Wilcom Hatch Crashes on Save: Troubleshooting Tips and Workarounds

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If you're a frequent user of WilcoHatch, an embroidery design software developed by Brother Industries Ltd., chances are you've encountered the frustrating issue where your project suddenly crashes when trying to save changes. This article will provide detailed guidance on identifying potential causes for this problem and offer practical solutions to help prevent future occurrences.

Causes of Crashes

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Before diving into troubleshooting, it's essential first to understand why WilcoHatch might be crashing while attempting to save a design. Here are some possible reasons:

1. Corrupted Preferences: Sometimes, corrupted preference files can cause software applications like WilcoH Hatch to malfunction or crash without warning.

2. Insufficient RAM or Hard Drive Space: Running resource-intensive programs on low-end hardware with limited resources may lead to system crashes or freezing issues.

3. Compatibility Issues Between Software Versions: Incompatibility between different versions of WilcoHatch and other design software you're using can also trigger unexpected behavior, including crash-on-save situations.

Troubleshooting Steps

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### Step 1: Close Unnecessary Programs

Firstly, close any unnecessary programs or applications running in the background to free up system resources. This simple yet effective step often resolves issues related to insufficient RAM or hard drive space causing WilcoHatch crashes.

### Step 2: Clear Temporary Files and Cache

WilcoHatch uses temporary files and cache folders during its operation. These can sometimes become corrupted, leading to various problems including crash-on-save situations. To clear these files:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open Run.

2. Type %AppData% and press Enter.

3. Navigate through the resulting directory until you find a folder named 'Wilcom' or something similar depending upon your operating system (Windows 10/8: C:\Users\'YourUsername'\AppData\Local\Temp).

4. Delete all files within this folder except for any necessary preference files.

### Step 3: Reinstall WilcoHatch

If clearing temporary files and cache folders doesn't resolve the issue, it may be time to resort to a more drastic measure – reinstalling WilcoH Hatch completely:

1. Uninstall existing versions of WilcoHatch from your computer using Add/Remove Programs (Windows) or Applications (Mac).

2. Download and install the latest version of WilcoHatch directly from Brother's official website.

3. During installation, make sure to untick any checkboxes that might reinstall third-party software you don't require.

### Step 4: Check for Updates

Always keep your operating system, graphics drivers, and other applications including Adobe Illustrator (if used) up-to-date as newer versions often include patches or fixes for known bugs causing crash-on-save issues with specific programs like WilcoHatch.

Additional Tips

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To prevent future occurrences of this problem:

1. Regularly back up important design files to external drives or cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox etc., so you can easily recover them if needed.

2. Use the 'Save As' option instead of simply pressing Ctrl + S (Windows) / Command + Option + Shift + S (Mac), which allows you to choose a different location and file format for saving your design.

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WilcoHatch is an excellent tool for professional embroidery designers, but like any software application, it's not immune from occasional crashes or freezing issues. By following these simple troubleshooting steps outlined above – closing unnecessary programs, clearing temporary files and cache folders, reinstalling WilcoHatch if necessary – you should be able to identify and resolve the root cause of your crash-on-save problem with ease.

Remember also to always keep both your operating system and software applications up-to-date as newer versions often include important security patches or bug fixes that can help prevent such issues from arising again in future.

Wilcom hatch crashes on save