Is having CS6 and CC 2015.5 Photoshop on my machine, both activated, a problem?

[Mike Diehl]

I've used the suite (including InDesign and Illustrator, both older versions) on my iMac running OS 10.13.6 for years, and it all worked. About two weeks ago my "connection" to CC Photoshop broke. An expert on another forum suggested a bunch of stuff, and I got CC to run, but only in Trial mode. That expires in two weeks. I learned this morning that I can run CS6, no problem. The expert advised de-activating CS6, thinking that's impeding my connection to CC 2015.5. Mind you, all my other CC apps work fine. Only Photoshop is "disconnected." Looking for any ideas/suggestions, etc. -- and needless to say, Adobe is of no help, given that the apps are older than the current and one-before. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

There should be no issue having both running. The more likely cause is the age of the machine and software.

As for CC 2015 - do you have an active subscription? You should be able to login and authenticate to remove the trial notice.

One thing to do in general is clear caches if you haven't done so in a while.

I would be leary of disconnecting or signing out of anything as CS6 authentication is difficult these days and as you stated Adobe no longer supports software this old.

[Mike Diehl]

I *should* be able to run Photoshop CC 2015.5, as I did for x number of years. I do have a CC subscription -- and pay for it monthly. I've signed out of CC and logged back in, I've even changed my password. I see I can sign out of Photoshop (via the Help menu) but I've not done that. Honestly, I'm scared to, for fear of not getting back in, and your comment affirms my "leary-ness"! I did at one point shut down my Mac, reboot in Safe Boot mode, ran Disk Utility, and afterward threw away all the files in the Library : Caches folder. I know cache files are stored elsewhere, too, and I'd be game to try tossing those if you think it'd make a difference.  

I 

[Mike Diehl]

Here's a screen shot of my CC app. All the apps are there. Only one of 'em doesn't work outside of a Trial mode.

[Nancy OShea]

1. Open CC Desktop App.
2. Click your Avatar (top right image) > Preferences > General tab > Settings. Select "Always keep Creative Cloud up to date."
3. Click on your Avatar again.
4. Sign-out of Creative Cloud.
5. Close all apps.
6. Restart your computer.
7. Open CC Desktop app.
8. Click your Avatar.
9. Sign-in with your paid ID and password.

See this help article for more details:

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

[Mike Diehl]

I'd done all that before, but did it all again -- to the same effect, i.e. my PS fails to activate (is, I guess, the term). This time, after agreeing to the trial, I signed out of Photoshop via the Help menu, and signed back in -- same deal. So, I'm already subscribed to CC; what happens when my trian runs out and I'm given the opportunity to buy the software? Is Adobe gonna license it to me? 

[Nancy OShea]

What happens when you click on License This Software?

[Mike Diehl]

I give my UN and PW -- same one I use to log in to CC -- and it says they can't find an account with this UN/PW, which is insane. I can log in and out of CC any time, and PS appears at the top of my CC apps. 

[Nancy OShea]

Activation connects an app or service to a valid user license.

The process is straightforward for most apps and happens automatically when you sign in. However, errors can sometimes occur—for example, if you’re unable to connect to the activation server, your license isn’t active, or you’re trying to install an app on more than two computers.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

[Mike Diehl]

Over the past couple weeks I've come to understand the process, and a couple of you experts have shared that Activation page link. I only wish I'd get a code, something that indicates what the problem is. I confirmed with my son, whose computer houses the other copy of CC (we work together and he has only one computer) that he's never shared it. I AM able to connect tothe activation server (I've logged out of and into CC multiple times) and my license IS active -- I recently renewed it. The problem happened two days after, in fact, causing me to suspect some problem on Adobe's end, account-wise, but another expert (kglad) assured me that wouldn't have caused the problem. He suggested contacting support (again, like the third time) and seeing if they could link PS to my CC account -- these apps MUST have some identifying number or something that causes only that app to behave in such an infuriating manner.

