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Participating Frequently
December 24, 2025
Question

CC Update install fail has turned into a total disaster

  • December 24, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 443 views

A few weeks ago, I encountered the dreaded 87 "another installer is running" while attempting to update Lightroom.  I followed some of the suggestions here, which prevented me from using Lightroom at all.  (Starting Lightroom started the installer, which again failed.  Photoshop does the same.)  Uninstalled everything, ran CCleaner, and tried again.  Same error.  Tried it again, booting in safe mode with networking, and that failed, too.  Been unable to process photos properly for six weeks, which created quite a backlog.  Tried an email to Adobe support; no reply.  My annual subscription has just been renewed, but I can't use what I paid for.  This product fails the warranty of merchantability, i.e., it doesn't do what it promises.  The Internet is full of similar reports dating back many years, and Adobe has done nothing.  Please, can someone tell me how to contact people who can actually help?  Perhaps someone to whom I can email the install logs, which must reveal something.  Thank you.

1 reply

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 24, 2025

do a clean cc install carefully following each applicable step:

uninstall every cc app including preferences per https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html

then uninstall the cc desktop app, again using the correct uninstaller per https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html#sa_src=web-messaging

clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

check for, and if available, update your os

if windows is your os, repair all ms visual c++ versions that can be repaired (use google if you don't know how to do this)

if windows is your os update your ms visual c++, if it can be updated (use google if you don't know how to do this)

restart your computer (don't skip this)

reinstall the cc desktop app using the "alternative download links" at the bottom of the page at https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html

use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials>

if that fails, you probably have a corrupt user account. google your os and how to create a new one.

rmloebAuthor
Participating Frequently
December 25, 2025
Been through all that, multiple times.

Running Win11 w/ all current patches, which could a problem itself.  Ran
all the Windoze fixers: DISM+SFC+CHKDSK. Don't have MS Visual C++. 
Downloaded CC installer from "alternative links." Rebooted to safe mode
with networking.  Installer, run as administrator, failed with 191, again.

Been forced to use DXO and DaVinci for the past six weeks.  Grown fond
of DaVinci, once I got past the crawl stage.  Getting comfortable with
DXO and will consider sticking with it.

Just came across a note that suggests that Nvidia RTX Desktop Manager
has caused some other software products to have install problems,
notably Acronis True Image.

Really concerned about the consistent error 87 problems.  I've had other
installs fail, either because previous install programs failed to clean
up properly or Windows is not resetting something somewhere.  That even
happens immediately after a cold boot, which suggests something more
complex is the cause.  Also noticed that at boot time the Windows
Modules Installer is doing something; not clear what it is.

Rog
kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 25, 2025

ask someone to help you with viz c++