Need to Deactivate serial number for CS4 Photoshop reinstall but cannot open app

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
January 4, 2022
3 replies
581 views

I'm running CS4 on a 2009 iMac using MacOS 10.11.6. My photoshop will not open citing Licensing issues and gives an error code: 150:30. I've read on community forums that reinstalling the app from the original CD (which I have) might help. I was planning to uninstall the app when the instructions for doing so state that I need to open the app and deactivate the serial number before uninstalling. I cannot open the app due to this Licensing issue and I am leary of uninstalling and the reinstalling without completing this step. Can anyone confirm that I will be unable or able to reinstall my CS4 photoshop from my original CD with original serial numbers if I do not deactivate the serial numbers first? Or is there another way to deactivate the serial numbers that does not require launching the app?

macOS

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Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Photoshop CS4 is both Intel and PowerPC processor compatible, so it should install on Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.6

You get that message when you insert the CS4 install dvd?

C

Chris BakkeAuthor

Participant

I believe I'm wrong about having CS4. My photoshop is version 7 and my creative suite comes with only 4 applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat. I think I got it in 2002. Not sure where I got it in my head that it was CS4. It was rather careless and I apologize.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I believe you had the Adobe Publishing Suite, not CS. Also, I don't think that software version required activation, just serial numbers (but could be wrong).

Whether something that old will run on your system is another issue. Google your error code and you will find a lot of info.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

C

Chris BakkeAuthor

Participant

Thank you for your quick reply. Unfortunatley, after uninstalling the entire CS4 catalog and inserting the first disc to begin the reinstallation process, I was informed that all the original install discs cannot be used because they are Power PC applications. Apple stopped supporting "Rosetta", the program designed to run Power PC apps on Intel based Macs, back in 2011. So, my time with CS4 has finally come to an end.

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Try the procedure as explained by ACP gener7 here towards the end of the 1st page:

(the post starts with"Update: I'm glad this procedure has helped many Mac owners of CS4 over the years.

Apple has announced that Mojave (10.14) will be the last MacOS to support 32 bit apps such as Photoshop CS4.

Do not upgrade to 10.15 if you intend to stay with CS4.

Now on to the License Repair procedure:)

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/getting-error-150-30-opening-photoshop-cs4-on-macbook-pro/m-p/7003273

It is also possible to fix the error with a reinstall, however, then you have installed the base version and need to reapply the updates. If you chose this route, you should have no problems with the reinstall as far as activation goes. No need to deactivate first.

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