Vista - Help Installing Photoshop 5.0

Bleh, this is frustrating. I have so much work to do that I cannot get to without photoshop, and it's not installing. :/

My new laptop is running with Vista Home Premium 64 bit, and unfortunately my photoshop 5 installation is saying it is not compatible with it. I have to install photoshop 5 in order to use my photoshop 7 upgrade, I don't know what to do!

Most 32 bit software runs OK in 64 bit Vista.
It could be worth trying to run the installer for Photoshop5 in compatibility mode and also in Admin mode:

Right-click the installer program > Propeties > Compatability, and select 'Windows XP (Service Pack 2)". Click OK to leave the dialog.
Then right-click the installer program and click "Run as administrator"

The Photoshop installer will give you a choice about where to install it. It might help to use your own folder such as C:\Apps\Photoshop, instead of the default.
I suggest that because Vista x64 has two folders for programs ( "Program Files" and "Program Files (x85)" ) which might possibly be confusing for the older Photoshop version.

I've noticed that it is common for older 32bit software to use 16bit installers. They were more prevelent and the time - just as you will often encounter 32bit installers used for 64bit software, today.

If this is the case - if Photoshop 5 used a 16bit installer - I am not aware of a solution. Vista x64 is utterly incapable of running 16bit software. It wouldn't matter if the actual, installed application is 32bit if the install engine is 16bit.

Just my immediate thought. We can still hope that running in compatibility mode and as admin will do the trick.

Unfortunately, I think Itwally might be correct about the 16-bit install engine, because I have this problem, too, and I tried the step-by-step instructions provided by OldBloke, but as soon as I try to install the program, I continue to be greeted with the message: "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher." I'm still looking for solutions, but I'm not hopeful at this point. I am, however, beginning to understand all the negative publicity about Vista.

Hello Melanie:
I just solved the same problem that you have! Insert your photoshop 7.0 upgrade disk FIRST into the CD drive. The installer program will run and after you enter your code information, it will prompt you to search for an earlier version of photoshop, either on your hard disk OR CD. Click the bottom option for removable media.Take out the photoshop 7.0 CD, insert the 5.0 CD then hit search. It will find the 5.0 CD and prompt you to continue. Take out the 5.0 CD, reinsert the 7.0 CD and click next. The install program runs flawlessly.

Hope this helps!

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