Photoshop Elements 12 Install Issue Windows XP SP3

Report · Nov 07, 2018

I've spent the better part of a day trying to install PSE 12 on my Windows XP SP3 computer. (Please, no comments that XP is old, upgrade to Win7 or Win10 ETC yada yada yada. I have good reasons to still use XP.)

I still use XP because my film scanner has no drivers beyond WinXP SP3 and my camera tethering software doesn't work beyond Windows XP either. I also use it for music recording hardware that likewise have no Win7 & up drivers.

I purchased a NOS copy of PSE 12 that was still factory sealed. I selected PSE 12 because it is the last version of PSE that will run under WinXP SP3. Per Adobe's website:

Photoshop Elements system requirements shows that PSE 12 is compatible with WInXP SP3:

1.6 GHz or faster processor (including single-core support)
Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista® with Service Pack 2, Windows 7, or Windows 8 & 8.1 (Note: Limited Camera Raw functionality on Windows XP)

So it *should* work fine under XP.

My CPU is an Intel Quad Core Q9650 3.00GHz, has 4 GB RAM (actually has 8GB but 32bit WinXP only sees 4GB) , and a 2 TB hard drive with plenty of space on it like 600GB. Monitor is a 1920x1080.

The factory box that PSE 12 came in also states that it is compatible with WinXP SP3

My issue:

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When I try to install PSE 12 in WinXP from the original DVD the serial number fails.

I spent a lot of time in a chat session with Adobe Support. Per Adobe support the serial number is valid and is registered to my account. The chat support person had me download PSE 12 from Adobe and install from the downloaded files. Same issue. Doesn't like the serial number under WinXP.

I then took the DVD to a Win7 computer in my home office and PSE 12 installs just fine. The serial number is accepted as valid and it's working. Great, but I need it running on a WinXP box not Win7.

How do I get PSE 12 to install under WIndows XP SP3?

Thanks for your help!

Report · Nov 07, 2018

Did it successfully install and you are on the trial version and just can't activate it?

Report · Nov 08, 2018

No, it did not install. The INSTALLER fails in the very beginning when it asks for the serial number.

Report · Nov 08, 2018

You should be able to install it as a trial and then enter the serial number later.

Report · Nov 09, 2018

Thanks. The trial install went ok (I think). I now have another big issue.

When I launch PSE12 I now get this screen:

Note that PSE 12 is not running yet. All this screen does is spin until it times out. It is trying to connect to Adobe.com but fails.

My computer is on line. I have an internet connection (I'm posting this to adobe.com using the Windows XP computer). My clock is correct. I am already signed in to Adobe using FireFox 52.9.0. Here's my desktop:

When I quit from these error screens PSE 12 closes. So I can't launch PSE 12. What is going on here?

Report · Nov 09, 2018

See if something here helps:

Resolve connection errors with Adobe

Report · Nov 09, 2018

Thanks.

I downloaded the Adobe Limited Access Tool.

The Adobe Limited Access Toll will not run under WIndows XP:

I then followed the manual procedure to edit the HOSTS file. My HOSTS file is clean with no Adobe entries - no need to remove any entries as it's the default WinXP HOSTS file:

I verified that I can access Adobe HTTPS sites:

Per the check lis since I can access HTPPS sites I should:

"If you are still unable to resolve your connectivity issues, contact Customer Service."

So it's did not help.

What's next?

Thanks!

Report · Nov 09, 2018

Turn off your internet connection, run use 12 again and then when you get the Grey screen above that says Please Connect to the Internet and Retry click on the Cancel button,

Then it should ask you if you want to start you 30 day trial or License the Software.

Pick 30 day trial then restart pse 12 and see if your able to enter your serial number.

Remember to do all this with your internet connection off.

Report · Nov 09, 2018

I did as you asked. PSE 12 did come up and I did enter the serial number. But now it tries to log in to Adobe and fails as before.

I could not get updates.

I now have 7 days to register it or it will stop running.

Seems like a connectivity issue.

Yikes! It's now 2 days an counting to do a simple install.

Report · Nov 09, 2018

See if installing the newest Adobe Application Manager makes any difference.

Adobe - Adobe Application Manager : For Windows : Adobe Application Manager

Report · Nov 10, 2018

Jeff,

I downloaded & installed the application mgr as asked. The Adobe installer installed the new version without issue. I ran PSE 12 with no issues. I then selected UPDATES and got this error:

I think that the new application manger is not compatible with Windows XP. If so, the Adobe Installer should never have installed it on my Windows XP computer.

How do I revert to my old version of the Application manager?

Report · Nov 10, 2018

Aoresteen wrote
How do I revert to my old version of the Application manager?

One way is to use System restore.

Report · Nov 10, 2018

System Restore under WIndows XP has always been flaky. I'd prefer not to try it.

I'd rather uninstall PSE12 and start from scratch again.

Any other way of getting the Application MGR from 2012?

Thanks!

Report · Nov 10, 2018

Aoresteen wrote
System Restore under WIndows XP has always been flaky. I'd prefer not to try it.

I can understand that. Windows 10 is worst.

Do you use a program to make system images (like Acronis True Image, Macrium Reflect, EaseUs, Aoemei Backupper)?

If so, you could use it to go back.

Report · Nov 10, 2018

How about the Sign-In part, are you good on that?

If you look under Help, does it now say Sign Out?

Report · Nov 10, 2018

No and No.

I can sign in using my browser to Adobe.com but not through PSE12. I've never seen the "Sign Out" option in PSE12.

I uninstalled PSE12 and will reinstall it later tonight or tomorrow. I use Ghost to image my OS drives but this one's image is a bit old so I decided that the uninstall & re-install route would be safer.

Thanks all for your help patience so far. I really appreciate it.

Report · Nov 11, 2018

Try installing from the download link below rather than from disk. You should then get the latest available version with no update required.

After sign-in, click Licence This Software and enter your 24 digit serial number.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/download-earlier-version-photoshop-elements.html

Report · Nov 15, 2018

Just spent 2 hours with a remote session with Adobe Support. They went through the whole install - downloaded PSE12 files (again) - uninstall - install yada yada yada and said that they couldn't figure it out. Someone will call me back in 24 hours.

It's 3AM and I am at last going to bed.

Report · Nov 15, 2018

Do you have any other adobe software on your computer?

If not you could unistall pse 12, run the creative cloud cleaner, turn off your internet and install from your original dvd.

Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems