Re-install Photoshop

DB
Posted By
Dave_Bailey
May 7, 2007
Views
259
Replies
3
Status
Closed
I couldn’t find a way to ask Adobe.

I have formatted the C:\ drive and re-installed Windows XP Pro. I used Windows backup/restore to try to re-install Photoshop CS on the formatted drive. The message is: "could not complete your request because of missing or invalid personalization information".
How do I re-install Photoshop?? I have the 20 digit unlock? number if that helps.

Thanks for help
Dave Bailey
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DP
Daryl_Pritchard
May 7, 2007
Dave,

The way PS CS’s activation worked (i.e., poorly), most any conventional backup or drive imaging approach to saving system info would corrupt what I’ll call the "activation synch". The reason for that is because one of 3 activation hashes, presumably time-stamped or otherwise synchronized to the other 2 hashes, resides in a hidden bood sector area. If you create a backup or drive image at some point in time, but later launch PS CS, those activation hashes are verified and re-synchronized, and are now out of synch with the backup files. Restore those backup files and you’ll find yourself being prompted to reactivate because the restore did not affect the 3rd hash in the boot sector which still has a more current time stamp (or whatever).

That’s likely more than you need to know, but it helps explain why you really shouldn’t try to "re-install" PS CS via a restore process. You should always just reinstall using the original installation CD so that along the way you are prompted for your serial number, the so called "missing or invalid personalization information". Then, you may still find yourself facing a required reactivation, but it should be shown to be a repair activation which means it doesn’t count against the 2 activations allowed under the normal retail license. At that point, proceed with the reactivation and hopefully all will go smoothly; if not, you may be prompted to contact Adobe customer service, which is your only recourse if so.

Regards,

Daryl
DM
dave_milbut
May 7, 2007
what daryl said. use the original install disk.
DB
Dave_Bailey
May 7, 2007
Daryl,
Thanks for the response and explanation. I have since located the Photoshop CS install disk. I’ll now follow your instructions to re-install from the original CD.

Thanks again
Dave Bailey

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

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