Activation cannot continue

Question

I purchased a new copy of PS CS2 and after install, I activate it and it says information was sent. Then a few seconds later I receive an error message:
"An error has been detected and activation cannot continue. Please restart your computer and reinstall application."
I have reinstalled at least six time, even once via SAFE MODE. I have installed via two different CD rom drives, I have followed all the suggested fixes and nothing seems to work.
I then installed on my laptop, and I receive the same error message.
I can, on both computers, open ImageReady CS2 and use it; it seems to be affecting only PS CS2.
Compaq desktop:
Processor is a P4 3.4 Ghz
ATI X600 Video board
3gb RAM
Windows XP SP2
Viewsonic Digital Monitor
HP Laptop:
AMD 2.0 Ghz processor
ATI express 200 grapics board
2gb RAM
HELP! Please...

Answer 1

Douglas,
Curiously enough, I received a personal e-mail today from an e-bay seller of PS CS2, who reported that his customer was having the exact problem as you've stated here. He had seen my posts in the forum here and wrote me to ask for help regarding what might be causing this problem. Whether or not he's your seller, I don't know, but the timing of the e-mail vs. your post here seems more than coincidental. I didn't keep his e-mail but did reply to him and only recall his name being Nick.
While you believe the CD you purchased was a new retail product, this person contacting me asked if he should have uninstalled PS CS2 from his PC and was the CD needed for that task. I told him of how a license transfer via Adobe is required if he registered the software and, if activated on one or more PCs, then a Transfer Activation would be required from the affected PCs. This would ensure the activations are freed up for use by his buyer. If he didn't register PS CS2, then the buyer would be able to, yet that means nothing if the buyer doesn't also have both activations available to use.
Normally when both activations have been used, the error message that would be seen during a new install is that the limits of the license have been exceeded...something to that effect. An error message as you've seen is far less obvious as being related to this issue with no remaining activations left, yet I'm still very suspicious that is the root cause of the problem.
As others have suggested, you'd be wise to contact Adobe promptly to learn if the serial number you have is valid and whether it has already had 1 or more activations applied against it. If so, then you should demand a refund from your e-bay seller or a license transfer and full activation transfer.
Regards,
Daryl