Config error: 16 (& "support" gripes)

I've been having trouble with my PhotoShop Elements programs  (6, 10 and 14) all hanging up for extended periods and (especially with 14) crashing, which, when it happens while saving totally corrupts the file I'm working on. When the files "hang" the color wheel just spins and no amount of waiting (really, I went away for a weekend one time and came back it was still hung up) seems to resolve that issue.

I've lately also been getting a dialog box when I start up which said to upload a java 14 for OS X program. Today I did just that and then went immediately to trying to open Elements 14 (which I paid good money for, and still haven't been happy with, mostly because of the clunky hanging issues) and I immediately get a dialog box which says: "Configuration error

Please uninstall and reinstall the product.

If this problem still occurs, please contact Adobe technical support for help, and mention the error code shown at the bottom of this screen.

Error: 16

http://www.adobe.com/support/"

Which is how, after looking for that support, I came to be here. I can only say that the Adobe support system is one of the worst I've ever had to deal with for a major product. I've seen malware with better support.

I need this program working now, not six months from now. I need to talk to a knowledgeable person who can tell me if a planned action is relevant or stupid. I need to know that someone will take me seriously and  not decide that maybe I'll read the forum today. And I really need that Adobe not say that my product doesn't have phone support when they don't even seriously know what my particular problem product might be.

And, I, apparently, need to vent about this.