TechNote

Error: "...user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid..." when you start Photoshop (CS2 on Windows)

Issue

When you start Adobe Photoshop, the application returns the error message, "Your Adobe Photoshop user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid. The application cannot continue and must now exit."

Detail

Photoshop previously started without error.

Solutions

Do one or more of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Update your VCOM software and apply the appropriate patch.

If you use VCOM Fix-It Utilities 6 or VCOM SystemSuite 6, update your software to the latest version before you download the appropriate patch from VCOM.

For Fix-It Utilities, update to version 6.0.3.4 before you apply the patch. Find the patch in article 1507 "How do I keep Registry Cleaner from removing my Adobe registry settings?" on the VCOM website at: http://v-com.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/avanquestusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1507

For SystemSuite, update to version 6.0.3.6 before you apply the patch. Find the patch in article 1506 "How do I keep Registry Cleaner from removing my Adobe registry settings?" on the VCOM website at: http://v-com.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/avanquestusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1506

Solution 2: Use the protect key feature in VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5 or VCOM SystemSuite 5.

If you use VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5 or VCOM SystemSuite 5, specify the Photoshop serialization key as a protected registry key in the Registry Fixer utility. Then, remove and reinstall Photoshop.

1. Run Registry Fixer, and look for the following key among the green entries: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Uninstall/{236BB7G4-4419-42FD-0409/1E257A25E34D}.

2. Set this key as a protected key.

3. Remove, and then reinstall Photoshop.

If this solution doesn't solve the problem, disable the VCOM software, and contact VCOM (www.v-com.com).

Solution 3: Remove, and then reinstall Photoshop, filling in all customer information boxes.

1. Remove Photoshop using the Add/Remove utility in Windows.

2. Reinstall Photoshop. Make sure to enter data in every box on the Customer Information screen, specifically the user name, organization, and serial number boxes.

Solution 4: Disable utilities that clean the Windows registry.

Disable any utilities that clean the Windows registry, including applications that contain such utilities. Then, remove and reinstall Photoshop.

If disabling these utilities doesn't resolve the problem, remove the utilities from the system.

Background information

Photoshop won't start if VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5 or VCOM SystemSuite 5 removes the Photoshop serialization key when it cleans the Windows registry.

The protect key feature prevents the Registry Fixer from deleting the key when it cleans the registry.

Reinstalling Photoshop replaces the deleted serialization data in the Windows registry.

Additional Information

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Manually remove Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Windows) (TechNote 331405)

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