Photouser,
Before purchasing PS CS2, did you first use the trial version up to its 30-day limit? If not, then you shouldn’t even be required to activate PS CS2 until 30 days after installation, so any error message occurring immediately upon first use does sound very strange.
If you have never activated PS CS2, then I’d not expect the file or registry entry mentioned in the steps which follow below, but I’m offering the only thing I can think of to try. If you are not familiar with using the Windows Registry Editor, REGEDIT, then ignore the related steps 4 & 5 and maybe this will still help:
1. Uninstall PS CS2 yet again.
2. Reboot
3. Browse in Windows Explorer to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe Systems\Product licenses and see if there is a file called B2B86000.dat. If so, this is created during activation and it should be safe to delete since you’ve never activated PS CS2. If you can’t find the folder location, ignore this step.
4. Launch REGEDIT: Start > Run > Enter "regedit" in the dialog, and OK
5. Perform a search in REGEDIT: Click on "My Computer" at the top of the left pane, then do Edit > Search > Enter "B2B86000"
If PS CS2 was cleanly uninstalled and never activated, I don’t believe you should find any entry in the Windows Registry containing "B2B86000"….or at least nothing that is Adobe, Adobe Systems, or "ALM" (Adobe License Manager) related. If you do find any such entries, right click on the B2B86000 key in the left pane of the registry editor and select Delete. When the search turns up no more entries found, close out of the Registry Editor.
6. Reinstall PS CS2. Hopefully you’ll not see the activation error message this time.
If you never found any of the files or registry entries, then obviously this attempted solution is unlikely to offer any fix. In fact, even before you uninstall PS CS2, you could simply look for the files and registry entries to see if they exist. If not, then just disregard what I’ve provided here.
Regards,
Daryl
I am having the same problem. Are we saying that if a copy of CS2 has already been activated then you cannot activate a second copy until you remove the file B2B86000 ?
My PC wasn’t brand new when I first got hold of it but I do know that there may have been a Photoshop program previously installed so I will check this out later
Steve
Steve,
I’ve never explored that, but if it was CS2 that was previously installed and activated on your PC, and if the hard drive is the same as the original, then what you say may well be true. The activation hashes, the DAT file you refer to and at least one other in the hard drive boot sector area that you don’t see, are typically generated as some function of the serial number, hard drive identifiying data, and who knows what all. Certainly if the DAT file didn’t exist at the time of your installing CS2, then I think you’d be prompted that a repair activation was necessary. I never had to do that with CS2 as I recall, so it may simply be treated as a new activation. With the DAT file in place, I’d still expect an error to arise, yet not one that should prevent activation so much as just require it again. At the very least, if you delete any such existing DAT file that was created by an installation other than of your own licensed PS CS2, then that might help with the install….it certainly won’t hurt it.
Regards,
Daryl
Thanks Daryl,
I will go into C:\Documents and settings etc to see if I can locate this dam file. Fingers crossed that is indeed the cause of the problem otherwise I will have to give Adobe a call in the morning!!
If I do find after I delete it there, would I still have to go to the registry and remove there also?
Steve
I just purchased Photoshop CS2
Where did you purchase CS2? Adobe no longer sells CS2 as CS3 has been released. Did you buy this from a reputable source?
I bought it of Ebay just before CS3 came out. I did try CS3 Beta but for the extra cost I decided to go with CS2. It came in a sealed box from an Ebay Power seller with 100% feedback.
It’s odd because it loads it all the way till it gives the option of the read me file. From there a window pops open asking where to direct the short cut although from this point nothing happens. I click next and that’s it! No activation box appears and it simply shuts. Windows doesn’t even say about a new program having been installed! I wish I could speak with the chap who started this thread to see how he came over the problem..
I guess I’ll call Adobe in the morning.
Steve
Steve,
No, in general you shouldn’t have to touch the registry. I simply offered those steps as a more robust approach to try and clean out some of the related serialization data. Normally, one broken piece of the activation puzzle is sufficient to trigger the license manager into prompting you to activate, and deleting the DAT file easily would accomplish that.
As I recall, CS2 didn’t prompt for activation until first launch, in which case if it had been previously installed and activated on the PC you bought used, then you’d likely be forced to activate immediately, as opposed to being given a 30-day grace period. Receiving any sort of error messaage as indicated by the OP does sound like something is more corrupt in the process, and I’m not sure what is the best remedy apart from trying my earlier suggestion…well, short of the undesirable low-level reformatting of the hard drive to truly wipe all data inclusive of the boot sector activation hash.
Regards,
Daryl
Steve:
After you have uninstalled and re-booted, delete the original Photoshop directory.
At this point copy all the files from the CD to a folder on your HD and run the installer from there.
It has been posted that this can solve the installation problem.
OK, So lets get this right. Delete the origional Photoshop directory!? Where abouts are we talking about. Am I right in thinking this is located at
C:\DOCUMENTS>PROGRAM FILE>ADOBE. I still have CS installed and dont really want to remove it untill I have CS2 sorted.
So when I load CS2 again instead of the programs default, direct it all to a folder in my documents! ? I’m just thinking where or how it works from there?
Steve
Steve,
No, keep yourself limited only to deletion of the directory for the specific PS version. If you used the default installation path, it would be C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS2 I believe. There may be another "Adobe" prior to "Photoshop".
The path you cite begins with "C:\DOCUMENTS" which I assume to be a mistake unless you’ve created a DOCUMENTS folder under which many of your programs are installed. Or, you may be confusing that with the "C:\Documents and Settings" area, which does indeed contain other user files, including application-specific data. Once PS CS2 is uninstalled, you’d be safe to delete the following folder in the Documents and Settings area: C:\Documents and Settings\pritcda1\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\9.0
Hmmm…as I think of it, if your installation is attempting to default to somewhere other than the normal default path, it may be that a default installation path is still being maintained in the Windows Registry. What I suggest when you next perform an install is to override whatever appears by default, if not the normal default, and enter the path typically used: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS2. Once installed to that location, I’d definitely go back and ensure there is nothing CS2-related in C:\Documents\Program Files\Adobe, deleting anything found there.
Regards,
Daryl
I bought it of Ebay just before CS3 came out.
I just wonder if this is legit. had you bought this from adobe or a legit retailer after CS3 was announced but before CS3 shipped you would have been entitled to a free copy of CS3.
Daryl,
Thanks for your advive, this is getting a little complicated isn’t it.
Buko, the software came in the box, wrapped in the shrink wrap, complete with the book etc. The serial number was on the back of the jewel case! I shall speak to Adobe tomorrow to verify that and of course seek a little advice re my problem. Appreciate all the help though
Steve
Good Luck then.
But had you bought it from a retailer or Adobe in the time period I mentioned you could have gotten a free CS3 with proof of purchase.
something to keep in mind for the next release.
I phoned Adobe today and looks like the serial number is at fault. I’ve already returned the disc for a refund. Just as well I used my credit card I guess!
I would like to thank evryone here for their time and effort
Steve
I have the same problem as above. I have done the regedit thing and removed the .dat files reloaded etc etc etc and it still happens..
Any other ideas.
