Photoshop CS5.1 Purchased program was over-taken by a 30 day trial version without request.

[Henry2024]

My Photoshop CS5.1 non-Creative Cloud “purchased product” that has been running flawlessly on my 6-year-old Dell Inspiron computer suddenly, and without invitation, turned into an upgraded 30-day trial version.  It has since expired and with every attempt to reload it from my disk, it will not run.  I have even downloaded the program from my Adobe account with the same results.  A pop-up request to enter my serial number is all I get when I try to run it.  My original serial number does not work for the 30-day version; only my CD version.

So, here’s the history:  This happened about 6 weeks ago (July 2024) I did all the usual things that tech support suggested but nothing worked.  In the process of using their CC clean up tool, multiple times, I managed to also uninstall Photoshop Premier Elements and now can’t get that to work properly either.  (When the purple editor screen loads it immediately closes then nothing happens).  I have also totally uninstalled all my Adobe products through Windows uninstaller, Adobe CC clean up tool, and manually deleted any other Adobe program files using file manager.  Each time I reinstall CS5.1 and Photoshop Premier Elements, the same results as above occur.

My computer details:

Inspiron 3668 running Windows 10 pro, version 1809.  OS build 17763.1282.

Ram: 16.0 GB

System Type: 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor.

My first question is: How did this happen?  Is this a way that Adobe is using to force us purchasers to rent their products?  I hope not.

My second question is: Someone at Adobe can fix this, so why won’t they?  It is obvious to me that there is some latent file resting somewhere on my computer that is causing this and needs to be found and removed.  I’m not a tech guru but with proper step by step direction I am certain it could be found.  So far, I’ve done all I can.  Adobe keeps prematurely closing all my cases and showing them as resolved.

Any help would be appreciated.

Larry

[Spas K.]

Sorry if I'm not understanding, but can you clarify - "My original serial number does not work for the 30-day version; only my CD version." - Has the version of Photoshop actually changed, like upgraded to PS 2024, or are you just getting the trial popup on your CS5.1 version? When you say the serial number works for one version, but not the other, how do you determine that? Are you getting some error if you try to enter the key on the activation screen? From what you wrote, it seems it doesn't work no matter whether you install it from the CD or download CS5.1 from Adobe's website.

[Henry2024]

This is my second attempt to post my reply to you so I hope you get this.  I have also emailed tech support as suggested by someone else from Adobe.  Thanks.

Larry

[kevin stohlmeyer]

@Henry2024 beware - there is no email to tech support. That suggestion was most likely a spammer trying to get you.

[Henry2024]

Hi Kevin,

Below is what I tried to post on 8-22-24 but it didn't get posted.  (I am new to posting on community help sites and just can't figure it out. I hope the photos show up too.)

You are right about being scammed.  When I received your post message I also recieved a message from the "Adobe tech" guy telling me my product is not supported and that I could upgrade to CS6 and Premier Elements 2024 for a discount.  I missed his server extension in his email address which was not Adobe.com.  Sad to learn that even good community sites like Adobe are fished by scammers triing to take advantage of people just needing help.  (I have since removed my email address.)

8-22-24

Thank you for your reply.

Relative to Photoshop CS5.1:

When I originally had trouble starting Photoshop CS5.1 about 6 weeks ago, this is the window that popped up.  In order to use it at that time I just clicked on “Continue Trial”.  Note that it says “Extended Trial” which I think means that other features were available like 3D, which I never had or used.  Eventually I tried to just input my original serial # from my CD to see if this window would go away but it said the # was invalid.  I have never tried to upgrade my program and don’t want to.  Whenever I try reloading my original program from my CD (or from downloading it from my Adobe account), it accepts the serial # that came with the CD and program loads, but when started now I get another similar 30 day trial window without the “Extended Trial” part. (See attached screen shots.)

Below is from first notice of 30 day trial.

Below is from today 8-22-24 after reinstalling for about the 6th time.

I have again uninstalled Photoshop CS5.1

Relative to Adobe Premier Elements 2018:

Today I also tried to get Adobe Premier Elements 2018 going again by reinstalling it and just like before the editor part of the program loads (purple screen) then disappears.  Note that the organizer part of the program does work.  I noticed some installation errors (See photo below) about Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2017 64 and 86.  My research suggested to uninstall the newer versions which were 2015-2019 and install the 2017 version that came with program.  That did not correct my problem.

Error Codes after loading Adobe Premier Elements 2018:

Exit Code: 6

Please see specific errors below for troubleshooting. For example,  ERROR: DW003, DW071 ...

-------------------------------------- Summary --------------------------------------

 - 0 fatal error(s), 6 error(s)

----------- Payload: Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x64) 14.10.25017.0 {636D196A-789E-455D-825E-5FA79F670001} -----------

ERROR: DW071:

ERROR: DW003: Third party payload installer vc_redist.x64.exe failed with exit code: 1638

ERROR: Failed to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x64). Please try installing it by double clicking on the executable at "C:\Users\Larry\Desktop\Adobe Premiere Elements 2018\PRE 2018\payloads\Microsoft VC 2017 Redist (x64)\vc_redist.x64.exe", or download and install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x64) from Microsoft website - www.microsoft.com

----------- Payload: Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x86) 14.10.25017.0 {636D196A-789E-455D-825E-5FA79F670000} -----------

ERROR: DW071:

ERROR: DW003: Third party payload installer vc_redist.x86.exe failed with exit code: 1638

ERROR: Failed to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x86). Please try installing it by double clicking on the executable at "C:\Users\Larry\Desktop\Adobe Premiere Elements 2018\PRE 2018\payloads\Microsoft VC 2017 Redist (x86)\vc_redist.x86.exe", or download and install the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable Package (x86) from Microsoft website - www.microsoft.com

The screen that appears when I launch the program.  When I click “Video Editor” a purple window appears showing it is loading then disappears:

Like CS5.1, I have again uninstalled Premier Elements 2018.

As a side note, I reloaded a purchased version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 that I haven’t used since purchasing Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 and through all the uninstalling and reinstalling of the other programs, Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 works great!

Thanks!

Larry