a lot of information about their systems and environment. I hope that's actually helpful. I would be interested in the results that you have found so far. Maybe you could share a few findings with us, and perhaps some information on how your approach is towards the solution finding process. I think this would give us a better feel for how long we still might have to wait until you could provide a stable update.
I'm fortunately not too dependent on Luminar at the moment, I can switch to a different image processor. But nonetheless, I'd appreciate if it doesn't take too long before we can get our hands on a stable release.
Good luck!
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Please try launching Luminar in Compatibility Mode:
- Go to C:\Program Files\Skylum\Luminar 4 and right-click Luminar 4.exe file. Choose Properties option.
- Go to the 'Compatibility' tab and choose a setting as shown in the screenshot: http://prntscr.com/tka660
- Click 'OK' button and try to launch Luminar.
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This is broken.
I installed the 4.2.0 version via the link, and now that doesn't work either. Doesn't matter if I'm running it as an administrator or not - not even the startup screen will show up. Tried running it from Windows Explorer and from Run, too - it does nothing, launches nothing, doesn't even start any new processes or use any resources.
My previous version (4.1.0) used to work perfectly.
Running Windows 7, for what it's worth.
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Hi Kirk,
first of all, I uninstalled Luminar 4 after experiencing the before mentioned issues with the 4.2 version. So neither Luminar 4.3 nor Luminar 4.2 is actually on my computer.
So, now I reinstalled v. 4.3 (offline installer). Contrary to my expectations, Luminar 4.3 ran up through to displaying the last image I was about editing when I first ran into the problems (a few days ago after the first updating).
After a few seconds . I was just about to start feeling happy - Luminar ended itself without any indication. It just disappeared from the screen.
Recalling the shy feeling of happiness a minute before, I did what you suggested, went to 'program files' and choose 'Windows 8 compatibility mode' and launched Luminar from that postion. This time - surprise - it opened up and showed the same image at the same state as before, but unfortunately it didn't give me time to feel the same happines as before. It crashed after - I counted - 3 seconds.
I must admit, this compatibility issue was one of the few suggestions I hadn't tried before.I might try the same for v.4.2 later on.
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Same problem here, 4.3 and 4.2 doesn't work, they show splash screen fo few seconds and close. Only the 4.1.1 works
https://downloads.skylum.com/luminar4/win/Luminar4Setup_offline_411.exe
I don't have any 3rd party antivirus software and no dedicated GPU.
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Hi Stefan,
If you're receiving the Database opening failed error, the steps below should help:- Make sure Luminar is closed.
- Locate your Luminar Catalog folder. The default location is C:\Users\%username%\Pictures\. If you specified a custom location for your catalog, search your custom location.
- Rename the Luminar Catalog folder. Choose any name you like. Don't remove this folder.
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Type %appdata%\Luminar 4 in the dialog box that opens and press Enter on your keyboard.
- Next, remove all the contents in Luminar 4 folder. Please note that this will remove your user looks and workspaces, so back up the folder into the safe location before removing it if necessary. You can then put your looks and workspaces back later.
- Start Luminar. It will ask you to complete the initial setup.
Geoffroy VEGER, could you please contact our support team at skylum.com/support regarding the crash? It doesn't sound like the issue discussed in this thread.
We'd really appreciate it if you could provide our team with event logs.- Reproduce the issue.
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Type eventvwr in the dialog box that opens and hit Enter on your keyboard.
- In the window that opens click the triangle next to Windows Logs on the left. A directory tree should open.
- Click Application in the directory tree.
- In the main part of the window find the two topmost entries marked with Error named Application Error and .NET Runtime.
- Hold CTRL and click your left mouse button on each entry to select them both.
- Right-click on any of the two selected entries and click Save Selected Events.
- Name the file, save it, and attach it to your support request at skylum.com/support.
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@ Bruno F.W. Ristl, Bakk.phi
Thanks, I actually did this before I re-installed 4.2.
