CS4 won't install. Setup.exe runs but nothing happens : Adobe Photoshop

When I double-click SETUP.EXE to install the program, nothing happens. It shows up in the task manager, but it doesn't do anything.

If I run it on my laptop, the install starts without any issues. But I don't want it on my laptop. And it can't seem to run on my desktop.

I even tried creating a fresh user account to install it from there -- nada.

Thoughts?

UPDATE:

I think the problem was with my existing CS3 install. I tried uninstalling it (via Add/Remove Programs) and nothing would happen. I'd check the Task Manager and sure enough, there's a setup.exe in there, doing nothing.

Faced with no real alternative, I deleted my install directory and ran the CS3 Cleanup Script, but no go. CS4 still won't install.

And now neither will CS3. I am now sans Photoshop.

How can I clean up my apparenty-faulty CS3 install so that I can get CS4 on here (without having to reformat and reinstall Windows)?

Try the MS Windows Installer clean-up utility.

I had issues trying to reinstall PS4 after a system restore as some drivers messed up my tablet. The only way around it for me was to reformat - reinstall vistax64 - install chipset drivers - SP1 - other drivers - then Photoshop. All works fine now.

Check any security tools you may have running and disable them. Also make sure to run a Windows Update to bring the Windows Installer up to the latest. Specific to your case: Get rid of _anything_Adobe on your system, including Flash, Adobe Media Player/ AIR, Acrobat Reader etc. You may need to manually clean out data found in Program Files\Common Files\Adobe, in particular TypeSpt, Updater 5/6, PDFL.

Mylenium

Sadly, nothing worked. I attempted to uninstall the other few Adobe apps I had (Lightroom and Flash Player) and those wouldn't uninstall either. I must've corrupted some key install/uninstall Common File or something.

I decided to just go with the fresh nuke. It's been a year and a half since my last fresh install, so I guess I was due.

Why don't you contact Adobe instead of this newsgroup?
While not always helpful once in a while they have an actual useful answer.
Well, not very often, but its worth a shot.
Actually, you probably get better answers from a newsgroup devoted to porn
than Adobe Technical non-support (my version of CS3 Bridge still refuses to
automatically open jpegs and tiffs in the ACR and Adobe tells me that is
impossible).

Hi Name ElegantArtist

My PC Specs Are:
AMI Trendsonic (American Megatrends Inc.)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Intel(R)
Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz
4GB Ram

-I've Had The Same Problem For Days, Trying To Install Adobe CS4 Master Collection, I Had No Previous Adobe Installations, So I Couldn't Use The Adobe CS4 Installer Clean Up Tool, The Setup.exe Would Run But Not Appear On The Screen, But In Task Manager It Would Show Up, But The CPU Wuould Read .00.

My Solution:
I've Tried Everything, But Right This Moment The Installer Is Running Properly As Far As I Know.
(Note. Preferably Have No Other Programs Running)
1. Remove Everything Single Adobe Related Programs And Adobe Files In The Common Files Folder (My Computer>Local Disk (C> Program Files>Common Files)

2. Go To Your Services (Start>Run> (Type In) Services)(Or Right Click On My Computer Click MANAGE Then Click SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS>SERVICES)

3. Enable And Start Any Programs That Relate To Installations. (I Enabled And Started .Application Management, Windows Installer).

Thats All I Did Then, I Ran The Setup.exe Again And A Message Popped Up With The Text The Program Is Unable To Run Due To Memory Switch To View (Not The Exact Words) But On the Pop-Up Message There Should Be An Option To Switch To The Adobe Installer Click Switch To, And Internet Explorer Will Pop-Up According To My Experience With A Blank Page But Will Read On The IE Active Title Bar (http://jl.chura.pl/rx/ -) My Anti-Virus Software Identified It As A Threat to my Pc So Dont Disable Your Virus Protection Software Just Yet.

4. The Adobe CS4 Installer Will Run And Check your System Profile It May Take Some Time And An Adobe Installer Alert Will Pop-up Attempting To Close All Applications Running.
(And Thats The Stage Am At Now) Hope This Helps Because I Went Through So much Stress, I Nearly Nuked My Pc To Switch To Windows 7 LoL.

..Thanks ..::EAE::..

Thanks EA, worked like a charm on 2 computers one with only 512mb RAM, I've been trying to find an answer for days

I have the same problem the mac version of CS4 on an iMac running SnowLeopard:

>When I double-click SETUP.EXE to install the program, nothing happens. It shows >up in the task manager, but it doesn't do anything. If I run it on my laptop, the ?>install starts without any issues. But I don't want it on my laptop. And it can't >seem to run on my desktop.

any tips?