Cannot install CS3 Photoshop, Illustrator, or Flash

[cs3er]

Very frustrated.  Got a new computer (Macbook Pro, OSX 10.14).  Traded in my old serial number for a new one, so I could download the CS3 version that does not require activation. CS3 Web Premium.

Gone through all the solutions I could find, and it still won't install.  Some programs install (Acrobat, Dreamweaver, etc.) except Photoshop, Illustrator, & Flash do not install.  Programs that do install ask for serial number, but says my serial numbers (both the new one & the old one) are invalid.

Tried:

deleting cache.db

deleting EVERY Adobe file I could find in the computer (prefs files, installers, Application Support files, App files, EVERYTHING I could find

uninstalled Adobe AIR

Used the CC cleaner from Adobe

Used the Uninstaller from Applications>Utilities

Used the uninstaller from the download setup app.

Install all programs together, or individually.  Makes no difference

Has anyone been able to get this installer to work?  h t t p  esd.adobe.com/dlm/AdobeLicensing/STWD/3_3/MAC/ADBESTWDCS3_ESD1_WWE.dmg

The only error I found in the logs is: "Error committing command ARKCAPSWritePayloadDataCommand".

Thanks,

Ken

[Test Screen Name]

Apps far too old. If you want to use your replacement software get an old Mac, with old compatible Mac OS. When you get a new Mac you need to budget for all new apps; it's part of the Joy of Mac.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Ken, sorry you are facing problems installing Creative Suite 3 on your brand new MacBook Pro.  The error you posted often occurs because the installer is unable to overwrite existing files.

Did you transfer/migrate any files and applications from your old Mac to your new Mac?  Also to confirm you have been installing using the new installation files, and serial number, available at Download Adobe Creative Suite 3 products ?

[cs3er]

Hi Jeff,

Yes, I believe that is the issue, too. I did migrate from a similar machine (OSX 10.14, 64 bit i7 processor), where Photoshop CS3 worked fine.  I tried to delete everything I can find, but, it seems, I missed some.  Can you give me an idea of where the installer looks for already-installed files?  Any hidden places?

I have deleted:

~Library/Application Support/Adobe

<me>/Library/Application Support/ anything with "adobe" in file name

<me>/Library/Caches/ anything with "adobe" in file name

<me>/Library/Preferences/ anything with "adobe" in file name

/Applications/Adobe anything

I have done a global Finder search for "Adobe", "Photoshop", "Flash", "Acrobat", and deleted them.

For some reason the Finder search using the "File visibility : invisible items" doesn't find the hidden files, even though they do exist.

Any hints as to where else to delete files from would be greatly appreciated.

And, yes, I am using the new downloaded installer with new serial number.

Thanks,

Ken

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Ken, it is very difficult to manually remove Creative Suite 3.  Please try downloading and running the CC Cleaner Tool from Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems it may allow you to recover from the migration.

If you continue to encounter errors, then I would recommend reformatting the Mac, installing CS3, and then restoring any needed documents and/or settings to the new computer from the backup.

[MelissaLA88]

Hi! You're trying to use some really old software on a new Mac. While there *might* be a workaround for this, you're probably still going to run into problems at some point. I highly suggest looking at Creative Cloud plans when you get a chance Best of luck!

[Test Screen Name]

You can't make all software compatible by deleting files. Apple changed stuff and broke old apps.

Be aware, and be very sure that NONE of CS3 will work in the next macOS, 10.15, - hence in any Mac bought from about this November (estimated). Apple have announced it.

[cs3er]

Source?

[John T Smith]

Mac 64bit warning https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2587657

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

cs3er  wrote

Source?

See this link

What Apple's 32-bit app phase-out on Mojave means to you | Computerworld

[cs3er]

Just got messaged from a scammer purporting to be Adobe Customer Support.  They asked for my Skype to communicate.  Then they asked for my Adobe username and password.  BEWARE!

[John T Smith]

I have reported https://forums.adobe.com/people/kirsty%20mcintyre to the Forum Administrator

For anyone else reading this

Never post private information on a public forum... including your actual email address or phone number

When an employee asks for information (identified by a STAFF badge where my ACP badge shows) hover your mouse over their name and then click the Message option in the popup window to send a private email

Adobe does not use Skype... if someone asks you to talk to them via Skype to "help" you, immediately report their Adobe ID in https://forums.adobe.com/community/forumhelp/forum_comments/content so the person may be banned from the forums

[cs3er]

After further investigation, it appears this issue may be to the Macbook Pro's using an SSD drive.  There is a CODEC used by the Adobe installer that Apple has decided is no longer needed with SSD drives.  So, either Adobe would need to provide an installer without the compression, or the CODEC will need to be installed on the machine.  Which CODEC is ADOBE using for this?

From log:  "Error: unsupported compressor 8"

[thatsmauri]

There's not much Adobe can do, to be honest. The 'Creative Suite 3' is almost 12 years old and Adobe doesn't support their older software anymore. With new OS updates every year, the chance that said softwares may no longer be compatible is getting bigger.

[Test Screen Name]

Codecs really only apply to audio visual stuff. These messages have been seen with other software and the claim is that they are "harmless" and "bug in OS": Google Groups