Cannot get Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 to work using new hard drive with Windows 11

[lekkerder]

Hello.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 worked fine for me when using Windows 10. I did not want to upgrade to Windows 11 but my hard drive had to be replaced and without consulting me, the technician loaded Windows 11 on it, bummer 😞

When I installed PS Elements 8 from the CD disk and entered my serial number, it loaded a totally different version of Photoshop and wants me to pay and/or subscribe. If it's possible to install PS Elements 8 from the disk and run the version I have been using and am familiar with, please send detailed instructions.

I do not need anything more than what I paid for and hope I don't have to upgrade to a newer version or get stuck having to pay a subscription fee.

Thanks for any help.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Unfortunately, your activation info is on the old drive - if you no longer have access to it...

[lekkerder]

Unfortunately, your activation info is on the old drive - if you no longer have access to it...

By @Robert at ID-Tasker

The program was loaded from a disk. Are you saying that even if someone owns software that was purchased in a box with the program on a  CD,  a user manual, etc., it cannot be installed on a new computer/hard drive? It was only installed once before.

if I do need activation info from the old drive, I still have that drive. Is it possible to get the activation info from the old drive?

Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@lekkerder 

I have no idea what is the current status of the Activation Server(s) for PS Elements 8.

If they are down / permanently off - your code will no longer work.

I have no idea how to transfer the code from the old drive - it could work if Win11 has been installed over Win10 - but as long as it's the same drive.

Doing clone of the drive will most likely deactivate the code.

[lekkerder · Accepted solution]

Thanks.

[BobLevine]

First things first; this is an InDesign forum.

Secondly, nobody here can help with activation issues. You're going to need to contact Adobe support directly.

[lekkerder]

First things first; this is an InDesign forum.

Secondly, nobody here can help with activation issues. You're going to need to contact Adobe support directly.

By @BobLevine

Yikes! So sorry about that. I thought I was posting in a general forum for Adobe; how embarrassing.  My vision changed dramatically for the worse recently and I'm waiting for new glasses to arrive. I'll try to find a way to contact Adobe about the Photoshop problem or see if I can find a forum for Photoshop. Thanks.