Adobe photoshop elements (editor) has stopped working

Sellers and product
Fry's sells Photoshop CS4 and Elements.
http://www.frys.com/search?search_type=regular&sqxts=1&query_string=Photoshop&submit.x=19&submit.y=11&cat=0
You can web search for Photoshop CS4 or Photoshop Elements.
You can compare Frys prices with other offers.
Fry's has Elements 9.0 for $31
I have Photoshop Elements 5.0 from 2003, and it is a powerful editor.
Here's my work in Elements 5.0: http://imgur.com/3mavh
I do mechanical work, but occasionally I edit landscapes for friends, and the results are totally acceptable.
So you don't have to buy the biggest and most expensive to get quality results.

Free trials:
Adobe has free trials
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
Keep in mind, that Photoshop is a learning curve ... and it is difficult to learn.
And Help makes sense only after somebody else tells you how to do what you need help with.
And the Adobe site offers tutorials ... which are merely ads about their products.
I tried Lightroom free-trial from the adobe webpage.
Lightroom was not for me, maybe because I do more editing.
But it seemed easy to use, and may be perfect for your needs.

How-to-learn Photoshop
There are lots of sign-up-for-the-course offers on the web ... and these are very helpful
There are Photoshop tutorials on Utube.
Also you can web search exact how-to questions: For example How to copy-and-paste-in-Photoshop-Elements.

A free alternative:
http://www.gimpshop.com/download.shtml
Now, if you do not want to spend money for a photo editor, download free Gimpshop.
I also use Gimpshop.
The Gimp is free, and it is also a powerful photo editor.
You can web search How-tos with Gimp also.
And the nice thing about web searching Gimp how-tos vs web searching Photoshop how-tos is there are a lot fewer promotional come-ons with Gimp [and more up-front help]

Do Solution 1 first, then try Solution 2. Proceed to Solution 3 only if you wish to operate your device directly from within Photoshop or Photoshop Elements Editor.
Solution 1: Disable the TWAIN plug-in. Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Editor do not load plug-ins whose file name begins with a tilde (~). Rename the TWAIN plug-in to prevent Photoshop and Photoshop Elements Editor from loading it.
To disable the TWAIN plug-in:

1. Do one of the following:
   • If you are using a 32-bit edition of Windows:
     Photoshop CS4: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop CS5: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop Elements 6.0 Editor: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
   • If you are using a 64-bit edition of Windows:
     Photoshop CS4: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop CS5: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop Elements 6.0 Editor: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
   Note: If you do not know which edition of Windows you are using, see Determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit or a 64-bit edition of Windows (kb407673).
   
2. Rename Twain_32.8BA to ~Twain_32.8BA. (You may not see the filename extension .8BA.)

When the TWAIN plug-in is disabled, you cannot operate your device by choosing File > Import > [Device name] in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
If you do not wish to operate your device directly from within Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, then you can use other software -- such as the software that came with the device, the Windows Scanner And Camera Wizard, or Windows Photo Gallery -- to operate the device and save image files from the device. (For instructions, see the documentation for the other software.) Then you can open those files in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
Solution 2: Disable older scanner files in Windows. If Solution 1 does not solve the problem, open the C:/WINDOWS/Twain_32 folder and move all files in that folder except the wiatwain.ds file to another location. Older scanning files in this folder can cause problems with more recent drivers and applications.
If you would like to operate your device directly from within Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, then proceed to Solution 3.
Solution 3: Troubleshoot installed drivers and re-enable the TWAIN plug-in. If you use a scanner, all-in-one printer, or another TWAIN-compatible device on your system, then the device's driver may be out-of-date. Download the latest version of the driver for your device from the manufacturer's website. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the driver. (If you have more than one TWAIN-compatible device, then download and install the latest driver for each device.)
After you have installed the latest driver for each device, re-enable the TWAIN plug-in and restart Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
To re-enable the TWAIN plug-in:

1. Do one of the following:
   • If you are using a 32-bit edition of Windows:
     Photoshop CS4: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop CS5: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop Elements 6.0 Editor: Navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
   • If you are using a 64-bit edition of Windows:
     Photoshop CS4: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop CS5: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS5\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
     Photoshop Elements 6.0 Editor: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 6.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\
   Note: If you do not know which edition of Windows you are using, see Determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit or a 64-bit edition of Windows (kb407673).
   
2. Rename ~Twain_32.8BA to Twain_32.8BA. (You may not see the file name extension .8BA.)

If Photoshop or Photoshop Elements successfully starts with the TWAIN plug-in enabled, then you can operate your device by choosing File > Import > [Device name].
If Photoshop or Photoshop Elements fails to start, then the driver for one or more TWAIN-compatible devices that you no longer have or no longer use may be causing the problem. (A driver will remain on the computer even after you disconnect a device.) Identify each device that you do not use, and then follow the manufacturer's instructions to completely remove each device's driver.
After you remove the driver for each device that you do not use, restart Photoshop.
If Photoshop or Photoshop Elements still fails to start, then the driver for one or more of the devices that you currently use is incompatible with the TWAIN plug-in. In that case, disable the TWAIN plug-in (see Solution 1: Disable the TWAIN plug-in) and leave it disabled. (You may also wish to periodically check the device manufacturer's website for driver updates. If an updated driver becomes available, then repeat this solution.)

You have to wait for the information about the compatibility of the Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and Adobe Photoshop Elements 7. You can upgrade to Adobe Photoshop 8 which is completely compatible with Windows 7. You can check the compatibility here. Check event viewer for the error message, for this click on start menu type Event Viewer and press Enter. It would be better to check with Adobe for what operating systems that Photoshop Element 6 would be supported. However you can try installing Adobe Photoshop Element 6 in a fresh installed Windows 7.
I hope this helps.

Please turn your antivirus software to gaming mode and problem will be sovled.

I think you have problem with  you setup package.if you tried to install through cd or dvd then first clean it with clean cloth and try to install . If this error again appears then contact adobe company with activation code or you details . Then they will provide new product

Starting Adobe Photoshop Elements, the Editor returns the error message "Unable to continue because of hardware or system error. Sorry, but this error is unrecoverable," and the Organizer returns the error message "Interface not found."

Solution: Enable the Event log service.
1. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Administrative Tools, then Services.
3. Right-click Event Log and select Start.
Note: The Event Log can only be disabled in the Microsoft System Configuration utility (msconfig) under the Services tab, but should never be turned off.
Background information
The error messages "hardware or system error..." or "interface not found" when you start either the Editor or Organizer indicate a system level problem. These messages display if Event Log is disabled. The Event Log is a Microsoft service that should never be disabled.

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Are you trying to use it with a tablet device? Because some tablet devices override the drivers that are dependent for Photoshop. If this is not the problem, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you =)

Even though this says Elements 6, it still works for 7. The only difference is the TWAIN file is at: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 7.0\Locales\en_US\Plug-Ins\Import-Export


http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/408/kb408846.html

OK U SHOULD CONTACT THE PRODUCT DEALER BUT ONCE U CHECK THE SYSTEM REQUREMENTS AND CHECK ALL THE COMPONETS ARE THEIR OR NOT IF ANY ONE IS NOT THEIR U SHOULD INSTALL AND IT WILL WORK AND ONE MORE U SHOULD DOWNLOAD THE ADOBE PHOTOSHOP UPDATES U CAN DOWNLOAD FROM HERE ok rate me please 100%

It's most likely incompatible with your system. That's a very old version of Photoshop.