@ Helga
Also thanks. Did what you suggested and after reactivating my license actually the installation of 4.2 successfully went through. I'm currently (Luminar is..) building a new Image gallery. That's no big problem for me.
I'll wait for the catalog to be finished and will then restart the application. If something is going wrong I'll coming back.
Any advancements in finding the cause for all these issues with 4.3 update?
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Helga,
first it looked good. Then I imported a few (well roughly 15K) images and then ist closed without warning.
I saw in the application event log:
Faulting application name: Luminar 4.exe, version: 4.2.0.5577, time stamp: 0x5dedc13b
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 10.0.19041.207, time stamp: 0xcad89ab4
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000fdec9
Faulting process id: 0x1bcc
Faulting application start time: 0x01d665c283d12e93
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Skylum\Luminar 4\Luminar 4.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 828a0304-9909-49d2-937d-0fc1b5fd2928
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:I'll try reinstalling 4.2 tomorrow and will try a few other things.
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Hi.
I have approx. the same issue.
Luminar 3 & 4.2 only open on the splash screen for a few seconds.
I can't even uninstall. Uninstall failed.
When I try installing new version 4.3 it's not even starting the installation process.
update: when starting windows 10 in safe mode I get following error in Luminar 4: "Hard Error". In Luminar 3 I get "A break point has been reached". In safe mode I also can't uninstall. Setting luminar in compatibility mode "Windows 8" is also given no results.
I'm completely stuck
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i solved doing this after installation:
- Make sure Luminar is closed.
- Locate your Luminar Catalog folder. The default location is C:\Users\%username%\Pictures\. If you specified a custom location for your catalog, search your custom location.
- Rename the Luminar Catalog folder. Choose any name you like. Don't remove this folder.
- Press the Windows logo key + R.
- Type %appdata%\Luminar 4 in the dialog box that opens and press Enter on your keyboard.
- Next, remove all the contents in Luminar 4 folder. Please note that this will remove your user looks and workspaces, so back up the folder into the safe location before removing it if necessary. You can then put your looks and workspaces back later.
- Start Luminar. It will ask you to complete the initial setup.
then luminar ask me to insert account and key. Now it work
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I rarely add to these discussions. The latest release of Luminar 4 works fine on my Win10/64 desktop, and following their procedure, got the plug-ins for Photoshop and Lightroom to work. However, I could not get Luminar 4 to run on my new Win10/64 laptop. Uninstalled/reinstalled. Worked once and then hung on the splash screen every other time. Skylum advertises phone support, but there is none. Received several emails after going through their on-line help center that didn't help. I requested a call-back. Now it's nearing the end of the week and almost gave up. Accidentally arrived at a solution. Right-click on the Luminar 4 icon and click on Troubleshoot Compatibility. It found Luminar 4 not to be compatible, but was able to fix it. Now it runs every time, including from Photoshop Perhaps I overlooked this in reading all the questions you get when you initiate a technical support inquiry, but I wasted a lot of time and had high frustration with the lack of any phone support. Although I like Luminar 4, it is difficult to recommend a company that refuses to provide phone support.
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Don Goldman tried this but didnt work for me. Tried autofix compatibility, also tried win8 & winVista compatability modes, splash screen still hangs
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I have managed to install Luminar ver. 4.3.0 (6175) and start it five times in a row and was able to import approx. 12K images without experiencing a crash or so. Although I wouldn't call it a solution for everyone.
It took me several hours and this is what I did:
First of all I ran CCleaner and scanned the registry, then I let it fix found issues.
Next I opened the registry ('regedit') and searched for all occurences with the strings ("luminar 4" and 'luminar4' in it) that were still left. I subsequently deleted all of those keys/parameters by hand.
There were a few that I could not get rid of, these were entries in the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\....\Services\bam'-branch.
After having done this (I backuped the original registry and the one after CCleaner had finished) I ran the luminar 4.3 offline setup. I chose to build a new catalog in a different position than before. I had of course to re-activate the license.
