Illustrator CS2 and InDesign CS2 not starting - here is how it was solved.

Question

This document is merely a compilation of information found at the sources named at the bottom of this document.
Basically running older Adobe CS2 Software on a MacBook Pro 10.6.x Snow Leopard - probably like many of you that either can't afford the upgrade to CS3, CS4 or CS5, or maybe don't see the need to do so.  It's running good but it is slow since it is using Rosetta, but it does work - well, used to work.
Illustrator CS2, InDesign CS2, Photoshop CS2, etc. were all running fine after the upgrade to Snow Leopard (under 10.6, 10.6.1 and 10.6.2).  Then the update to 10.6.3 was installed.  At the same time a bunch of other updates - including the Acrobat 8.2 update - were installed.  Not really sure what did it, but all of a sudden Illustrator CS2 stopped responding at the start up screen - no longer started up and InDesign CS2 popped the registration/licensing screen.  When trying to enter license info on first key press the application quit entirely.
So maybe the 10.6.3 update was the culprit.  Never even thought that it could be the Acrobat 8.2/8.2.1 updates.  Then I found this thread here:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/613287?tstart=0 (good reading)
Which ultimately pointed me the the instructions here:
>start quote from http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/534/cpsid_53468.html
Replace the corresponding files present in the “ /Library/Application Support/Adobe/TypeSpt/Unicode/Mappings/” folder with the one attached to this document.
Download the attached Mac.dmg (http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/534/cpsid_53468/attachments/Mac.dmg) file to a machine where the issue is seen.
Close all Adobe applications
Double Click the Mac.dmg file to mount it.
Copy Mac folder from mounted image. Paste it to /Library/ApplicationSupport/Adobe/TypeSpt/Unicode/Mappings/.
A message appears to confirm to replace the existing 'Mac' folder. Replace the 'Mac' folder.
Launch Illustrator or InDesign CS or CS 2.
The Mac folder attached to this KB document already has the correct permissions set, so it should not be necessary to complete the steps below. However there may be cases where the permissions for the Mac folder get overwritten. In such a case, the original issue can reoccur. To solve this issue, complete the steps below:
Follow Solution 1 and make sure that all Adobe applications are closed.
Right or Control click and select 'Get Info' on the Mac folder  in “ /Library/Application Support/Adobe/TypeSpt/Unicode/Mappings/”, which you have copied from the .dmg file attached to this document.
Verify that under 'Sharing and Permissions' all users listed have no write access
If a change is required, click the padlock symbol and provide your Administrator credentials
Select the user which has Write access and change it to 'Read Only'.
Ensure the user 'Everyone' is set to 'No Access.
To check if the issue has been solved, launch Acrobat 8.2 and then Illustrator or InDesign CS or CS 2.
< end quote
Even after following the instructions still "no love" from Illustrator CS2 or InDesign CS2.  InDesign did no longer show the registration screen, but it didn't continue launching, and Illustrator progressed further along in the start up sequence but also never finished launching.
Then I found another article on the adobe site.  I am just quoting the part performed  and which ultimately did the trick.
>start quote from http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/326/326388.html
Steps 1 and 2 are not relevant so no need to do them
3. At the Finder, choose File > Find.
4. TypeAdobeFnt10.lst (Illustrator CS2), select the system drive, and then press Return.
5. Delete all AdobeFnt10.lst files found.
6. Restart the computer.
7. Restart Illustrator. Illustrator creates a new Adobefnt10.lst or AdobeFnt07.lst file.
< end quote
So, this solved the problems at least for the time being.  Hope this helps someone else a bit.
Download files:
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/534/cpsid_53468/attachments/Mac.dmg
Sources:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/613287?tstart=0
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/534/cpsid_53468.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/326/326388.html

Answer 1

Illustrator CS2 stopped working for me on Snow Leopard as well. What it all boiled down to was not to update to 12.0.1. Not sure which release of Snow Leopard I was on when I figured that out but I keep up-to-date, am now at 10.6.6 and CS2 still works fine. I keep getting prompted to update to 12.0.1 from time to time but just cancel it.
I'm fairly sure I was at 12.0.1 already when I moved from Leopard to Snow Leopard and it was that, not a Snow Leopard update, that "broke" CS2 12.0.1. If I remember correctly, if you now try to apply the update, it won't go through with it anyway.