Can I transfer my old Photoshop 7 to my new laptop which uses Windows 10?

[willowretreat]

Hi folks, years ago I purchased Photoshop 7, which I love and have come to know very well, it ran for years on my Windows 7 laptop.  Problem is that I recently bought a new laptop, and of course it is running Windows 10, and people (including the Geek Squad at Best Buy) have been advising me not to try and install PS7 onto my new computer as it is not compatible with Windows 10. I'm a bit dismayed at this as I don't want to pay for another version of Photoshop and have to learn how to use it all over again! But I don't want to kill my brand new computer either!

Advice please?

[davescm]

You may be able to get it installed but it will depend on your actual PC. For example Photoshop 7 will not recognise large (TB) drives. They simply were not fitted to PCs back in 2002.

You are highly unlikely to break anything though - so you have nothing to lose by trying to install it. Don't be surprised though if it will not run.

Here is a link to a post where it was installed successfully with Windows 10

Re: Photoshop 7 to cc

Dave

[willowretreat]

Thanks Dave!  So the second part to my question is this: over the centuries, I've lost the original install disc for PS7. But I still have the serial number on my old laptop. Plus, my new laptop doesn't even have a CD drive! So how do I transfer & install the program? I've tried putting it onto a flash drive ... it seemed to download the entire program ... but all it does is copy the shortcut. What am I missing here?

[willowretreat]

OK. So I figured out how to download the program onto my flash drive (I had to click Open File Location and then select the entire file folder to send to the flash drive!) so I did that, and downloaded it onto my new laptop. It goes to start up, I get the PS7 startup page, then I get this error message (see screencap). I'm guessing it's looking for the serial number? How do I get it to locate the serial number? Would it help to deregister the program on my old laptop? I'm a bit scared to do that in case I lose the whole thing!

[davescm]

Hi

I don't think you can just copy the folder over. Photoshop installs to several folders plus makes entries to the registry.

You need the installation files.

Dave

[Peru Bob]

davescm  wrote

Hi

I don't think you can just copy the folder over. Photoshop installs to several folders plus makes entries to the registry.

You need the installation files.

Dave

That is correct.

[willowretreat]

*Sigh*  OK, so do I really have to ask the next logical question: where can I get the installation files? (given that I've lost the original disc, plus even if I had it, my new laptop has no disc drive ... !)

[Derek Cross]

Maybe it's time to retire your old copy of Photoshop, you've had 15 years good use out of it and maybe it's time to move on. You won't have to relearn "all over again" the basics of Photoshop and there are a lot of new exciting new features to enjoy In the recent versions. The monthly subscription for the Photographers plan is modest (around $10)

By the way you don't need a disk drive, just download it from Adobe's servers.

[davescm]

willowretreat  wrote

*Sigh*  OK, so do I really have to ask the next logical question: where can I get the installation files? (given that I've lost the original disc, plus even if I had it, my new laptop has no disc drive ... !)

No, you could have done a search the same as I have just done. Remember we are just volunteers here trying to help

Try this, it says update but is the only Adobe version I could find (I would not recommend downloading from non Adobe sources as you never know what else is coming in the download) :

Adobe - Photoshop : For Windows

Like I said earlier - it may not install. It was written in 2002 and both hardware and operating system software have moved on a lot since then. If it does install you will need your serial number.

If you can't get it to work then the CC Photographers plan is a good way to use the latest Photoshop (and Lightroom) on subscription. For non subscription , you could look at Photoshop Elements which can still be purchased on a perpetual licence.

Dave

[willowretreat]

Hey, sorry, I didn't mean to come off as rude. Thanks for the advice. It wouldn't install, said it could not find the file. So it looks like I'm going to have to just suck it up and buy the latest version. Thanks again ... I'm just an old lady who grew up before computers and the internet, or even cellphones, were even thought of for the regular person!  

[davescm]

Hi

No problem - sorry it did not work out for you.

I also grew up in an age before computers and cell-phones. My daughter looks astounded when I tell her there was no internet, no texting, no Facebook  and we used to go to the phone-box at the end of the road to make a call

Good luck - if you do get the latest version you will find some parts familiar and others brand new. Do come back and ask if you get stuck with anything.

Dave

[Christina V.]

Hi, I was in the same boat. I have an old ps7 program that runs on my old windows 7 laptop. I recently updated to a new laptop/windows 10. Due to not having a disk drive on the laptop, i purchased an external cd disk reader that connects thru USB as I still have my ps7 disk. It would not let me download. I finally realized that I could just remote into my old computer or use it like a server and that has worked. I had to do a bit more as I was running a windows 7 home Premium which only allows the old laptop to connect into others computers but not vise versa. I was able to find a patch to install that bypassed this issue though and am now using my photoshop to make things for my cricut machine and still edit photos. Good luck!

[barbara_a]

Have you tried https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/downloaded-older-app.html

[Christina V.]

Thanks Barbara! I wish my situation would've allowed for that process. I actually received the cd from an old co-worker who didnt know how to use it and chose some other program that he felt was more novice friendly. Wow just realizing how old this disk is. LOL