“Not Responding” messages typically occur when multiple programs try to access the same temporary (temp) files at once. This conflict causes the affected program to freeze until the process is complete. Clicking or trying to force actions during this time can make the issue worse.
What to Do:
- Be patient and allow the program time to recover.
- Close unnecessary programs (e.g., web browsers, music players) to free up system resources.
- Avoid clicking repeatedly on the frozen program.
Letting your computer process without interference is often the best solution. If after 5 minutes your program is still frozen, you can try the following tips in this order:
1. Check Artisan is the Latest Version
You can check your Artisan software version here: "What is the current version of Artisan®?"
If you are not on the same version number listed there you can either uninstall and then reinstall the software from your FOREVER account Downloads area, or if you have Artisan 6 simply open the program and in the lower left click to Get Updates.
2. Check for Windows Updates
If your Artisan is updated but your computer's Operating System isn't can mean the two are not communicating properly with each other, leading to issues using the software. Please follow the steps below to manually check for updates that need to be installed.
- Click the Start button then choose the Settings gear (you can also find this by clicking in the menu search bar and typing Settings to find the application)
- Choose Update & Security then manually click the button to check for any updates
- Anything marked "Optional" or relating to the security system can be skipped, otherwise update Windows and restart the computer
3. Check your Anti-Virus Software
Many computers are sold with basic anti-virus software installed. In some instances, we have seen that when users choose to update to a different anti-virus software, the original anti-virus software remains on the machine. This can negatively affect Artisan as two programs are now “competing” to keep your machine safe.
To verify that you only have 1 anti-virus program running on your machine:
- Click on the Windows Start menu.
- Click on the “Settings” icon (it looks like a gear).
- Type “Control Panel” in the search bar at the top of the “Settings” window.
- In the results drop-down choose “Control Panel”.
- Click on “System and Security” in the Control Panel window.
- Click on “Security and Maintenance” in the System and Security window.
- Expand the drop-down menu under “Security” in the Security and Maintenance window.
- Click on the “View in Windows Security” link under “Virus protection”.
- On the right, under “Who’s protecting me?”, click on “Manage providers”.
- Under “Antivirus”, you will see all the installed anti-virus providers on your machine. You should only see one – if there are more, you will need to decide which to remove. If you remove any, make sure that you also cancel any recurring payments.
Please note that since Artisan is such a robust program, it can accidentally trigger anti-virus software to block parts or all of the software from working properly. Now that you know who is protecting you, you can search online for the steps on how to allow the Artisan software through them!
Here are the files you should unblock, depending on the program you are using:
- Artisan 6
- C:\Program Files\Forever\Artisan 6 – select the Artisan6.exe (Application file, NOT the ICO file)
- C:\Program Files\Forever\Artisan 6 – select the LocalStorage.exe (Application file, NOT the CONFIG or Application extension)
- C:\Program Files\Forever\Artisan 6\OrderProviders\ForeverPrint – select the ForeverPrintTrayA6.exe
- Artisan 5
- C:\Program Files\FOREVER\Artisan 5 – select the Artisan5.exe
- Artisan 4
- C:\Program Files\Panstoria\Artisan 4 – select the PanstoriaArtisan.exe
4. Verify Software Requirements
We ask that your computer be at or above what our system requires for the software you are using. You can check those requirements through the links below.
5. Uninstall, Restart, Reinstall the Program
A clean reinstall may help the Artisan software. Follow these steps:
- Uninstall Artisan from your computer.
- Shut down your computer completely and leave it off for at least 10 minutes.
- Download and reinstall the latest version of Artisan from: www.forever.com/downloads
This process ensures that any issues from the original installation or a recent update are cleared out and properly reapplied.
Continued Issues?
Still experiencing issues with your Artisan software freezing or displaying "Not Responding" in the upper corner? Please reach out to FOREVER Client Care support with information on what you are doing when it happens, and what troubleshooting you've done so far so we can pick up from there.