Background app from Magix

me_again wrote on 2/6/2026, 6:46 AM

Greetings, I'm confused again.

A few weeks agok this topic (https://www.magix.info/us/forum/why-does-fabs-exe-need-to-run--992593/#ca2002524) was resurrected. I would have posted this query there but as I can't I won't will I? 😇

In it, after admonishing the resurrector, young Mr Baker said,

If you have FABS running on your PC then you have a very old version of Magix software installed, IIRC Magix dropped using the Firebird database (FAB) over 10 years ago

I have what I assume to be FABS running (actually Firebird SQL Server - Magix Edition version 2.1.32.0) installed 17 July 2022, presumably with MEP 2022. As this was only 4 years ago is it OK to uninstall it or should I leave well alone?

AndyW

Comments

browj2 wrote on 2/6/2026, 9:20 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy,

A long time ago, MEP used the Firebird SQL Server (FABS) to connect to the database created using PhotoManager and MP3 Deluxe, I believe. If you added files to the database and categorized anything, they would show up in MEP under Import, Magix Tools, Database.

From the MEP2014 manual:

Database: Use this button to open the database view. Right-clicking opens the database search. The database first must be created using the provided additional programs MAGIX Photo Manager and/or MAGIX Music Manager.

I think by Music Manager, they meant MP3 Deluxe.

I categorized many photos and videos using PhotoManager and, IIRC, I could see the categories in MEP, click on one and would get the photos, videos and audio files that had been categorized in PhotoManager.

This feature disappeared from the program somewhere around MEP2014. Although there is still reference to it in the 2015 manual, I don't see it when I open MEP2015 Premium, the oldest MEP that I still have installed.

The only time that I see FABS loaded in the Task Manager is when I run PhotoManager.

I see that version 21.32.0 was last installed on my computer on 2021-11-16, and the date of the last FABS.exe is 2012-01-23. Why 2021? That was when I installed PhotoManager on my new computer, now more than 4 years old. But I just bought it what feels like yesterday!

In your case, any idea as to what causes it to load? Or, is it loaded by default?

Ironically, Magix dropped a good feature and has now created this AI categorization thing that doesn't even come close to what, I would assume, most users would want and user. And that is a way for the user to categorize videos, photos and audio files and have them show up by categories in the Import manager, not some AI generated thing that can't find the photos of my grandmother or anyone else, except the generic "People."

John CB

me_again wrote on 2/6/2026, 10:19 AM

@browj2

Thanks for your succinct explanation John.

I also have Photo Manager installed and it was installed in 2022 on my new computer.

What makes it load? It was loading at startup via Services - Automatic (Delayed Start). I must admit I've often looked in Task Manager but not really noticed it before today. I've changed the service now to manual and all seems well.

AndyW

johnebaker wrote on 2/6/2026, 10:20 AM

@me_again

Hi Andy

. . . . actually Firebird SQL Server - Magix Edition version 2.1.32.0) installed 17 July 2022, presumably with MEP 2022 . . . .

Definitely not from MEP 2022, as @browj2 has commented this was dropped when MEP 2015 was released, there were some significant changes brought in at that time. I have MEP 2016 installed on both PC and laptop and neither have FABS installed.

If you have Photo Manager installed then this may be the source of FABS.

Hi John

. . . . has now created this AI categorization thing that doesn't even come close to what, I would assume, most users would want and user . . . .

I agree, it suffers from hallucinations as to what categories images should be in. I do not use it because all my videos/images 'manually categorised' by the folder(s) they are stored in.

John EB

me_again wrote on 2/6/2026, 10:27 AM

@johnebaker

I refer the honourable gentleman to my earlier reply 😏

Thanks for the reply John.

AndyW