? Photoshop Elements 8 Organizer won't open on Windows Vista ?

Question

I installed Photoshop Elements 8 onto a Windows Vista computer and registered. The Organizer opened with broken thumbnails throughout and I could not update the thumbnails. Therefore, I closed the Organizer and opened it again, hoping it would clear up. Instead, the Organizer would not open at all, and I've not been able to open the Organizer since.
Despite several Support cases, Tech Support could not help. They said to uninstall Elements and reinstall it, but when I uninstalled, the disc software screen said I must first deactivate my serial # by launching Elements 8 and going to Help > Deactivate.
However, when I launched Elements 8, a screen appeared with a choice of either a free trial or to enter my serial #. I entered my serial # and got a red "X", and it would not accept the serial #. Tech Support said there is nothing wrong with my serial #.
Tech Support then said to download the Trial Version. I did that, but could not open the trial version either!
Message:
"Files in use. Some files that needed to be updated are currently in use."
"The following applications are using files that need tro be updated by this setup.
Close these applications and click Retry to continue.
Organizer - Photoshop Elements"
So it thinks my Organizer is open and using files, and it's not open. I can't get it to open!
I clicked RETRY and got the same message.
I clicked IGNORE and it was installing files, got almost to the end, said "registering product", then said "rolling back action" and started going backwards.
I had uninstalled my Elements 7 software because I intended to now use Elements 8. I decided to reinstall Elements 7 to use that while I was dinking around with version 8, and now it gave me the same message:
      the serial # is in error, or is already in use by someone else!
Now I can't use either 7 or 8.
HELP! Does anyone know how to deactivate a serial # when the software has already been uninstalled? Can it be done?

Answer 1

Hi Ankush
Thank you for your reply!
Unfortunately, I can't try out your suggestion until next summer, because in early November I moved to my winter home in Florida. I left my Vista computer in Colorado Springs in its sorry state of nonworking Adobe Elements versions 7 and 8. I took the software discs with me.
When I arrived in Florida I bought a new computer.  I had left Colorado without being able to deactivate the Elements 8 serial number, so would not be able to use that software disc in Florida. Therefore, I asked Adobe for a refund. (Some of the tech support cases regarding the problem were still open and unanswered.)  Adobe replied that the month warrranty had run out so they wouldn't give me a refund. I argued a little, then gave up.
Therefore, I bought a new Elements 8 software program. And the old XP Florida computer contains Elements 7 and I have the disc.
The new problem: I must know how to DEACTIVATE a serial number before I dare install the new Elements 8 softtware, in case anything goes wrong, or in case I have to reinstall Windows 7 for some reason, which would wipe out any 3rd-party software. I also must know how to DEACTIVATE the Elements 7 serial number on my old XP computer so that I can install it on my new computer.
I opened a CHAT session with Adobe and asked how exactly to do this, because their FAQs and other information aren't at all clear. Here's what the tech said to do. Launch Adobe. You will see "Help" on the "toolbar". Click "help" and select "deactivate". Well, all I get when I launch is a Welcome Screen and there is no toolbar with help there. So I thought, maybe he means, open the Organizer or Editor and look for the Help menu. I opened the Organizer, clicked on Help, and there was no deactivate option listed. So I opened the Editor and clicked on Help and there was no deactivate option listed.
I just opened a case with Adobe asking what I have to do to deactivate a serial number. I don't see why they can't explain this.
Have you any idea how this is done?