Photoshop causing other programs not receive ESC key

Photoshop CS4 and ATI Catalyst Control Center both hook the Escape key. To fix it, use Windows Task Manager to terminate ccc.exe and restart Photoshop.

Intel chipset users should right-click on Intel Graphics tray icon and disable hotkeys.

Other way to do this (if Intel Graphics tray icon missing):

Control panel → Display → Change display settings → Advanced settings → tab "Intel® Graphics and Media control panel" → button "Graphics Propertries" → Options and Support → Hot Key functionality → uncheck "Enable"

From here http://forums.adobe.com/message/1636488#1636488

It's a issue with the Photoshop and it happens on other programs too. (It's probably related to some Photoshops plugins) You should be able to use SHIFT+ESC to bypass it.

This issue is fixed in CS5.

You could also try one of these programs from here http://forums.adobe.com/message/1636461#1636461 if you are not happy with the SHIFT-method or upgrading to CS5.