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J
JanelleTG
Participant
October 4, 2021
Question

InDesign CS5.5 no longer works after hard drive was replaced on iMac Pro (Mojave)

  • October 4, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 695 views

I know. I know. I'm still running ancient programs, spare me the criticism. I also live where I still get s-l-o-w Internet via phone cord (DSL) and can't afford CC quite, yet.

 

My 2-year iMac Pro had the hard drive go (super frustrating) but some Apple Certified Techs (not Apple, themselves - they were clueless) were able to recover everything, repair and get me back and running. However, (2) issues with my CS5.5 Suite. 1) Adobe InDesign won't even open 2) I can't print anything using Adobe Acrobat X Pro. I use InDesign daily and have reached out to both Apple and Adobe for help -- they finger point each other. I was running Mojave 10.14.6 and still am. Although, I'd also like to switch to Big Bur soon.

 

I still have the Adobe CS5.5 CD-ROM's (and serial #'s) and luckily a portable drive, but when I go to install -- the install button doesn't do a thing. The same thing happens when I try to Uninstall InDesign. The button does nothing. It doesn't freeze. It just acts like I never clicked a thing. Program worked okay(ish) before hard drive failed.

 

I've attached the error message I get when trying to open InDesign in it's current state. In addition, one troubleshooting step involved looking in log files for anything labeled | FAILED | and I'm attached the highlighted failure and supposed action. In addition, I am running this same software on my MacBook - Sierra 10.12.6 currently with no issues. Can anyone help me get my InDesign up and running again?

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 5, 2021

Hi Janelle,

what could have helped:

If you had a bootable external drive with the system and the software cloned from a older machine.

Then you could have booted from that drive and simply work on ( a bit slower of course ).

 

Example: In my Mac days I had a 4 GB USB disk ready with 3 or 4 different old system versions cloned on bootable partitions done with Carbon Copy Cloner. Plus the installed Adobe software for CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5.

That worked sufficiently in emergency situations.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    J
    JanelleTGAuthor
    Participant
    October 5, 2021

    @Laubender Unfortunately, I work with large files and need quickness. I still may try it. I have two older Macs that still work and have the software installed. Carbon Copy Cloner I assume is essential for putting software on an external? This is a little beyond my area of comfort. I do have several externals and I know how to partition them.

     

    Thank you.

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 4, 2021

    Since you don't seem to have changed the OS, it seems to me that a time machine restore from the old system ought to work, but if it doesn't perhaps you can try making a backup of the system as it is now (so you don't lose anything that works currently), then try copying the application folders for ID and Acrobat from the Macbook.

     

    Before doing that, however, try trashing the prefs and caches for ID and Acrobat. You never know -- that might be all you need. See Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting for folder locations (these are HIDDEN folders) for ID. Should be similar for Acrobat.

      J
      JanelleTGAuthor
      Participant
      October 5, 2021

      I'm going to try the restore this weekend when I have more time. I did already try copying the files over from MacBook to iMacPro and they turned gray when I put them on the iMac, so something didn't jive there.

       

      Thanks for the link. I see a few options in there to try. Thank you!

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      October 4, 2021

      Often things keep working for a while on system upgrades, but can't run on a clean install. You've been living on borrowed time in choosing to upgrade to wildly unsupported combination of OS and app.

        J
        JanelleTGAuthor
        Participant
        October 5, 2021

        You're probably correct; however, I'm going to hold onto that borrowed time as long as I can -- if I can. Thank you.

        BobLevine
        Community Expert
        BobLevineCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 5, 2021
        Well, I wish you luck but be aware that you have zero chance of continuing with any 32-bit apps if you upgrade your operating system.
        BobLevine
        Community Expert
        BobLevineCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 4, 2021
        Probably not. That software is too old to run on a new operating system.

        That is not criticism...it is fact.
          J
          JanelleTGAuthor
          Participant
          October 4, 2021

          @BobLevinebut it worked before. Why all the sudden? I currently can use Photoshop and Illustrator on the iMac Pro and it works fine. All software worked prior to that point.

          BobLevine
          Community Expert
          BobLevineCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          October 4, 2021

          Probably because you started with an earlier O/S and updated it as you went along and now you're trying to start from scratch.

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