Issue:When you start Adobe Photoshop, it returns the error, "Your Adobe Photoshop user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid. The application cannot continue and must now exit." Photoshop previously started without error.
Do one or more of the following solutions:
Solution 1: Use the protect key feature in VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5/6 or VCOM SystemSuite 5/6.
If you use VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5/6 or VCOM SystemSuite 5/6, specify the Photoshop serialization key as a protected registry key in the Registry Fixer utility. Then, remove and reinstall Photoshop.
1. Run Registry Fixer, and look for the following key among the green entries: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Uninstall/{236BB7C4-4419-42FD-0409/1E257A25E34D}.
2. Set this key as a protected key.
3. Remove, and then reinstall Photoshop.
If this solution doesn't solve the problem, disable the VCOM software, and contact VCOM (http://www.avanquest.com/USA/vcom/).
Solution 2: Remove, and then reinstall Photoshop, filling all customer information boxes.
1. Remove Photoshop by using the Add/Remove utility in Windows.
2. Reinstall Photoshop. Make sure to enter data in every box on the Customer Information screen, specifically the user name, organization, and serial number boxes.
Solution 3: Disable utilities that clean the Windows registry.
Disable any utilities that clean the Windows registry, including applications that contain such utilities. Then, remove and reinstall Photoshop.
If disabling these utilities doesn't resolve the problem, remove the utilities from the system.
Background information
Photoshop won't start if VCOM Fix-It Utilities 5/6 or VCOM SystemSuite 5/6 removes the Photoshop serialization key when it cleans the Windows registry.
The protect key feature prevents the Registry Fixer from deleting the key when it cleans the registry.
Reinstalling Photoshop replaces the deleted serialization data in the Windows registry.