After finishing the setup procedure, I closed Luninar. Then I restarted the and expected a hanging splash screen. I took some 20 secs for the splash screen to disappear but the application started through. I did the same once again: OK! it opened.
I then imported approx. 8.000 images, which worked as expected. I closed the application. I did the same another 3 times and imported two other chunks of images (3.5 an 1K). After that I briefly edited an image. It worked as expected.
The only nuisance is, that the application seems to behave very sluggish. Partly this is probably because I chose a normal HDD for the catalog to be placed instead of a SDD, where I had it before. At the moment I don't dare to move it.
As I said, that's certainly not a solution in it's original sense. It just works for now.
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Updated to version 4.3 seven days ago and system worked well for first few days both direct and as link through Photoshop.
Then started to get hang up on "Splash" screen like many other users.
Deleted complete program from laptop (New DELL I5 Inspiron), removed all Luminar directories, both hidden and visible, edited Windows Registry to remove all reference to Luminar, turned off antivirus and Firewall. Reinstalled version 4.3 from local file. System still hangs on "Splash" screen...........Once again completely removed all reference to version 4.3 from system.
Reinstalled version 4.2 from local file.......program now works again correctly, both as a stand alone and via Photoshop.
Will not be using 4.3 until receive confirmation that bugs have been sorted.
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Hello everyone,
Please, accept our apologies for the issues encountered with the new update. This problem turned out to be more complicated than we expected, thus we have not come up with a fix yet. Please, stay tuned.
If offered solutions did not help, we would suggest reverting to previous version of Luminar 4.
Please follow the steps below:
Uninstall Luminar.
How to uninstall an app on Windows 7 (click this text to open link).
How to uninstall an app on Windows 8 (click this text to open link).
How to uninstall an app on Windows 10 (click this text to open link).
Clear your registry:
- Visit https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/download?pc
- Scroll down to the bottom of the table and click Download from CCleaner.com in the first column.
- Once the download has finished, launch the file and install CCleaner on your computer.
- Launch CCleaner.
- Click Registry on the left.
- Click Scan for Issues in the lower left. Wait for the scan to finish.
- After the scan has finished, click Fix Selected Issues in the lower right.
- Close CCleaner.
Reboot your PC.
Download the previous version of Luminar from here: https://downloads.skylum.com/luminar4/win/Luminar4Setup_offline_420.exe
Once the installer has finished downloading, locate it in your Downloads folder (or wherever you chose to save it), right-click the file, and click Run As Administrator. A prompt might appear asking you whether you wish to confirm your action, click Yes and wait for the installer to load. Then, follow the instructions on the screen.Please note that you'll need to start with a new catalog if you decide to switch back to 4.2.0. Therefore, I'd suggest creating a .zip out of your current Luminar 4 Catalog folder (by default, it's located in the Pictures folder unless you've specified otherwise). This will allow you to open your catalog later after you update back to the latest version. -
Helga, the link you posted to download the previous version is broken. It comes up with a 404 error. I followed all your instructions to uninstall and clean the registry and would like to download the previous version of Luminar. Can you please fix this and send out a new notice.
Thanks
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Every time I restart the computer and launch luminar 4.3 for the first time after restart, it would work like normal. But after closing the program and launch again (without restarting computer), it would hang on the splash screen. Have to restart the computer again to get it to work.
Edit: after adding the luminar .exe file in the firewall and windows defender's white list, it now works as normal. I am running on windows 10 without Lr's plug-in.
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I am still convinced that we are all test persons in an experiment (an American or Russian university), in which it is to be tested, how long users are willing to use a basically very good, but in important points useless software or even buy updates :-)
Of course, this is not one of the stupid conspiracy theories that are currently in circulation.
But I do wonder why Luminar does not get better with every update, but even worse (export function) or even a complete failure (can't be started anymore).
I am a programmer myself and know about the difficulties of developing software. But here obviously important basics and test scenarios are not considered... Or the development runs so chaotically that nobody can see it anymore or is it due to a too high fluctuation of the programmers?
No, it is a pure marketing product and a test balloon :-)
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