CS2 not supported by MAC OS?

Question

I spent close to a thousand dollars, if not more, on CS2 for my PC back in the day.  Added some very expensive actions.  Now Microsoft won't support Vista, so upgraded to a MAC and spent thousands more.  Uploaded the link from Adobe to use CS2 but new MAC is apparently too new and the OS won't support the online update.  There has to be a solution where customers do not get screwed out of thousands of dollars. Help me out here Adobe!!

Herbert2001 · Accepted Answer

Thanks so very much Herbert12001. While I considered updating my notebook Dell XPS M1730 to a newer model, I use CS2 for professional photography and based on other photographers experiences with Mac's considered the switch an upgrade. I moved from a 17" notebook to the 27" desktop as an amazing retirement gift from my husband. I learned to do my editing with the trackpad on my laptop, and Mac was the only desktop version that offered the trackpad. That was actually the deciding factor for me in moving to the Mac desktop. That, and I wanted a larger screen for older eyes, as well.

You've provided a number of solutions, none of which were what I was hoping to hear, but it certainly gives me options. Most notably, your recommendation for installing a virtual machine with Windows 10 allowing me to use the Mac. I will definitely look into that.

I self educated myself on CS2 and it took an inordinate amount of time for me to learn to use it, since forums were basically my only options other than reading a manual which I didn't understand. While it was an enriching experience the first time around, once I learned to use it, and then later downloaded the updated versions of CS to experiment, in all honesty I discovered I was not motivated enough to relearn the program and still am not. The actions I had purchased were all photography based and I've been exceptionally pleased with my purchases for the past 10 years or so. It has provided everything I've needed it to.

I truly appreciate your recommendations, and your willingness to provide educated help and I will likely continue with Adobe. I've looked at Affinity, and while it has some amazing functions, it would take me much longer to edit using the program, since I'd have to learn yet another program, so I'll have to take that into account when deciding which of the recommended options to use. $10 a month for Adobe is certainly reasonable, and would have been much easier for me to afford than the $1200 or so I payed in one purchase ~10 years ago (even though it works out to about the same amount). You stated "technology moves forward - and often compatibility with older applications is lost in the process". That's certainly true these days, but not so much when I purchased CS2 originally . At that time, you bought the software, you owned the software. You wanted to upgrade, you spent more money; if you were satisfied, you didn't upgrade. Ten years has seen incredible changes in both technology and the ability of manufacturers to reach back into the pockets of its customers. Therein lies the rub. Not disappointed in Adobe, but rather my ability to continue to use CS2 on a later model computer without yet another reach into the pocketbook . But then again, I kind of love my nice new shiny Mac. At least until I have to upgrade again...

I sympathize with you - "older" software is often made out as being inferior, while I also am of the opinion that when the older version does everything perfectly well, there are no (nor should there be) compelling reasons to upgrade.

Another option is to use WINE on your Mac, which runs Windows software directly through an emulated layer of sorts (well, it is actually NOT an emulator).

The advantage is that Photoshop CS2 will run as fast as it would on a "real" Windows machine with the same specs as your Mac. And it is completely free!

Home - PlayOnMac - Run your Windows applications on Mac easily!

WineBottler | Run Windows-based Programs on a Mac

This will also allow you to

Installing Wine on Mac OS X

It is also possible to wrap Photoshop CS2 in a WINE "skin", and run it directly on your Mac.

http://wineskin.urgesoftware.com/tiki-index.php

Here are the steps for PlayOnMac:

1) download and install PlayOnMac.

2) you may have to install Quartz during the installation. This means you must log out and in once before starting playonmac.

3) install Keka (archiver) Keka - the free Mac OS X file archiver

You will need this to unzip the Adobe Photoshop CS2 archive later.

4) download the WINDOWS Photoshop CS2 installer here (do not forget to check the box "I accept":

Download Adobe Acrobat 7 and Adobe Creative Suite 2 products

For this to work, you MUST be logged into your Adobe account first. Then open this link.

