Getting error 150:30 opening Photoshop cs4 on Macbook Pro

[jander_downunder]

I've bought a new Macbook Pro with Yosemite 10.10.2. Installed old favorite programs from my old compute with time capsule. Sadly though I can´t start Indesign and photoshop, both bought in the CS4 versions. Bridge works though.

When Indesign or Photoshop starts, I get a note saying: The licenses for the product doesn't works, try to restart your computer. If the message appear again, contact Adobes technical support and quote the error code 150:30.

Ive tried to delete the FlexNet Publisher according to information given on the adobe site  [hard drive]/Library/Application Support/FlexNet Publisher/

But  the problem is I don't have a folder named FlexNet Publisher.

Help please?

[gener7]

Checkmark External Disks in your Finder Preferences

[Yves Halliburton]

Gene, you are the god of all saviors.  It is fixed. Worked like a charm.  I am back in business. 

[gener7]

Glad it wasn't anything serious.

Happy New Year!

Gene

[André NATOWICZ]

Hi Yves Halliburton, one word only because I'm not a specialist. If your problem is relevant to the discussion thread (read it from the very beginning, please), it should work flawlessly as it worked for me too. You MAY want to reload your legacy programs, they are offered by Adobe, even with a special serial N° (as I found it for CS3 — THREE) in way to be allowed to register again in your own computer because, as long as I understood it, the registration by internet does no longer exist. All that seems very complicated at first glance, well it is, but the abovementioned thread made the job for me without any special download needed. Have a good day.

[ryszardp30242424]

got there

[Test Screen Name]

Apple take Macs through complete generation changes that need all new apps. For a while they allow overlaps, then they take them away. For example, CS2 and earlier cannot run any later than Mac OS 10.7. Some argue that this willingness to embrace the new and throw away the old keeps them fresh and up to date. Others assert it is a cynical marketing strategy. Either way, doesn't seem to have hurt Apple much. It means that Mac OS upgrades are much more expensive than they might seem because of the likelihood of many app upgrades. Microsoft is going the same way with Windows 10 now, except it upgrades itself without warning or opt out.

[tiphaineo]

Thank you so much Gener7, it helped me too!

[gener7]

I'm glad it did. I guess fewer are using CS4 now, and we'll likely see less of this problem.

[Norene54]

Hello gener7, I just tried unsuccessfully to open CS4 on my new iMac running OS Mojave 10.14.2  The message says the licence has expired.

Will your recovery method still work at this late stage or has that ship sailed? Thank you.

[gener7]

Not likely, this is a different problem. I hope you have your original serial number.

Have a look at this article. https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-fix-expired-licensing-on-adobe-cs4

1)      Set the computer clock back a few days

2)      Launch Photoshop.

3)      Go to Help->Deactivate, select ERASE THIS SERIAL NUMBER.

4)      Quit the application.

5)      Change the date of the computer back to the current date.

6)      Launch the application.

7)      Enter the CS4 serial number from your purchased product.

[Norene54]

Thank you for the prompt reply. The exact error message I get is "Licensing for this product has stopped working". Is that the same as expiry? I'm not very tech-savvy so I want to make sure I have that problem before attempting a fix. I have my original purchase receipt and serial number of course.

[gener7]

It's usually followed by the "150:30" code in the dialog box and it's caused mainly by retrieving CS4 from backup or transferring from another Mac.

You can give the 150:30 screenshot guide a try, but study and pay close attention to it.

At worse you will have to uninstall and clean: Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems

And then download CS4: Download Adobe Creative Suite 4 (CS4) products

Since Mojave has changed so much, install using these instructions

Installing Creative Suite on macOS 10.12 (Sierra)

[Norene54]

Amazing! Adobe CS4 seems to be working on Mojave! gener7 you are a genius and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. Despite my inexperience, I followed the instructions and on the second try it downloaded and launched. I have tested Photoshop and so far no hiccups. Fantastic!

