CS4 won't install. Setup.exe runs but nothing happens

Report · Oct 18, 2008

When I double-click SETUP.EXE to install the program, nothing happens. It shows up in the task manager, but it doesn't do anything.

If I run it on my laptop, the install starts without any issues. But I don't want it on my laptop. And it can't seem to run on my desktop.

I even tried creating a fresh user account to install it from there -- nada.

Thoughts?

Report · Dec 02, 2009

Copied contents of both CS4 CD's on a new administrator account to C: drive.

Attempted to run setup as administrator, still no joy.

Next step is print out log file and call Adobe again.

Report · Dec 02, 2009

Amazing-- there is no install log in the program files / adobe folder! Any ideas from the forum?

Report · Dec 02, 2009

Go to the OS event viewer and expand Windows logs, then open application and look for a adobe "error"

There might be something listed in the applications and services logs too.

I know this isn't the log your looking for but this might help.

Report · Dec 02, 2009

Found the install log, was under program files, common, adobe installer

.

I've attached the log to this post.

I've followed all the steps in the knowledgebase (KB404127) in "http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404127.html, as directed by Adobe (India) tech support. They are stumped, too.

Report · Dec 02, 2009

Update:

Adobe tech support helped me identify the defrag needs to be run (my wife turns the machine off every night at the scheduled time). Once that is done, they want me to call them back, and if it doesn't work "refer to senior tech support".

Report · Dec 03, 2009

Hi all - like numerous others it seems, I have had a tonne of problems installing Photoshop CS4 on Windows 7.

This is my first post, so please be gentle with me!

The problem I was having was when running Setup.exe nothing would happen. It would appear in the Task Manager, but do nothing.

None of the solutions that have been posted online worked for me, but cobbling together a load of great information on an unattended install, after 4 hours I managed to get the bloomin' thing working.

Many thanks to all the contributors in leading me to this result, but I thought I'd share my solution to hopefully help some others!

1. Copy the extracted Installation Files to c:\Adobe CS4
(This folder should contain Setup.exe, Deployment folder etc.)

2. Create the below text as a batchfile in this same folder (eg. c:\Adobe CS4\Install.bat)

----------------- from here ----------------
@ECHO OFF

ECHO Installing Adobe CS4
ECHO Please wait...

start /wait setup.exe --mode=Silent --deploymentFile="C:\Adobe CS4\deployment\deployment.xml"

ECHO Installation Finished!

pause

exit
----------------- to here ------------------

3. In the Deployment folder, rename the required deployment file to deployment.xml
(for example rename c:\Adobe CS4\en_US_Deployment.xml to c:\Adobe CS4\deployment.xml

4. Copy c:\Adobe CS 4\deployment.xml to c:\Adobe CS4\uninstall.xml
(apparently there needs to be an identical uninstall.xml file)

5. Double click on Install.Bat

6. Keep an eye on the folder c:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Installers
(This is where the install logs are stored, as .gz compressed files - use 7-Zip.exe to extract)

The only problem I had was a process conflict with Firefox.exe, which was detailed at the bottom of the .log file.

If everything goes ok, you will need to create a shortcut to Photoshop.exe stored in c:\Program File\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4

This doesn't set up any of the fancy unattended installer stuff, so you'll have to enter your serial codes manually!

Good luck!

A word of warning though. If your setup.exe fails to install, it will also fail if you try and run do an uninstall! But that's for another day!

Cheers all.

Report · Dec 06, 2009

Thanks, made batch file as suggested. It starts up, runs

with "please wait" and goes nowhere. Since my last post, I've completed full virus scan with VS Enterprise, as well as a full

defrag. I'm out of ideas on how to get CS4 to work on the Gateway Duo Core laptop.

Maybe I can get Adobe (USA) tech support.

Report · Aug 30, 2010

Thank you JefferyWright_99!

By the way, I install Adobe CS4 Web Premium (Retail) in trial mode and later on decided to uninstall it.

I uninstalled Adobe CS4 Web Premium using a program called Revo Uninstaller; however, there were some issues and the uninstall didn't go to well..

However, using JefferyWright_99's tips along with another link on Adobe CS4 Deployment (http://www.packagedeploy.com/packages/adobe-cs4-deployment-adobe-creative-suite-4-design-standard.ht...), I was able to reinstall Adobe CS4.

Here are the specs for my machine:

Windows 7 Professional (x64)

8GB RAM

Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8600 @ 3.33GHz, 3.33GHz

All the latest windows updates installed

To summarize, I had no problem installing Adobe CS4 Web Premium the first time around; it was when I uninstalled and tried to reinstall is when I encountered this issue. Setup.exe would be running in the background but the setup screen would not show up.

