Full Steps to run CS3 in Windows 7

Question

How to run CS3 in Windows 7....Full Steps
How to work with old software in Windows 7 Ultimate.....(That is the software that I used for Adobe CS3 and it worked beautifully. Other versions may be slightly different, but in general, the same steps apply.)
Note: This is written with the issue of Windows 7 will not run software designed for XP or Vista.
What you will need:
If you have Windows7 Home or Home Premium, you MUST upgrade to Windows 7 Professional, or Windows 7 Ultimate or Windows 7 Enterprise.
Otherwise, you will be wasting your time and money trying to figure out how to do it with other processes.
If you need a good software to partition your hard drive, to run other types of operating systems, I recommend Paragon Partition Manager 10.0 Professional, but for Windows 7, you will not need it.
What you will need, after upgrading your computer and operating system to the one's listed above is two downloads from Microsoft.
The first download: XP Mode Software
The second download: Virtual PC Software
This link and address will take to you to Microsoft to first run a system check to see if your software and hardware are compatible and able to run the additional needed software.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
This page will run the needed test to see if your system is compatible to run the next steps.
Once your computer passes the compatibility tests, it will then present you with two links to download the necessary software for Windows 7 to operate in XP Mode for your older software.
Installation:
Download and install 1st: XP Mode
Download and install 2nd: Virtual PC
Once installed, restart your computer and if needed, you will need to get into the BIOS to turn on Virtualization Technology.
This next step is based on the HP Pavillion Elite e9260f PC. Your system may be different, but these instructions will follow based on the system above and Windows 7 Ultimate.
On the first start up page, you have options at the bottom to get into the BIOS.....F10 is the option to stop startup and enter the BIOS.
Move over to Power Options and you'll see Virtualization Technology.
Arrow down to that setting and hit Enter. A small window will open with Disable and Enable.
Choose Enable and then F10 to save and exit.
Then let the computer go through the start up process again, all the way to Windows Desktop.
Once you are up and running, Go to Programs through the Start button.
Click the folder named: Virtual PC
Then click on : XP Mode to finish setting up. (this process is literally setting up an XP Operating system, so follow the instructions it offers carefully.)
Once the setup is complete, you will be given a User Name and a choice of a password. With this mode, you must enter a password.
The next window to appear will be for XP Updates. Turn that on for a very smooth setup for the rest of the process.
Once this is done, then you will see the setup process taking place.
When XP Mode finishes installing, it will ask about the settings for Virus Protection, just click that you will manage the virus protection yourself.
Then, you are set up with XP and are now able to install Adobe CS3 software and other to work with.
The internet works with the XP Mode desktop, but virus protection is possibly not enabled on the XP Mode, so I recommend not using the internet through XP Mode to search the web. Use Windows 7 for that.
When setting up CS3, disable your antivirus software to prevent any conflicts while loading.
Put your CS3 disk in the disk drive and instead of letting it run automatically in Windows 7, on the Start button of XP Mode, go to and click RUN.
Click Browse for the DVD-CD and then Explore the disk for the Autorun file.
Then you will be presented with the Adobe install window and just follow the instructions for Adobe from there.
It may ask for the RAM to be at a minimum of 1GB. Just ignore this for now and you can make adjustments later, within the software.
Once Adobe CS3 has finished loading, it will may ask for a restart.
Close the XP Mode Window at the X and it will then say, "Going into Hibernate."
Do a shutdown or restart in Windows 7 and then go to Programs and choose, Virtual PC, click on XP Mode and it will then open the XP mode again.
Go to the Start button to Programs, Choose your Adobe CS3 program and go to work!!
You're Done!!!
All old software that you were working with before, will operate the very same as it did when it was on a straight XP or Vista computer.
Hope this helps and after finally getting all this information, which did not come with my new computer, it was a VERY SMOOTH transition.
Enjoy!!! and you are welcome....
The Cajun Lady

Answer 1

I don't quite understand your question....The issue before was that Photoshop CS3 will not run
in Windows 7 as a stand alone program, making it necessary to have Windows XP Mode to run it.
They said here at Adobe that the CS4 upgrade and stand alone software was designed to run in Windows 7, but CS3 was not and would not be changed, that the only option was to upgrade to CS4.
I felt that was a little unfair to the one's that got CS3 in the past year and from what I understand, CS5 will be coming out soon.
This doesn't particularly apply to Adobe, but to other software as well.  I had read that iTunes will not work in windows 7 and has to have XP Mode to run.  There was an issue that I read in a forum about the "Bonjour" file had a conflict with the systems folders and I experienced the issue of it causing my registry to drop out with each shutdown.
Once removed, drivers and software had to be reinstalled and activated, only to have it do it again for the required shutdowns during setup.
Once I upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate, and removing Bonjour from the system, the problem went away and I haven't had to reinstall anything since.
So that is something to also think about, before trying to upload any software that is related to Apple/Mac on the Windows 7 platform.  If it has to use the Bonjour file, you will be much better off to upload directly to XP Mode instead, as there are no issues with XP.
Basically, it's a "trial and error" process to see what works and what won't within Windows 7.  All the information is brand new to me and so I'm still asking questions myself.
Thanks for asking.