Adobe Photoshop 5.5 doesn't work with new laptop

[pf60196300]

hoping someone can help.

I've bought a new laptop, but my (admittedly rather old) version of Photoshop 5.5 won't install - it's a PC with Windows 10, but my old laptop had been upgraded to Win 10 and the program did work on that.

after reading all the forums and online advice, I have downloaded the 'replacement' CS5.5 software, but the serial number that it is requesting is all numbers, whereas as my licence no. has some letters in it, so it won't work!

I got in touch with Adobe chat, but they directed me to these forums.  not sure how I will be able to get hold of this 'upgrade' serial number, but thought I would ask if this has happened to anyone else.

thanks.

[John T Smith]

If you still have your old computer, use the program in this link to verify your serial number

-Find serial number without Adpbe ID

As far as I know, your version should ONLY have 6 groups of 4 numbers... no letters

But... do you mean CS5.5 or a REALLY old version from before the CS days?

Two ideas that MAY work to install and/or run old programs in Windows 10

-RIGHT click the program icon or EXE and select a compatibility mode in the pop up option window

-or Run as Administrator http://forums.adobe.com/thread/969395 to assign FULL Windows permissions may help... this says Encore, but is sometimes required for ALL Adobe programs (this is NOT the same as using an Administrator account) so follow the instructions, substituting the name and location of your specific program for Encore

-also https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/create-local-administrator-account-windows.html

[pf60196300]

thanks for taking the time to reply.

my version is Adobe Photoshop 5.5 - it's pre CS days by the looks of things, so the licence of serial nos are not the same.

all advice online points to upgrading the 5.5 to CS5.5, but, of course I only have the 5.5 licence nos, so can't get past the trial version.

I will try what you suggest, but I think the real issue is that the upgrade is not really an upgrade.

it's so frustrating that the old software won't just work!

[Nancy OShea]

Photoshop 5.5 was released in February 1999!   I don't mean to be disparaging but I think you got more than your money's worth.  Clinging to 20 year old software is no solution.

Either join Creative Cloud Photography Plan for $10/month or buy a copy of Photoshop Elements 2019.  Either way will be a huge improvemnt over what you had and your  software will be compatible with modern equipment.

• Creative Cloud pricing and membership plans | Adobe Creative Cloud
• Easy Photo Editing Software | Adobe Photoshop Elements 2019

[pf60196300]

Really? Even if is a perfectly useful piece of software. Best not ask how old my Microsoft Office is then...

[Test Screen Name]

If it has letters in it isn't a serial number. It may be a redemption code, which you swapped for a serial number.

[Jeff Arola]

Versions of photoshop before photoshop 7 used a combination of letters like PSW at the beginning followed by numbers in the serial numbers.

[pf60196300]

yes, it is quite old, but it's a very familiar piece of software to me and I would like to keep using it.  the licence No. does start with PWW

[Test Screen Name]

Upgrading to CS5.5 is either pointless or impossible. It is no longer sold. The current product is Creative Cloud, subscription only.

20 years is a pretty good run. Mac users would have had to throw out their software and buy again at least 3 times in that period.

[pf60196300]

Thanks for all your answers. I don't use this for work any more, so won't be subscribing or updating to the current versions.

[Jeff Arola]

What exactly happens when you try to install photoshop 5.5?

How much free space is on your hard drive?

Photoshop 5.5 won't work on drives with more than 1 GB of free space.

[pf60196300]

Yes, I did read something about partitioning the hard drive, so could try that, if it really might work.

I get an error 106 when trying to install from the disc.

Not sure if that is related to the size of the hard drive - it seems to be quite a general error code from what I can find out online.

[Jeff Arola]

No don't partition your drive. It doesn't matter if you can't get 5.5 to install in the first place.

[Nancy OShea]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Jeff+Arola  wrote

No don't partition your drive. It doesn't matter if you can't get 5.5 to install in the first place.

I agree with Jeff.  Your software is really ancient.   And  the 106 error implies your installation disks are corrupted, which isn't too surprising given their age.    

Try Gimp.  It's free.

https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

Or get Affinity Photo -- $50 for desktop, $20 for iPad.

Affinity Photo - Professional image editing software for desktop and iPad

[pf60196300]

Try Gimp.  It's free.

https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

Or get Affinity Photo -- $50 for desktop, $20 for iPad.

Affinity Photo - Professional image editing software for desktop and iPad

thanks for your advice Nancy.

I actually use the software to illustrate diagrams, make cards, etc.

I'm going to keep trying to make it work!

[Jeff Arola]

Actually the installer for photoshop 5.5 should run fine on windows 10 x64 bit on any 64 bit windows.

It"s photoshop versions 5.0 and older that use 16 bit installers that won't run on 64 bit windows without some trickery.

Photoshop 5.5 uses a 32 bit installer.

Anyways, try copying the photoshop cd contents to your drive and then try to install by right clicking on the Setup.exe in the Photoshop folder and click on Run as Administrator.

[pf60196300]

Thank you for all your advice Jeff.

I will let you know how I get on.

[pf60196300]

Hi again

I followed your advice and copied the software onto my desktop.

It took a while, but it has installed correctly now.

Thanks very much!

[Chuck Uebele]

Is the hard drive still working on your old laptop? I had an old version of Framemaker that only worked with older versions of windows. I ended up trashing the computer, but keeping the HD, and I connected it to a new computer, and Framemaker worked with Win 10. Might work with PS 5.5.

[pf60196300]

Thanks Chuck.

Good to know!

[rayek.elfin]

Photoshop 5.5 is known to work on Windows 10 (either 32bit or 64bit), but the installer will only function properly on a 32bit version. So check this first.

If you bought a new laptop, chances are almost 100% that it is running a 64bit version. The installer will not work in that case.

Here are the steps (not mine) to get it working on your 64bit windows:

1. On a 32-bit Windows 10 computer, copy the "PHOTOSHP" folder and contents from the CD to the desktop (or other location.)

2. Run "setup.exe" in that folder as an administrator.

3. Complete the install of Photoshop 5.0 on your 32-bit pc.

4. Copy the following to a flash drive, or transfer using a network.

a. C:\Program Files\Adobe (all contents and sub-folders)

b. C:\Windows\KPCMS.INI

c. C:\Windows\System32 (any file that was modified the date of install)

5. On your 64-bit Windows 10 computer, copy the above files, into the same file structure. Do NOT overwrite any existing file.

6. Make sure you have a pagefile. No matter how much ram you have, Photoshop looks for a pagefile and calls it ram.

7. Reboot.

8. Locate and run "Photoshp.exe"

Note Photoshop will not show up as an installed program and will not show up on your Apps list. You will need to pin to start, add to your desktop, etc.

If you still have access to your old laptop with Photoshop installed and working, proceed from step 4 onwards, locate the Photoshop folder (as explained above, and copy the same things to a USB drive/key, and transfer to your new laptop.

That said, I'd just purchase a copy of Affinity Photo, as Nancy suggested as well. Inexpensive and far more capable than your old Photoshop version. But still quite comparable in workflow. The Affinity site has great introductory tutorials for free.

[Lumigraphics]

It MIGHT work in, say, a Windows XP virtual machine. Odds are that you are either going to have to use an older computer/OS or get a newer version of Photoshop.