Copy the serial number (select, and command-c)

5) Use Keka to unzip the Photoshop CS2 exe file (which is actually a zipped folder) somewhere on your desktop.

6) Start PlayOnMac. Click on "Install a program"

7) Click on "Install a non-listed program" at the left bottom of the playonmac window.

8) Take note of the three instructions which will be displayed.

- leave the default installation directory unchanged.

- do not allow the installer to launch the application at the end of the installation

- if asked if you wish to reboot Windows, you may answer yes, but in no case should you reboot the host operating system yourself.

9) click Next a bunch of times, then select "install a program in a new virtual drive"

10) enter a name for your photoshop cs2. No spaces! For example: "photoshopCS2"

11) next dialog: keep all boxed unchecked, and click "next"

12) after a while, it will ask you to select the installation file. Browse to the unzipped Windows Photoshop CS2 installation folder, and open the "Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) CS2 folder. Then select the "Setup.exe" file.

The windows installation will now start. When it asks for the serial number, use CTRL-C to paste it in that field. You have an official license of Photoshop CS2, and therefore you are licensed to download this version of Photoshop. The license servers for Photoshop CS2 have been pulled off-line a couple of years ago, and this serial number will work for this version.

Continue the installation, and click next a couple of times again. Installation will then commence. This may take a minute or two. Uncheck the "read me" checkbox, and then click "finish".

13) after a while, Playonmac will ask you to make a shortcut. Browse the list, and select "Photoshop.exe".

14) In the next dialog, name your shortcut "Photoshop CS2"

15) repeat these steps, if you wish, for ImageReady.exe. When done, select "I don't want to make another shortcut".

Whew, Done! Photoshop CS2 is now listed in your PlayOnMac dialog. Run it by selecting the icon, and clicking "Run" in the left sidebar.

Hope this helps. Before you start Photoshop the first time, make sure to log out and in again (requirement for Quartz).

Herbert2001 · Answer

It would have been perhaps a good idea to do some research and allow yourself to be informed before spending more money. Your CS2 Windows does indeed work without any problems on modern versions of Windows, so it would have been much less expensive to just update your Vista to a newer version - indeed, adding a bit more RAM (memory) to your existing PC might have been the easier solution.

CS2 for Macs was originally written with the older PowerPC Macs in mind - which use a completely different processor (CPU). When Apple introduced Intel CPUs in their Macs, the old PowerPC applications could still work through a software shell called "Rosetta".

Unfortunately for you, the newer Macs no longer come bundled with Rosetta (Apple stopped supporting that a number of years ago).

This means your CS2 Mac version will not work on a new Mac. This is not the fault of Adobe. CS2 is pretty old software, and technology moves forward - and often compatibility with older applications is lost in the process.

If you still wish to run your CS2 on your Mac: one method is to install a virtual machine with Windows 10, and install the Windows version. It is a bit technical, however. You may require some external assistance with this.

Of course, other options are;

- upgrade to a newer version of Photoshop - the monthly subscription for the Photographer's bundle (Photoshop and Lightroom) is $10. You will not own the software, however, and you must keep paying the upkeep until that moment you no longer wish to use Photoshop or wish to pay for the subscription. Then all your native PSD files become inaccessible (up to a point).

Or switch to Photoshop Elements for Mac - which is not as expensive, not as powerful, but you will be able to get a full license.

- Return the Mac, and either a) upgrade Vista to a newer version (perhaps adding more memory), or b) purchase a new Windows machine instead. Then install CS2 Windows.

- Forego Adobe software, keep your nice new shiny Mac, and switch to Affinity Photo Affinity Photo - Professional image editing software for Mac Full license for ~$50, and works splendidly for Mac. Far more powerful than CS2. Or switch to Photoline, full license for ~$70 (PhotoLine: Image Processing & Design Software), which is just as powerful (even more so than Affinity Photo), but more technical, perhaps.

You mentioned you invested in plugins? Then Photoline might be the better choice, since it supports 32bit Photoshop plugins.

Your choice!

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