[Test Screen Name]

Just remember that if you want to keep running your old CS4 you must NEVER update to the next version of Mac OS, 10.15, nor buy a new Mac EVER after the end of the year. Apple have made it their policy that the old software won't work from then, and we expect Apple to keep their promise to stop CS4 from working.

[Guest]

Thank you for your informed content. Altho' some of it is confusing for me to follow, at least I know somebody's on the ball regarding this problem. I hope that my somewhat different problem applies and that you will be able to help me, too.
I have an older iMac, and am also sight impaired. Familiarity helps me greatly.
My PSE8 helps me visually, for it allows deep zoom ins. I can feel confident using it due to years of use and familiarity along with its basic simplicity. I don't have to strain my delicate eyes to know where to click due to having already memorized where everything is during tomes past when my eyesight was still OK.
I am also a free lance digital artist with files that belong to a Foundation for the Disabled that may no longer be accessed at this point.  Error Message 150:30 has frustrated my efforts. This began once I had to do a big backup using Time Machine a number of weeks ago. (lightning storm - long story) I cannot reinstall PSE8 even when I have the disk it came on, in that I'd risk losing all my work.
I am running Yosemite 10.10.3 on a very elderly but still good 2009 iMac. I have not even attempted to update to Mojave. I have been advised against doing so.
I downloaded Adobe's License Repair and am looking at it. I confess I do not know what I am doing at all. This is all new to me. I've never had to use a Terminal Window before this way. I am worried I may cause an even bigger problem if i do even one small thing incorrectly. Please consider me a total noob.
And please, please Help.

[gener7]

My inbox indicated you also posted here. I didn't know and was wondering why you were chiding me for not paying attention.

Simply place your work files in another folder, either on your Desktop or in Pictures. Reinstalls do not remove work files, but just in case.

Just do a simple reinstall if the Terminal is too much to handle.

[Guest]

I wasn't interested in chiding anyone, either here or anywhere. I cannot reinstall PSE8 in that I would risk losing all of my PSE8 work. That would happen even were I to put my PSDs into a different folder since PSDs are all connected to whatever PS program one is using. Hope this clarifies that point. It might also jettison at least some of my fonts and [nearly all of the brushes I've collected for 8+ years. You see my quandary here, i'm certain.

[gener7]

I've installed and uninstalled Photoshop over the years. Only Photoshop program files and stock brushes are involved. Files, fonts and third party brushes are not touched. The uninstall will not remove what is yours.

In fact if you run the installer and it detects PSE8, it may give you an option to repair the install.

[Guest]

Thank you Gener7. Worked perfectly. 

I read the official adobe web page with this solution, but it lacked SIGNIFICANT information and said to drag the LicenceRecovery.app into terminal after the sudo python, not the LicenseRecovery.py. It also had a confusing list of solutions for different MacOS - but nothing specific after 10.7.  So, your added directions where the answer.  

I'm recoving a 2008 CS4 version 6 on a 2012 MBP running 10.12.6.  So glad I didn't have to drag the disks out of storage.  Been using this program since it was Aldus Pagemaker 1.2. 

[RichardKavanagh]

Thanks so much for this solution and clear steps.  This worked perfectly for me.  Thank you!

[Alana Bay]

Gener7 directions work like a champ.  It's quick and straight forward.  Thank you, Gene!

[PhiH]

Nice! Thanks Gener, this has been a great help!

[Carey23584234zem5]

I just followed your steps from 7 years in the future and it solved my issue. Thank you!!

[gener7]

Thanks for letting me know. Activation servers for CS4 are said to be gone offline so now a reinstall/activation might not be possible. This makes License Recovery all the more valuable if you want to hold on to the old Photoshop. Just know if you are using MacOS, 10.15 onwards locks out the entire CS series.

[Dazzling_body1674]

I just did it today 3-17-22 and it worked! Can we start an online tip jar for gener7? LOL. But seriously I  feel like I owe you something.... adobe phone support was completely useless yesterday. You saved me! Thanks