[Nancy OShea]

The only other elephant in the room is that you're trying to use aged-out software that's way beyond it's 'replace me' date.  PS 2015 has been unsupported for over 6 years.  And support for CS6  ended in 2017. 

Is there some compelling reason for you to cling to woefully outdated products when modern versions of Photoshop are available from your Creative Cloud Desktop app?

[Mike Diehl]

Two reasons, Nancy: I have a very old copy of QuarkXPress, and occasionally need to open files made 10+ years ago, before I adopted ID full-time. I could update QXP of course, but this works. More importantly, I cannot use words strong enough to express my disdain for Adobe's decision to stop access to Type 1 PostScript fonts. As a graphic designer of 50 years, and a Mac owner since 1987, I have a substantial library of fonts, many of which are PS. I did buy TransType, and have converted some fonts successfully, but I'd prefer to spend my time designing. As for my software being "woefully outdated," it's been eons since software updates included features of any importance -- the lone exception to that that I'm aware of is PShop's adoption/integration of AI tools. That help?

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Mike Diehl to be fair - Adobe did not stop supporting Type1 fonts on their own. This was because all modern OSes stopped supporting them so the software (including Microsoft) stopped. Another solution to move off Quark is to use the very populare QtoID plugin for Markzware allowing you to convert the Quark docs to ID.
https://markzware.com/products/q2id/

[Mike Diehl]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't aware who initiated the abandonment of PS fonts -- but I use fonts only with my design apps, all of them in the CC suite. 

I've been aware of Markzware's conversion product for years, and lament not buying the stand-alone app when I could own it. I guess that's still possible, via a "perpetual" license, but the $359 fee is a bit rich. Many times in my computing life I've reached some point where I had to bite the bullet and upgrade (typically both hardware and OS) and as my iMac is 7 years old, I'm closer to that point than not. That said, not having access to my vast library of PostScript fonts, or having to constantly be converting them, is a future I'd like to forestall. And, near-term, the only hindrance to continuing on my path is the stupid PS licensing glitch. 

For what it's worth, in my first years as a Mac user, I did relish trying new operating systems, and versions of software typically offered many new treats; now, upgrading offers virtually no excitement, considerable hassle, and inevitably, expense -- especially if a new machine is part of the deal. I trust you understand this position, no?

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

I do understand - unfortunately it looks like Markzware has changed their purchasing options in the last year. We simply bought a monthly subscription and did all our converting then unsubscribed once completed. I'm sure a lot of users did the same which is why they went to an annual plan only.

I'm wondering if your PS will actually stop working after the trial countdown is over. I know its a risky proposition.

[Nancy OShea]

I cannot use words strong enough to express my disdain for Adobe's decision to stop access to Type 1 PostScript fonts.

By @Mike Diehl

===========

You picked the wrong horse to blame.  Industry-wide changes made that decision for us. Type 1 PostScript fonts are not compatible with new computers, browsers, and operating systems. OpenType fonts are the industry standard now.  We had 25 years of advanced notice that PS fonts would be phased out eventually. Most of us made the switch to OpenType well ahead of the phase out.

it's been eons since software updates included features of any importance -- the lone exception to that that I'm aware of is PShop's adoption/integration of AI tools.

By @Mike Diehl

============

Generative AI Fill is just one of the more recent additions.  A lot of Photoshop changes have occurred in the last 9 to 10 years, some more significant than others, and many of them under the hood. But that's a much bigger topic for the Photoshop Community.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem/ct-p/ct-photoshop

Good luck.

[Mike Diehl]

I finally found another window of time, and mustered the gumption to call Adobe again. A nice gent considered my situation and seemed interested in helping. He understood, I believe, that the problem is account-related, and in fact shared that when I rejiggered my payment status a month or so ago, that would've triggered a resetting of my suite of apps. He vowed to speak with supervisors over the matter and get back to me via email. Last night, he did -- with, unfortunately, not the news I had hoped to get: 

Hope you are having a great day. As discussed in the call, despite having a thorough check with what the next steps could be, We are unable to help you with your issue and there is nothing that can be done as the product has reached the end of support life.