Participant

Question

I want to install the software I bought in 2010

Forum|Forum|10 months ago
March 20, 2025
2 replies
587 views

On January 13, 2010, I bought Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium.

I have a new computer and lost my backups. I want to download the software I already paid for. I don't want to install Creative Cloud (this is seriously one of the most annoying apps I have to deal with at work, it's constantly glitching and forgetting credentials and popping up when I'm trying to work on other things; I don't want to repeat this experience on my personal time, thanks). I can see in my Adobe account that it's registered and I have the serial number. I just want to get the same thing that I've been using very occasionally for 15 years.

How can I go about doing this?

Installation

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Installation files won't help you. CS4 activation servers no longer exist. You can't activate the software to use it on a new machine.

CS4 is more than a decade past its "replace me" date. There would be no upside in putting outdated software on a new machine. That's a prescription for problems.

Save yourself some grief, get new software that's compatible with your new computer.

MODERN OPTIONS:
==============
FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, print & sign PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (3 year license).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography (Annual or Monthly plans).
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud Bundles & Single App Plans for mobile, web & desktops
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

C

ChristinaJHCAuthor

Participant

I don't think you understood my post - I don't want the current products. I used them at work and I think the user experience is awful. I already know the grief that comes from the contemporary Adobe products. Furthermore, I explained that I only use these products "very occasionally" - a subscription model doesn't make sense for something I use for personal projects only two or three times a year. If the answer is just "sucks to be you, we won't let you get the product you paid for, rent our current crap or go away", you can just say that.

B

Ben M

Community Expert

I don't think you understood my post - I don't want the current products. I used them at work and I think the user experience is awful. I already know the grief that comes from the contemporary Adobe products. Furthermore, I explained that I only use these products "very occasionally" - a subscription model doesn't make sense for something I use for personal projects only two or three times a year. If the answer is just "sucks to be you, we won't let you get the product you paid for, rent our current crap or go away", you can just say that.

By @ChristinaJHC

The answer has to do with the computer to. The software was designed to run on that computer from 2010, so in the same way that computer didn't last forever, the software cannot run forever as it relies on those parts to run. Depending on your OS in the new computer, the CS4 software may not install or run.

If you are only using the software minimal times an annual subscription does not make sense. However, a month-to-month subscription may make sense to activate/deactivate as needed. But if you only need minimal aspects of the programs related to that 2010 version, you may even be able to accomplish most of what you need with some online tools or alternative software, some of which offer free or less expensive versions that the Adobe counterpart. It really depends on the functionality of the CS4 Suite that you need in your work.

As far as the bugs you are experiencing about losing credentials and pop-ups, I would recommend posting about them to see if you can be helped with those instances as personally I have been using CC on a Mac for many years and don't have an issue with constantly losing credentials, but if others have experienced it there may be solutions that can be offered to help resolve your bugs.

kglad

Community Expert

if you purchased from or registered with adobe, check that account for the installation files.

however, you cannot activate cs4 so installing it will only yield 30 days trial usage unless you're willing to spend significant time and effort.

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ChristinaJHCAuthor

Participant

If the significant time and effort is a one time thing, I'd be willing to investigate it.

John T Smith

Community Expert

If you had CS4 and installed it, it would only run for 30 days because you can't activate it

You could completely wipe your drive and install it every 30 days, but there is no other way for more than 30 days

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