I also tried running in admin mode, but it still didn't work.

I also tried running the CS5 clean tool (http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cs5clean.html), which also cleans previous versions like CS4 and CS3, but the problem did not go away.

I tried starting any services like Windows Installer, Application Management, etc, but that didn't fix the problem either.

However, when I installed in silent mode, I was able to fix the problem.

By the way, the serial number needs to be entered in the deployment file in order for the silent install to work.

Also, make sure you close all browsers like Firefox, Safari, etc.

Here's the steps I took.

1. Insert the APPLICATION 1 DVD.
2. Run the Command Prompt (cmd.exe)
3. Copy the folder Adobe CS4 to your hard drive.

robocopy "E:\Adobe CS4" "C:\Adobe CS4" /E

4. Repeat step #3 for the APPLICATION 2 DVD.

5. Copy C:\Adobe CS4\deployment\install-en_US.xml AS install.xml
6. Open install.xml in a text editor.

In the Properties node, add the following lines

<Property name="pers_EPIC_SERIAL">[serial number without hyphens]</Property>
<Property name="serialNumber">[serial number without hyphens]</Property>

The XML file should look like the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Deployment>
<Properties>
<Property name="installLanguage">en_US</Property>
<Property name="pers_EPIC_SERIAL">[serial number without hyphens]</Property>
<Property name="serialNumber">[serial number without hyphens]</Property>
</Properties>

<Payloads>
    
   <Payload adobeCode="...">
      <Action>install</Action>
   </Payload>
   
   <Payload adobeCode="...}">
      <Action>install</Action>
   </Payload>
    ...
    ...
</Payloads>
</Deployment>

7. Be sure to clear out the serial numbers once the installation has been completed.

8. Create a batch file install.bat and enter the following:

@ECHO OFF

ECHO Installing Adobe CS4
ECHO Please wait...

start /wait setup.exe --mode=Silent --deploymentFile="C:\Adobe CS4\deployment\install.xml"

ECHO Installation Finished!

pause

exit

9. run install.bat

Report · Nov 29, 2009

You know, there is a post in here, somewhere, maybe 10 days old now that a person was having problems with design premium and PS CS4. Some other person, with the same issue chimed in with the fix. I do remember reading it and thought it was darn odd for a fix but it worked.

Maybe someone else knows what I am talking about and remember the thread. The thread was like 18 responses long and the fix part was like 2nd to the end with the person thanking the responder.

Report · Nov 29, 2009

If you have Adobe reader installed: remove it.

Dec9,

That's a new one on me. I did not recall hearing of any issues with Adobe Reader. Must have missed 'em. Is this version-specific to Adobe Reader? I've go to stick this one into my bag-o-tricks.

Thanks,

Hunt

Report · Nov 29, 2009

Way back last year I was having problems installing CS4. The customer service people told me to remove adobe reader as it may be causing the install problem. When I removed it the install went fine (well, after nuking my hard drive because the CS4 clean script was not out yet). So now, even though adobe reader has been updated and I don't know if the problem was fixed (what ever it was) I just recommend it just in case. I use foxit reader now.

the_wine_snob wrote:
If you have Adobe reader installed: remove it.
Dec9,
That's a new one on me. I did not recall hearing of any issues with Adobe Reader. Must have missed 'em. Is this version-specific to Adobe Reader? I've go to stick this one into my bag-o-tricks.
Thanks,
Hunt

Report · Jan 01, 2010

Adobe assigned my case to their "Higher Technical Support" last week, who were supposed to get back with me, by telephone or email.

Sadly, that never happened.

I removed the crappy Vista and did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium. Adobe CS4 Installs fine now.

Bottom line-- it was something to do with Vista, but who knows what? In retrospect as I think about this, boy was Windows Vista buggy! Windows 7 seems much better (but caution, don't buy a download version because Microsoft's ISO image file gets easily corrupted... order the DVD)

Report · Jan 01, 2010

Well, as you will find out, that is the norm for Adobe Customer Service.

I pre-ordered windows 7 professional for the $99.00 upgrade and did a fresh install on my main rig. Always best to do a fresh install.

I am keeping Vista Ultimate 64 on this computer. After I installed the SP2, Ultimate is stable. Plus, I paid out the nose for Ultimate and I want my monies worth.

Report · Jan 01, 2010

may be your computer performance is not good enough

Report · Jan 05, 2010

Actually does have enough power (Core 2 Duo, 3 GB, decent video card etc...)

CS4 won't install. Setup.exe runs but nothing happens

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