Indesign (CS4) no longer launches

[sgs...@adobeforums.com]

Hi folks, I posted this on the CS forum, but it may be better here....

I'm having trouble with a couple of the CS 4 programs (indesign and photoshop). Neither program will now launch, the PC in question is about 10 days old, so everything should be cleanly installed (win XP, Adobe CS4 design standard).

I get the following messages:

Indesign
--------
"AMT Subsystem Failure"
This product has has encountered a problem which requires that you restart your computer before it can be launched.
If you continue to see this message after restarting your computer, please contact either you IT administrator or Adobe technical support for help, and mention the error code shown at the bottom of this screen.

Error: 1
<http://www.adobe.com/support>

Photoshop
---------
Some of the application components are missing from the Application Directory, Please reinstall the application.

-----

Needless to say I've tried a few restarts, but I really don't want to start messing up my lovely new PC by re-installing stuff already! From a quick read around the internet, it appears these may be 'features' of Adobe software. Do I really have to re-install everything, and will I have to be doing this every week?

If anyone can offer advice I would be grateful, are these problems likely to be linked? Is this a feature of the Adobe licensing system? Will this be happening regularly? I've found many mentions of this issue on the forum/internet, but now useful solution from Adobe (and this problem appears to have been around for some time now, so presumably they aren't doing anything to fix it).

Thanks guys,
J

PS...I should add that I have just checked out “FLEXnet Licensing Service” and it is NOT disabled (but set to manual as it should be)

PPS
I've just done a reinstall of CS4, it made no difference.
Should I uninstall, *then* reinstall this time? Should I just visit the priate bay?

Thanks

[sgs...@adobeforums.com]

I've just done an un-install, then reinstall of CS4. I've also double checked FLEXnet in automatic mode (it is starting). None of it makes any difference though. I still get both error messages.

Adobe illustrator seems to work fine though!

Are there any options for bypassing the whole licensing scheme? (working offline, modifying the .exe etc) I guess probably not!

[sgs...@adobeforums.com]

Not sure if this is relevant, but I just opened a pdf...I was bugged by some agreement I *had* to accept and then it came up with the software setup / licensing screen!! Now I've just installed this program, but I tried to play along, put my serial number in the box and it's giving me a big red cross! Unfortunately i have to have Adobe for work (so I can't use Foxit).

Anyone know why Acrobat has forgotten it was just installed with a valid serial number? I've only had this new computer and CS4 for a couple of weeks and I'm sick to death of this crappy software! (We paid over a grand for it!).

I can't face (or afford to waste the time) on another day with Adobe technical 'support'. If anyone knows the status of the cracks for CS4 design standard I'd be grateful if you could email your advice/opinions to my junk mail address below! I never have any problems with pirate software...only the genuine stuff!

Cheers.

sgsjna @ mt2009.com (remove spaces)

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Have you tried installing the patch: <http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3750>

It says Vista only, but it can make a difference on XP as well.

[sgs...@adobeforums.com]

Hi peter,
Thanks for the reply. I actually have acrobat 9 and the patch is for version 8...I may give it a go but I'm loath to put any more Adobe software on my PC that is necessary. It wasn't to get acrobat that we spent £1000 for though...so it's not really my main concern.

I've found a suggested method for bypassing Adobe's licensing so I'm first going to try another uninstall, then reinstall as a trial version and use the crack. From what I can understand the cracked version seems to be a lot more stable than the legitimate version, and we do have a licensed version in case anyone comes to visit!
Thanks

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

If you are going to uninstall again, run the clean script and really remove all the registry information.

For what it's worth, Acrobat used to require another product to run and activate first when bundled. I'm not entirely sure if that's still true.

Peter

[sgs...@adobeforums.com]

Had another go, but no better. I used the clean script but it doesn't seem to do anything (I guess it would only be of use if there was some dodgy registry info left behind...it doesn't clean any of the adobe folders in 'program file', 'application data' or 'local settings'.
This time I manually deleted every mention of adobe before reinstalling (very satisfying!)

However it makes no difference. Adobe illustrator still works fine but Indeisgn and Photoshop give the same error messages as mentioned above.

Each time I reinstall, Adobe resets the 'FLEXnet licensing service' to manual. I don't know why it does this, as presumable it means it wouldn't work automatically. However resetting this myself doesn't work either.

I've tried the pirate version out on my own laptop and it's working well so far! It seems to run a lot leaner than the legitimate version did (before it packed up!), but I guess that's due to the fact it isn't constantly asking Adobe's permission to do everything! I'll have to give up and put a copy of that on my works machine as well.

Thanks for the help anyway.