i trying to install with win 10

Discussion & Solutions
1

I have an old PC that I’m trying to install your Photoshop 2020 and setup starts and tells me I need at least win 7 and I have 10 installed what can I do to install your photoshop 2020 that’s preactived

2

Googling it, I see Photoshop 2020 is the last version that support Windows 7. One would think it’d work on Windows 10, though. I’d try a later version of Photoshop.

3

try Filecr

4

Try using differnt crack instead, or run the installer as administrator, or even a simple rebbot sorts it out!

5

Photoshop 2020 works fine on Win 10, the installer is just being dumb (happens a lot with cracked versions).

Right-click setup.exe → Properties → Compatibility → run in Windows 7 mode.
Also run it as Administrator.
Turn off Windows Defender first.

6

Quick Fixes (Try in This Order)

  1. Run Setup as Administrator + Compatibility Mode

    • Right-click the setup.exe → Properties → Compatibility tab.
    • Check:
      • Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 7 or Windows 8
      • Run this program as an administrator
    • Click Apply → OK, then run the setup.

  2. Disable Antivirus / Windows Defender Completely

    • Cracked installers are often blocked or altered by real-time protection.
    • Turn off Windows Defender (Real-time protection) temporarily during installation.
    • Add the Photoshop setup folder to exclusions.

  3. Clean Previous Adobe Traces (Very Important)

    • Uninstall any existing Adobe/Photoshop entries from Control Panel.
    • Delete these folders (if they exist):
      • C:\Program Files\Adobe
      • C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe
      • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
      • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Adobe
    • Use CCleaner or Revo Uninstaller (free version) for deeper cleanup.

  4. Other Common Solutions

    • Right-click setup → Troubleshoot compatibility and let Windows fix it.
    • Install in a new clean folder (avoid Program Files).
    • Make sure your Windows 10 is updated (but not the very latest if the crack is old).
    • Try running the setup in Safe Mode.

  5. If Installer Still Fails

    • Extract the setup files (if it’s a .rar/.zip) and look for a separate Setup.exe or cracked folder with instructions.
    • Some packs include a GenP or Medicine folder — apply the crack after a failed install attempt.
    • Try an older cracked build of Photoshop 2020 if this one is problematic.

Warning: Pre-activated/cracked versions can be unstable, contain malware, or stop working after updates. On an old PC, performance may also be poor.

Better Long-Term Options

  • Use Photoshop 2021 or older cracked versions that are more stable on Win 10.
  • Consider free alternatives like Photopea (online), GIMP, or Krita if the PC is very old.
  • If you want legitimate: Adobe offers older versions or discounted plans.
7

:bullseye: setup.exe thinks you’re on Windows 7 — flip the shim, install rolls

Adobe’s PS 2020 installer runs one ancient version-check that always feeds itself “Windows 8” on your Win 10/11 box. Fix takes 30 seconds, no download, no patch.

Everything below is the full map — fix → mechanism → error decoder → escape hatches → nuclear backup.

⚡ 30-second fix — compat mode + a hidden env variable

Right-click Set-up.exe → Properties → Compatibility → tick “Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows 8” → Apply → run again. Done.

Same shim without the GUI clicks:

set __COMPAT_LAYER=WIN8RTM
Set-up.exe

__COMPAT_LAYER = a temp Windows env variable that flips the compatibility shim for one command, no registry footprint. Full list of every shim string Windows ships with: https://ss64.org/viewtopic.php?t=18

🔍 Why it actually fails — one paragraph, mechanism-level

Adobe uses GetVersionEx (Windows API asking “what OS am I on?”). Microsoft crippled that API in 2013 — it returns Windows 8 to any program whose embedded manifest (a tiny XML tag baked inside every .exe) doesn’t declare “I know Win 10/11 exists.” Adobe never added the Win 10/11 GUIDs to the PS 2020 installer manifest. So the check runs, gets “Windows 8,” decides that’s below the minimum, dies. Your OS is fine. The check is stupid.

Microsoft’s own doc with the actual GUIDs and manifest schema: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/targeting-your-application-at-windows-8-1

Standalone deep-dive on the same bug: https://www.codestudy.net/blog/how-to-detect-true-windows-version/

📋 HDPIM error codes decoded — from the install log

Log lives at %TEMP%\CreativeCloud\ACC\. Grep for HDPIM Setup Process return code is (X):

Full Adobe download/install log troubleshooter: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/troubleshoot-download-install-logs.html

🚀 Skip the bootstrapper — build clean installer from Adobe's own CDN
🔇 Kill Adobe's phone-home after install — clean hosts blocklist

Curated block list of every Adobe activation / telemetry endpoint. apply.bat as admin, entries wrapped between markers so your hosts file stays clean, revert.bat undoes everything, Pi-hole + dnsmasq exports for network-wide: https://github.com/Ruddernation-Designs/Adobe-URL-Block-List

Alt maintained fork: https://github.com/ethanaicode/Adobe-Block-Hosts-List

☢️ Nuclear backup — if literally nothing above works

Community-vetted prepatched Adobe Master Collection (PS 2020 included, GenP-patched, every other CC app in the same drop):

🗺️ The 6-layer map — every angle to attack this from
# angle tools
1 Change what the API returns compat mode, __COMPAT_LAYER, Resource Hacker manifest edit, sdbinst shim
2 Skip the bootstrapper adobe-packager, CC Offline Package Generator
3 Adobe’s hidden enterprise path Admin Console → Packages → real MSI with valid manifest
4 Replace the installer m0nkrus, Internet Archive, prepatched builds
5 Contain it Sandboxie-Plus, Windows Sandbox, Cameyo
6 Emulate on Linux Wine + winetricks msxml6 vcrun2013 fontsmooth=rgb
💡 Where this actually saves your ass — 5 real cases
  • Old plugin dependency — favorite Nik Collection / Topaz build only runs clean on PS 2020, newer PS breaks it. Install fresh, permanently.
  • Windows LTSC / IoT / N edition — Adobe explicitly won’t support it, installer just dies. Shim skips the whole check.
  • Photographer offline in the field — remote shoot, laptop needs PS 2020 running before the flight tomorrow. No CC login on this route.
  • Family PC — one person needs Photoshop for one thing, doesn’t need a subscription they’ll forget. Install offline, done for years.
  • Studio deploying 12 machines — compat mode + silent CLI installer scripts across a fleet in one batch file, zero manual clicks.

one env var. no download. no patch. install rolls.

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:chart_increasing: The Core-Community strengthened the reply above with AI.