Photoshop CS2 is prompting to be activated?

Report · Mar 21, 2013

I've had ongoing activation problems with CS2 and with the death of the activation server, the problem has gotten worse. (I had hoped for an improvement - no such luck.) I downloaded the CS2 files for our serial number, uninstalled the original version of CS2 and ran CreativeSuiteCS2Disk1.exe. Everything seems to be fine and photoshop was usable (what we use most from CS2). Then the program starts giving us notification that the trial version will expire in 30 days!!

Well, the 30 days are up and Photoshop wants to be activated.....again. I tried to uninstall CS2 but I get an error message as follows - "Installer could not start because of the following reasons: Missing or Invalid Personalization Information Missing Resources Library". What's up with that? I tried running the CreativeSuiteCS2Disk1.exe again and got the same message. We're still running XP (it works!).

I quickly browsed this forum (all five pages!) for a similar sufferer but it appears that I'm alone with this particular malady.

What do I need to do to make CS2, particularly Photoshop, operational again?

Report · Mar 22, 2013

Branching this to a separate discussion.

Mtnerdisme you will want to make sure and download and install the software available at http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/creative-suite-2-activation-end-life.html. You will also want to utilize the serial number which is listed on the download page. The fact that you are being prompted to activate would seem to indicate that you have reinstalled your original version instead of the non-activating volume license version which has been made available to Creative Suite 2 owners.

Report · Mar 22, 2013

I started from the link you've referenced. After logging in, this page opened - https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/entitlement/index.cfm?e=cs2_downloads.

From there, I downloaded the 6 files for CS2 for Windows. I don't think I reinstalled the old version. We didn't use the discs. It was odd though. While it was working after I downloaded the end-of-life files, the activation page would pop up, I would click cancel and the program would work.

How can I uninstall the bad version? Just delete the directory? The CreativeSuiteCS2Disk1.exe starts but stops after it has checked files and pops up that error message.

Report · Mar 22, 2013

Have you ran the uninstaller in the Add & Remove programs folder? If that doesn't work you can also try using the Microsoft FixIt utility at http://support.microsoft.com/mats/program_install_and_uninstall/.

Report · Mar 22, 2013

I've used the Add & Remove Software from the Control Panel. I'm not sure about a "programs folder". Is that something different? Is so, can you start me down the road?

I'll try Microsoft's fixit utility too! Back shortly. Thanks!

Report · Mar 22, 2013

My apologies that should have read Add & Remove Programs Control Panel item. You found the correct spot Mtnerdisme. Sorry been a long week.

Report · Mar 22, 2013

I can understand that! <long week>

OK, I used the Microsoft uninstall system and plucked each CS2 component out, one bye one. (It didn't show CS2 as a single bundle. Just Illustrator CS2, Photoshop CS2, etc.) But CS2 is still showing in the "Add or Remove Programs" and pops up with the same error message when I try to remove it.

What can I try next? I know you're probably off for the weekend, so we can hack at this again on Monday.

Thanks!

Report · Mar 23, 2013

Mtnderdisme did you not have an option to remove Creative Suite 2 through the Microsoft Fixit utility? If not you may want to look around for a copy of the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. It use to work really well with stubborn Creative Suite 2 installations. Please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 however as it discusses how support has now been dropped for this utility. You may want to try searching around though and see if you can find a trusted site which may offer it.

Beyond that the only other option, besides a format and reinstall of the OS, would be to complete a manual removal of CS2. Please see Manually remove Adobe Creative Suite 2.x | Windows - http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/manually-remove-creative-suite-2.html which provides information on how to accomplish this.

Report · Mar 26, 2013

I'm back. Had some other emergencies the last couple days. I didn't have an option to remove CS2 as a single item in the Fixit utility. I found and ran the Installer Cleanup and that didn't help either. So, I went through the manual removal of CS2 - that was a tedious job. BUT, finally, CS2 is gone from the Add/Remove software list.

I'm going to download a fresh copy of the files, just to make sure. I certainly don't want to go through this again! I'll let you know if everything works out. Thanks so much for the uninstall tips. I would have been sooo lost without them.

Back again shortly,

Deb

Report · Mar 27, 2013

OK, files have be downloaded again. I just checked the CS2_install_Win.pdf instructions. That document is referring to files like CS_2.0_UE_Ret_D1.exe and the files that are available for me to download from the site are like CreativeSuiteCS2Disc1.exe. What is up with that? Am I going to have a problem, again?

I hope not because the installer is running as I type.....

Back again shortly,

Deb

Report · Mar 27, 2013

Actually, those instructions don't match what's happening with the installation at all!

Fingers crossed that I won't have another mess to clean up.

Report · Mar 27, 2013

Mtnerdisme please also see message #11 of http://forums.adobe.com/message/4919014#4919014?sdid=KCHDS which discusses extracting the install files.

Report · Mar 27, 2013

OK, I copies the files and the intallation is working again. (How many times a day do you have to send someone to message #11? Can't someone fix the installation instructions for you?)

Thank you!! Back again shortly,

Deb

Report · Mar 27, 2013

It's working!! Yeah! Everything installed and photoshop is running again.

Jeff, thank you so much for your help and your very timely responses. You've got a tough job (I certainly wouldn't want it!) and you do it well.

With my gratitude,

Deb

Report · Mar 27, 2013

Thanks Mtnerdisme. Appreciate the update and the encouragement.

Report · Mar 27, 2013

You are very welcome!

Report · Mar 27, 2013

Mayday! This isn't working. The Installer can't find the second disk. When I downloaded the files, I put them in c:\adobecs2. The installer wants to use c:\Creative Suite 2. That's fine. I tried copying the files to that directory but the installer still can't find the second disk. The pop-up says, Please insert CD 2 to continue. I opened/extracted the second and third disk files and the CS_2.0_WWE_Extras_2 disk.

I've already gone through this once, cancelling the installer and uninstalling what had been installed.

Given the fact that the installation instructions in no way match up with what's actually happening with the installation process, I think I've got a bunch of wrong files. I'm surprised that there aren't others fussing with the same problem.

HELP!!

Thanks, Deb