Is Elements suddenly "too old?"

Report · Feb 02, 2018

Last week, I installed the latest "big update" for Windows 10--and my computer went nuts. Now on my SECOND full Windows Reset, Adobe Photoshop Elements (v9) refuses to install. (Not even the DVD's Autoplay.exe will run.)

On doing some troubleshooting, Windows reports that the program is "too old." Even were that the case, however, Windows' legacy feature will run programs as far back as XP. (By way of example is my dearly beloved Micrografx Picture Publisher 10--which STILL runs on Windows 10, just fine.)

Adobe products are now available only on subscription; but when I bought Elements 9 (direct from Adobe) I bought a perpetual licence. Has Adobe just decided to take that away from me? Has it done some sort of deal with Microsoft to cut out its perpetual licensees?

What else could explain this behavior?

Report · Feb 02, 2018

danielo62915214 wrote
Adobe products are now available only on subscription;

That is incorrect. Premiere Elements 2018 and Photoshop Elements 2018 are still perpetual versions.

Report · Feb 03, 2018

Per the question as posed, I do not have the 2018 version. It is one thing to "stop supporting" older software. It is another thing entirely to prevent it from being (re-) installed. Given the concomitant arrival of Subscription software, then and IF this is a deliberate ploy it (the unilateral decision no longer to honor a perpetual licence) constitutes breach of contract. My question is--Microsoft or Adobe--who has done this?

Again, the question: What explains this behavior?

Report · Feb 03, 2018

danielo62915214 wrote
. My question is--Microsoft or Adobe--who has done this?

A change in the Microsoft operating system is the culprit.

You can't really expect Adobe to update old versions to run on new hardware, in my opinion. When leaded gas was removed from the market, none of the car manufacturers offered a free hardware update to the owners of cars with engines that required leaded gas to run properly.

Report · Feb 04, 2018

"You can't really expect...."

I entirely agree--which is why I don't expect that. But you must admit it has been far from clear who, indeed, is the culprit. And again: there is a difference from the old, "discontinuing product support" for an outdated product and, as is the case here, prohibiting a purchased product from being installed. Per your statement, Microsoft is the culprit—and so I will be taking the matter up with them. Their latest "mega" monthly update (to my Windows 10x64 installation) has messed up more than this.

Thanks for the help. (It remains to see what Microsoft has to say about this. I will keep the thread updated.)

Report · Feb 04, 2018

Peru Bob is correct. Adobe makes all compatible software available for download and installation. Microsoft updates often cause conflicts and users of W10 are usually powerless to resist OS updates.

Download Photoshop Elements | 2018, 15, and 14

Report · Feb 04, 2018

Was onto Microsoft Support. I allowed them to take control of my computer. I don't know what they did--or indeed, if they did anything--but after I restarted my computer (per their instruction) I decided on a whim to try the installation again (for about the fourth time) and this time it worked. (Go figure!)

Report · Feb 04, 2018

danielo62915214 wrote
Was onto Microsoft Support. I allowed them to take control of my computer. I don't know what they did--or indeed, if they did anything--but after I restarted my computer (per their instruction) I decided on a whim to try the installation again (for about the fourth time) and this time it worked. (Go figure!)

That makes sense.

People forget or don't know how any software has to use the fundamental software which is the operating system. Programmers don't program every detail of the software, they are using 'routines' or 'functions' stored in a number of libraries in the OS. As time passes, the function calls to those routines are not changed in the application software, but they may be missing or changed in the OS. That's called the 'backward compatibility' problem. Apple and Microsoft are trying to a certain degree to make new OS version compatible with other versions, but that's never fully guaranteed. The OS has to change over time to accomodate new hardwares and devices among others. The OS manages about everything about user interface.

- In the present case, Microsoft, who traditionally was more serious about backward compatibility, had to issue a fundamentally renewed version: Windows 10 and that created many problems and required many updates. A new update created new issues which had to be solved in still newer updates... You'll see a lot of those in this and other forums.

- For Elements, while it is wise to "stay current" with PSE 2018, I can testify that the following versions are working well on my Win 10 computer (regularly updated): PSE6, 10, 12, 14, 15, 2018. Other users often have problems with some devices, printers, displays, tablets...