Windows 7 is not compatible with Adobe Photoshop CS2

Anonymous

I've been using Adobe Photoshop CS2 for a couple years now & I would use it on my old laptop running Windows XP. I recently purchased a new laptop (HP Pavilion dv6-1245x) running Windows Vista. It was one of the qualifying PCs for the free upgrade to Windows 7. Anyways, I tried installing Adobe Photoshop CS2 on it & apparently it doesn't work with it.

So, I'm just hoping it'll be compatible with Windows 7. Does anybody know this for a fact? I don't plan on spending money for a newer photoshop because CS2 works just fine for me. But I would want it to work on my new computer AND with the long anticipated WINDOWS 7.

Thanks.

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Anonymous

P L E A S E N O T E !!!!!!!

Are you using Windows 7 64 (probably will have the same problem in any Windows 64 OS)?

If so, you must uninstall CS2 completely (not just PhotoShop) and specify that the preferences are to be removed as well. When you re-install, the installer will give the default install location as something like "C:/Program File (x86)/Adobe" but, when you click "OK" install will respond that the location is not valid. DO NOT RESPECIFY AS "C:/Program File/Adobe", that's the location for 64-bit apps and CS2 is 32-bit and needs to be in the (x86) folder to work properly. Replace "C:/Program File (x86)/Adobe" with "C:/Program~2/Adobe". The installer may not "light" the OK button. If so, click the browse button then the cancel button and "OK" should activate. That's it, CS2 will install. If, after the install completes, you get the message that the app may not have installed properly, you probably did something wrong (i.e., when it's in the 32-bit program folder you won't get this message).

Remember, this fix ONLY APPLIES TO Windows 64-BIT OSs. There are other causes for the message "Your adobe photoshop user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid. The application cannot continue and must now exit.".

I spent an hour and fifteen minutes waiting on hold for a Adobe technician for help only to be advised that CS2 is no longer supported by Adobe. Don't waste your time trying to get help from Adobe or getting upset with them for not being helpful (what's the point, they're holding all the cards and want you to drop another bundle for their latest release).

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Anonymous

You're genius! With one exception: the long pathname "C:/Program File (x86)/Adobe" must be shortened as "C:/Progra~2/Adobe" (Note: remove "m" before the tilde sign)

Thanks a lot!

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hello Rockamovya,

Thank you for posting to the Microsoft Answers Forum.

You can run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to check on the functionality of your software and programs.

Click on the following URL:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

You can also out

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/Default.aspx?type=Software

for the compatibility of a specific program.

If Adobe CS2 is not on the list you will need to check out Abobe for more information.

Sincerely,

Marilyn

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

This worked for me EXCEPT, for the fact that using the path C:\program~2\adobe (as suggested above) created a new folder NOT in the actual C:\Program Files (x86) folder, which was wrong and didn't work. What I had to do was uninstall and try again, but this time before installing, open a MSDOS command prompt then *CD * , then do DIR /X to list and determine the proper "short name" for the Program Files (x86) folder which turned out to be C:\progra~2 (not C:\program~2), then follow it with \adobe , i.e. the full path name is C:\progra~2\adobe and this then installed properly into the long name folder C:\Program Files (x86) and this got rid of the Your adobe photoshop user name, organisation, or serial number is missing or invalid , and the program works properly.

Previously I had tried installing into the (64-bit) C:\Program Files\Adobe folder, but this gave the above error message.

For the record I had also set Win XP SP3 compatability on the Installer, and Run as Admin.

Thanks for your info, I had installed/un-installed about 4 times trying to figure the problem!

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73 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-12-21T08:30:46+00:00

P L E A S E N O T E !!!!!!!

ATTENTION ALL WINDOWS 7 AND CS2 WANNABE USERS - READ CLOSELY THIS IS YOUR SOLUTION

from GrimJim

This worked for me EXCEPT, for the fact that using the path C:\program~2\adobe (as suggested above) created a new folder NOT in the actualC:\Program Files (x86) folder, which was wrong and didn't work. What I had to do was uninstall and try again, but this time before installing, open a MSDOS command prompt thenCD ** , then do DIR /X to list and determine the proper "short name" for theProgram Files (x86)** folder which turned out to be C:\progra~2 (not C:\program~2), then follow it with**\adobe** , i.e. the full path name is C:\progra~2\adobe and this then installed properly into the long name folderC:\Program Files (x86) and this got rid of the Your adobe photoshop user name, organisation, or serial number is missing or invalid , and the program works properly.

Previously I had tried installing into the (64-bit) C:\Program Files\Adobe folder, but this gave the above error message.

For the record I had also set Win XP SP3 compatability on the Installer, and Run as Admin.

Thanks for your info, I had installed/un-installed about 4 times trying to figure the problem!

from Cinti

Are you using Windows 7 64 (probably will have the same problem in any Windows 64 OS)?

If so, you must uninstall CS2 completely (not just PhotoShop) and specify that the preferences are to be removed as well. When you re-install, the installer will give the default install location as something like "C:/Program File (x86)/Adobe" but, when you click "OK" install will respond that the location is not valid. DO NOT RESPECIFY AS "C:/Program File/Adobe", that's the location for 64-bit apps and CS2 is 32-bit and needs to be in the (x86) folder to work properly. Replace "C:/Program File (x86)/Adobe" with "C:/Program~2/Adobe". The installer may not "light" the OK button. If so, click the browse button then the cancel button and "OK" should activate. That's it, CS2 will install. If, after the install completes, you get the message that the app may not have installed properly, you probably did something wrong (i.e., when it's in the 32-bit program folder you won't get this message).

Remember, this fix ONLY APPLIES TO Windows 64-BIT OSs. There are other causes for the message "Your adobe photoshop user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid. The application cannot continue and must now exit.".

I spent an hour and fifteen minutes waiting on hold for a Adobe technician for help only to be advised that CS2 is no longer supported by Adobe. Don't waste your time trying to get help from Adobe or getting upset with them for not being helpful (what's the point, they're holding all the cards and want you to drop another bundle for their latest release).

first uninstall everything, have it delete your preferences, have it delete your activation, everything... start from scratch, use the CS2 setup from the disk, not control panel or any other means... you do not need compatibility mode or anything like that, these solutions worked for me on win7 64bit pro on CS2

again, start from scratch... the key to this is when it asks you where to install... it will not accept anything with spaces which the default (x86) location has, you must type in this exact location...

C:\Progra~2\Adobe

there are a few typo's in otherwise good advice above, but the main issue is the spelling of the short name which is Progra~2 and is not Program~2... look very closely to what is typed, and which way the slashes point, this is the key to this puzzle

major thanks to both GrimJim and Cinti for figuring this out, i would feed you several beers in appreciation if i could, you just saved me a bunch of money!!

:D:D:D
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