There are several steps to try if your Add-O-Matic won't start or stops running:

• First, ensure that all Photoshop Elements utilities you have running are stopped & closed. This includes any Organizer utilities. Use the Task Manager to stop any Elements programs or utilities before launching the Add-O-Matic. If you're unsure, a system restart will close any interfering programs.
   
• Some systems will require that you have Admin control on the computer where you're running Add-O-Matic. Please note that this is not required by Add-O-Matic, but rather by the computer setup you are using. Log in as Admin, or turn off UAC on your Vista or Windows 7 system.
   
• Create an exception for the Add-O-Matic in your anti-virus program. Occasionally, the Add-O-Matic will flag a false-positive, especially after any updates to your A/V program. Adding it as an exception / exclusion will let your program know that it's OK to launch. (Please also note that some freeware anti-virus applications - notably AVG and Aviro - are notorious for returning false-positive results. Adding an exception will bypass the scan and allow the Add-O-Matic to run correctly.)
   
• Occasionally, USB devices add their own utilities that run in the background and prevent the Add-O-Matic from starting. Unplug any thumb drives and launch the AOM (I had this problem on an XP system using a SanDisk thumb drive, and it drove me batty until I figured out that the SanDisk drive has a hidden utility running the background).
   

• Some Chrome, Internet Explorer & Firefox add-ons can create compatibility issues, and can prevent the Add-O-Matic from launching. If your browser is open while having troubles, shut it down before launching the Add-O-Matic.
   

If these steps don't help resolve any trouble, please send me a note using the Contact form either here in the shop or from the main graficalicus page

More info:

If your AOM was previously running perfectly and then "suddenly stopped working" means that something on your system has changed and is now blocking the Add-O-Matic from starting; it could be an update to your Anti-Virus, another application running in the background, or a system update of some sort.

The first thing to do is make sure there’s an exception that allows it to open in your anti-virus application. Check the help files for your AV application to see how to tell your particular A/V app to ignore/allow/exception/(whatever your app calls it), and enter the exact file name for the AOM (“Add-O-Matic11.exe”, for example, depending on which version of the Add-O you have). Then attempt to launch AOM – if it doesn’t immediately start, move on to the next step:

Make sure Elements and all components (sync agent & Organizer, especially) are turned off. Use the Task manager (right-click an empty space on the taskbar at the bottom of the Windows desktop and choose it from the popout menu). When it opens, choose the Processes tab and click each of the applications / utilities that you recognize and choose “End Process”.

Then attempt to launch the AOM. if it opens immediately, you’ll know that one of the things you closed is blocking it.

If it DOESN’T open, one-by-one, end other processes in the Task Manager, attempting to launch AOM after ending each one. You’ll eventually find the culprit. Look particularly for utilities with “sync” in the name.

~graffi