Unable to start Adobe Photoshop Elements 12

[sigo]

I downloaded the Elements 12 installer from my account's list of Registered Products and installed the program. On starting the Editor function the program required me to sign in, which I did but still could not open the Editor - another "Required sign in" pops up.

[Greg_S. · Accepted solution]

Try signing in offline.  See this Adobe HelpX Article for instructions.  (Although the article refers to Elements 2019, it may work for Elements 12.)

Is this a new computer?  Have you signed out of any prior computer on which you had the program installed?  If it is not a new computer, what is the reason for reinstalling?

[sigo · Accepted solution]

Hi,

It actually worked - thanks a lot! The sequence is not exactly the same given the different version but the logic and the system responses are there.

The reason for this re-install is that I changed my HDD with an SSD so I am currently restoring programs. With your help, I have PSE 12 and Premiere Elements back.

Cheers

[bob_0187]

Oh my goodness this was WONDERFUL.  Using the offline activation method let me activate a new installation of Elements 12 on a windows 11 machine.   (was working fine on win10 but I had to do a clean install of win11 which wiped out my previous activation authorization) YAY!!

[slpurcell1]

I ran into the same problem described above after installing Photoshop Elements 12 on my desktop computer but was able to register the product offline following the link you mentioned for installing Photoshop Elements 2019 offline. 

[claudiaf92954353]

same for me... any updates?

[DRDRO]

I have been fighting with this same (VERY frustrating) problem (PSE 12) , but the posted link to a potential solution is no longer active.

The invalid link:   https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/using/activate-offline.html 

Can anyone provide a usable link to the content? 

[Greg_S.]

@sigo, thanks for letting us know that it worked for Elements 12.

[Greg_S.]

@DRDRO here is a link to the article on Archive.org.  (It may take a few seconds to load.) Please let us know if it works for you.

[DRDRO]

Thanks very much. I can view the the link content. But I'm still chasing my tail trying to  REinstall PSE 12  (on the same machine that it has always been on).  It has been reinstalled a few times in the past (every few years, it seems) , but this time it's fighting me at every turn. 

[DRDRO]

OK, I finally got it working. I think a critical step was using "Revo Uninstaller" to remove any PSE installation that had failed or wasn't working in order to scan for and remove orphan registry entries and and files that the PS Elements "Installshield" program was missing during its uninstall process.