Skip to main content
A
Anonymous
March 22, 2013
Question

Photoshop CS2 is prompting to be activated?

  • March 22, 2013
  • 1 reply
  • 3360 views

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? 

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    March 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.

    A
    Anonymous
    March 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. 

    A
    Anonymous
    March 27, 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.


    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

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices