Migrate or download Ps CS 5 Extended to newer iMac
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I originally started with Ps 7, upgraded to Ps CS2 and finally to Ps CS 5 Extended, all on my old iMac. I have a new, never used 2019 loaded iMac I wish to transfer CS 5 Ext. to it.
Also, the old iMac is down and lost monitor view (white screen). Ran disc utility, reset ram etc. I have serial number of CS 5, anyway I could download it?
Thanks, Bob
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Check your account, but I don't think it's available:
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What version of macOS is on your 2019 iMac?
Photoshop CS5 won't install on any macOS newer than Mojave 10.14.x, because Apple dropped suport for running 32 bit applications in macOS Catalina 10.15 and newer.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/103076
Photoshop CS5 uses a 32 bit installer.
In addition should you decide to install Photoshop CS5 on macOS 10.12 Sierra or newer you need to follow the directions
under Creative Suite 5.5, 5, and 4 in this Adobe KB:
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Thanks for link Peru Bob-
Apparently I may be able to download it, I put serial number in and my history poped up with Ps CS5 on top with a oval download button, no download option on all the prior earltier versions. I haven't tried it yet, waiting to be sure I have all things in order.
Thanks so much for the reply Jeff-
I have Catalina MacOS 10.15 on the new iMac 2019 27" 5K retina display which haven't plugged in yet(item sat years while overseas job). I read that CS5 would work well on the old Snow Leopard, I have an original Mac OS 8.6 CD. I have a huge 2TB HD and external HD. Would it work to load the OS 8.6 to a separate drive on new iMac that I could use to download CS5 to and open when I want to use it and not the Catalina?
New iMac Specs:
27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display
With the following configuration:
3.6GHz 8-core 9th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz
8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory
Radeon Pro Vega 48 with 8GB of HBM2 memory
2TB SSD storage
options incl: 3.6GHz i9 8 core ($400); 2TB SSD internal drive ($1100); Radeon Pro Vega 48 GPU Graphics Card ($450); Magic Numeric Keypad ($30);
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You're stuck between a rock and a cliff.
- CS5 needs Mojave, not Catalina which is 64-bit only.
- CS5 activation may not be possible on an older machine due to security & compatibility issues with Adobe's activation servers.
- Even if you manage to install CS5, there's no guarantee that this will work.
Best option, get modern software that's compatible with newer computers & operating systems.
==============
Photoshop Elements (3 year license)
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html
==============
Creative Cloud Photography Plan (12-month plan).
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html
Make sure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements. Most Creative Cloud apps work on these OSs, no more than 2 versions back:
- Windows 11 (64-bit) versions 23H2, 22H2; Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2;
- MacOS 15 (Sequoia), 14.7 (Sonoma), 13.6.7 (Ventura).
- https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html
Good luck.
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Generally Macs won't boot an operating system that is older than the one they shipped with from Apple.
For your 2019 iMac i believe it shipped with macOS Mojave 10.14 when purchased from Apple.
It may have shipped with macOS Catalina as well if it's later in the 2019 model year when macOS Catalina was introduced.
So you can put macOS Mojave on the external drive, install Photoshop CS5 and see if it runs satisfactory on Mojave.
Photoshop CS5 won't install on macOS 10.15 Catalina, so if Mojave won't boot on your IMac, there are other avenues like using a virtual machine software like Parallels
https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/
https://kb.parallels.com/124786/#section3
Mac OS 8.6 circa 1999 is a totally different architecture than Mac OS X and MacOS and won't boot/run on your iMac without using a virtual machine.
Photoshop 6 is the newest version that runs on Mac OS 8.6
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Update to my progress:
My new 2019 iMac (Intel processor) came with Catalina (With the release of macOS Catalina 32-bit applications are not supported anymore.) See below for Ps CS5 requirments (64 bit). I have Time Machine backups from my crashed 2010 iMac which had Ps CS5 Extended.
=========
2019 iMac Specs:
Model ID: iMac 19,1
27-inch with 5K Retina display 5120 by 2880 resolution
MacOS 15.3.1 Sequoia
3.6GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, Turbo boost up to 5 GHz
96 GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory
Radeon Pro Vega 48 with 8GB of HBM2 memory GPU
2TB SSD internal storage
3- 2TB Seagate Desktop HDD SATA External storage
CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/M-disk External Optical Superdrive
QuickTime: 10.x
==========
PHOTOSHOP CS5 EXTENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS (From original box packaging) :
Upgrade from Adobe Ps CS4, CS3, or CS2. I upgraded from CS2 (have all packaging from CS2)
*64bit: Native 64- and 32bit software. 64-bit processor and OS required for 64 bit version
*Multicore Intel processor; MacOS X v10.5.7 or v10.6 (10.6 Snow Leopard rec'd)
*1GB Ram; 2GB avail.hard disc space (Can't intall on vol. with case sensitive file system or removable flash based strorage system)
*Display (1280x800), OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color and 256MB of VRAM
*DVD-Rom drive; QuickTime 7.6.2
========
I checked Ps CS5 Extended using it's serial number and it comes up saying it is in use and offers a "oval download button" (where-as all the previous listed versions did not). The original Ps CS5 package I bought has the DVD of CS5 included. I checked the Adobe account on a Mac Air(M1,2020) running macOS Monterey, maybe that's why it offers a download? Maybe if I check it on the iMac with Sequoia it won't?
I've also been told I have to "Deactivate" CS5 before trying to move it, I don't see where that is done, any idea? I'm still pondering what I can do as I wait for a new cable to attach my TimeMachine backup to the new iMac, or try the DVD, or migration Assistant. Can I load it to an external HD by download or DVD and use it only off the open external HD when opened on the display?
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Even though Photoshop CS5 is 64 bit itself, many of the included components like the installer are 32 bit.
Your specs show that the 2019 iMac has been updated to MacOS 15.3.1 Sequoia, so that being the case there is little chance Photoshop CS5 will even run on that even if you could get it installed and also activation of CS5 depends on a 32 bit component as well.
Migration from Time Machine is hit or miss with Adobe applications even on compatible operating systems, so many users end up reinstalling the already migrated applications to get them to work.
Since Adobe no longer will reset activations and you can't deactivate Photoshop CS5 on your crashed 2010 iMac, there's a possibility you won't be able to ever activate your Photoshop CS5.
I think your best bet if want to continue using Photoshop is to subscribe to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan or check out Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025 and see if it meets your needs.
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