Adobe Photoshop 5.5 doesn't work with new laptop

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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