Error 6 with legitimate CS4 copy?

[cormorants61299335]

I've had my copy of CS4 installed and working on my computer for a while now (over a year) with no problems. (Windows 8.1) It is a legitimate copy with a license key.

Suddenly (I'm not sure what happened to change anything) whenever I try to open a program, I get the Error 6 alert and am unable to open the program. (I mostly only use Photoshop and Illustrator, though I have tried other programs to the same result.)

I've been unable to find a solution to this, so I figured I would try to uninstall and re-install again, however when I go to Uninstall Programs, and select Adobe CS4, it says "An error occurred trying to uninstall Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection. It may have already been uninstalled." (and offers to remove it from the list.) I never uninstalled it, however, and all the files are still listed in their folders.

I'm at a loss of what I should do next. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Additionally, I've seen people encounter similar Error 6 problems when they have transferred their files from one computer to another, or have illegal copies. As I stated, this is a legitimate copy (which I've been using for years), and it has previously worked on this computer, up until this point. I have no idea what changed. I didn't move any of the files, and they all appear to still be there, even though I cannot open them.

[Ned Murphy]

Before you uninstall you should deactivate by opening one of the applications and choosing Help -> Deactivate.

[cormorants61299335]

Hi Ned! Unfortunately, because Error 6 won't let me open any of the applications, I can't open it to deactivate it.

[Ned Murphy]

What does the complete error message indicate?  If it is easier to show a screenshot, go for it.

[cormorants61299335]

The error message reads as follows:

"Licensing for this product has stopped working." [header]

"This product has encountered a problem which requires that you restart your computer before it can be launched.

If you continue to see this message after restarting your computer, please contact either your IT administrator or Adobe technical support for help, and mention the error codes shown at the bottom of this screen.

Error: 6

http:www.adobe.com/support/"

Of course, I've restarted my computer multiple times since this error began occurring, to no avail.

[Ned Murphy · Accepted solution]

See if using the CS Cleaner Tool is of any help getting the software uninstalled.  Normally you would use it after uninstalling to clean up, but see if it can remove that stuff from your machine.

Adobe Creative Suite Cleaner Tool

helps resolve installation problems for CS3 thru CS6 and for Creative Cloud

http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

[cormorants61299335]

Well, talking with Support, it turns out that the issue is that Windows 8 and Adobe have stopped working to keep CS 4 (or anything previous to CS6) drivers, etc., functioning and I'm basically stuck upgrading to another version. As per their chat:

"We like to inform you CS 4 is to old software and no more Compatible With windows 8, 8.1 And Mac OS X Yosemite if you will try to install/update Its create conflict/Harm/Damage on your computer might be you not aware after CS 6 Adobe move to CC 2014 so only creative cloud product have right to register with adobe account and Creative suite product will not register with adobe account that's the reason we provide the CS 6 Life long support‏"

The phrasing isn't exactly specific to what the problem is (presumably, I would have at least been able to open one of the programs, not simply encounter an error not entirely related to the problem), but the end result is the same: according to Adobe, there is no fix other than to buy a newer version.

[Ned Murphy]

I have nothing positive to say about the response you got from support.

[cormorants61299335]

You and me both.