Corel DRAW X3, X4 and X5 crashes on Open, Save As, Export. A.R.M. error.

June 22, 2009
By

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

Corel Draw is one of the most expensive pieces of junk I ever saw. I take that back :) Considering that still X3 was decent compared to 11 and 12 and also that X5 is pretty good considering Corel’s history and also most important because I’ve seen much more expensive piles of junk since I wrote this.

Nevertheless I, and probably you too have to use and maintain it. I had the following problem on a fresh installation of Windows XP SP3: every time I wanted to export, save as or open a drawing Corel Draw X3 would crash regularly with it’s darned Crash Wizard.I tried applying the patches found on the Corel support page but it didn’t help. After some digging I found that it’s a problem related to the Common Dialogue function found in comdlg32.

You must launch regedit (ALT+R or START->RUN and type regedit and press enter) and go to:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32]
and change NoFileMru from 0×00000001 to 0×00000000

Download nofilemru.reg
1
2
3
4

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ComDlg32]
"NoFileMru"=dword:00000000

If on your computer it’s already 0 it’s worth trying the other way around, just remember to set it back if it doesn’t help.

UPDATE: I encountered the very same problem with Corel Draw X4 (even after applying the Corel Service Pack for X4) with the ugly difference that the cause of the crash is not reported. Fortunately repeated crashes on open, save, save as and export made me remember this article and sure enough this was the cause.

UPDATE: Users are reporting the same problem of crashing with Corel X5 and Windows XP.

Am I the only one thinking Corel is getting crapier and crapier by the version? Well not really, updating this article now, after some time I feel that x4 is really an improvement over the x3.

UPDATE: Some users reported the same problem on other Windows versions. Also X5 had the same issues.

If this article saved you a session of hair pulling you could buy me a beer or a coffe :)

 

 

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  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    Hm, I used every corel since 12 (well and I also used once 3.0 but that’s another story :) ) and I don’t feel so. I used 12 a lot, X3 for over one year and x5 for a few months and I feel X5 is really an improvement over X3. I felt X4 was really wrong in many ways, maybe that’s why it was short lived.

  • Ferraram

    not working for me A.R.M. message on startup

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MGKF4VEOZG77RO6PIYFV3JK24Q Rajesh

    You are Great Sir & your solution is more gret. U do deserve a coffee from me.
    Link for Others
    http://www.sgvulcan.com/corel-draw-x3-crashes-on-open-save-save-as-export-a-r-m/

  • SDDD

    THANK YOU VER MUCH DUDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • russel

    Hello i am having corel draw 15 which takes lot of time to open even i am having good configuration and graphic card  installed on my pc and its still take time to open .plz tell me the solution 

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    Nobody can answer this questions. I need details regarding your operating system, configuration, etc. Also note that this post addresses one common and specific error. Maybe Corel Support can help you further. P.S. pirated software usually contains trojans, viruses or worse rootkits some of wich and antivirus will not detect. If that is the case your only sure option would be to reformat.

  • Chard0326

    Your so great sir., i wish that became like you!

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    Be careful what you wish for … :)

  • PL

    thank you!!!!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WOMHHSG5QURZWXCVGRDYGOTPXQ prashanth

    Thank you man…. ur the best….

  • Info

    coudln’t find the regkey mentioned in win7?!

  • Muhammadmulya

    thanks man…it’s worked…
    i’m really happy that it’s worked…
    you are the best..

  • Novica

    thank you.. work 

  • Brightson2

    I have coreldraw 12 on windows 7 OS and recently I can’t open any file from the past and it says that the MSXML4 is not installed and create a DOM document…what is this???? Am clueless and hurting on my work, did nothing to warrant this…has anyone got a clue? Tried downloading the MSXML4 from a google search but it does nothing…………..help!!!!!

  • asad

    i didn’t found any file going after policies/ComDlg32 … it shows explorer instead of ComDlg32 … plz help me… :(

  • najeeb

    i use the graphic programe coreldraw 6 with windows 7 the problem is when i use the order (import) or (export) the programe is freezed and no reply for any other order….

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    As I mentioned over and over I cannot provide Corel Draw Support :) Those questions are better addressed in a Corel dedicated forum or to their support staff. This article simple documents ONE issue I once hit…

  • Lesliesungkit

    thnx for the help…

  • socratus

    thank you . X5 now working well (XP sp3)

  • Graeme Yvonne

    Hi,
    I had the same problem i.e my computer would freeze when either opening, saving or exporting a file. This would not always happen, but I would say more often than not, however after carringout the steps given above including downloading the ComDlg32 and installing (as prior to doing this I could not see it)and inserting “1″ as my configuration had zero’s – I now do not seem to have any problems in either opening,saving or exporting files.

    I am using Windows 7 Home Edition
    CorelDraw Graphics Suite X5

    Hope I’ve not spoken too soon

    Many Thanks

    Graeme

  • Graeme Yvonne

    Hi Asad
    You need to download and install the Comdlg32 file which can be done from this site, it will also install into the registry for you, once you have done this re-start your computer so as that the new entry in the registry can take effect. I had the same problem as you and it as now put the ComDlg32  entry in the registry ( See my reply further up etc)

    Regards Graeme

  • Mbah Sastr01

    thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
    thank youthank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
    thank youthank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
    thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank
    youthank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
    thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
    thank you

    you are the one

    thanks for your helps :)

  • Raka

    Thank you !! it’s work ! you’re the best.. regards from Indonesia :)

  • justm1ke

    I thought it was a DWORD?! That’s what the (regedit) graphic shows and there is a BIG difference. Didn’t work as a DWORD with X5/Win7 Ultimate 64-bit (also had to add the regkey as others have noted). Will try as a string but have little confidence that it will work.

  • Theebalaji

    thanks a lot……..

  • Nichnehm

    thank you… great

  • Infogrames

    Oh,man,you saved me!!!Love you!!!Pity we are not in the same country, best wished for you!!! 

  • Proch

    you are my H-E-R-O! I can’t even imagine this could work! :)  
    thanks

    Andrew from Italy

  • Lucian Iorgus

    Pot sa te felicit si in romaneste sper ! 
    Minunat .. nu credeam ca se mai poate rezolva ceva in cazul corel-ului meu ..
    Multumiri majore !! Lucian

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    Se poate si romaneste :)

  • Andrei

    were to tipe value 0×0000000, in hexadecimal or decimal?

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    I think it’s dword

  • http://www.yahoo.com/ Rohit

    hi…i have windows 7 professional 32 bit os in which i found a problem of coel x4…it cant open options save,save as,export,print options…so plz tell me solution for that

    thanks 
    Rohit

  • http://www.sgvulcan.com icebox

    If it’s the issue I described please follow the post’s instructions. If it’s a different one I cannot help you, but I’m sure Corel’s support will!

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