If I remove Creative Cloud, can I download and use CS6?

Question

By Creative Cloud, I don't mean Photoshop CC, I mean the application that allows me to see the other CC programs and download their trials.
If I get rid of THAT, would I still be able to use this? http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/cs6-product-downloads.html

Answer 1

YES.
This touches on a more general problem - that of how much extra software Adobe thinks we need running on our machines in the background.
It's WAY too much.  This has been true for a long time.
I use a freeware tool called Autoruns to clear out almost all of the stuff they install, so that I just run Photoshop.  Amazingly, it's even still possible to check for updates, BUT...  Just keep in mind that every update you make will try to install extra Adobe software, so you'll have to re-run Autoruns after every Adobe update to make sure you're "clean" again.  The nice part is that you can keep the software in the list, but un-check it so it doesn't run.  It becomes a placekeeper; a reminder.  That way when another one shows back up you can see that it's the same as one you already un-checked and easily decide to delete it.
Here's a list of all the Adobe software I've disabled over time with Autoruns.  Like I said, I can run Photoshop perfectly.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  AdobeAAMUpdater-1.0
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  Acrobat Assistant 8.0
  Adobe ARM
  Adobe Creative Cloud    (my guess as to the one that you need to disable)
  Adobe CEPServiceManager
  Adobe CS4ServiceManager
  Adobe CS5ServiceManager
HKLM\Software\Classes\*\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
  AccExt
  Adobe.Acrobat.ContextMenu
HKLM\Software\Classes\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
  Adobe Drive CS4
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Background\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
  Adobe Drive CS4
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Classes\Folder\Shellex\ColumnHandlers
  PDF Shell Extension
HKLM\Software\Classes\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
  AccExt
  Adobe.Acrobat.ContextMenu
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers
  AccExtIco1
  AccExtIco2
  AccExtIco3
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
  Adobe Acrobat Create PDF from Selection
  Adobe Acrobat Create PDF Toolbar Helper
  Adobe PDF Link Helper
HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
  Adobe Acrobat Create PDF Toolbar
Task Scheduler
  Adobe Flash Player Udpater
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
  AdobeARMservice
  AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc
  Switchboard
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
  adfs
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order
  AdobeDriveCS4_NP
To be fair, Adobe isn't the only company that does this (install more extra stuff than you likely need).  Here's what the top section of my Autoruns display looks like.  Note all the unchecked boxes...
-Noel