# i trying to install with win 10 **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussion & Solutions\ **Tags:** solved\ **Created:** [February 17, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477 "2026-02-17T03:22:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joseph\_Dillinger](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/joseph_dillinger/32/170579_2.png) [@Joseph\_Dillinger](https://onehack.st/u/Joseph_Dillinger)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/1 "2026-02-17T03:22:15Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![stevenabeyta](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/stevenabeyta/32/170183_2.png) [@stevenabeyta](https://onehack.st/u/stevenabeyta)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 4:11am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/2 "2026-02-17T04:11:24Z")
> [@Joseph\_Dillinger](#): > > Photoshop 2020 and setup starts and tells me I need at least win 7 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. ---
**Author:** ![Arfan\_Evan1](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/arfan_evan1/32/168566_2.png) [@Arfan\_Evan1](https://onehack.st/u/Arfan_Evan1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 4:19am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/3 "2026-02-17T04:19:59Z")
> [@Joseph\_Dillinger](#): > > what can I do to install your photoshop 2020 that’s preactived try Filecr ---
**Author:** ![A\_Sir\_Jhon](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/a_sir_jhon/32/169964_2.png) [@A\_Sir\_Jhon](https://onehack.st/u/A_Sir_Jhon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/4 "2026-03-31T11:56:10Z")
Try using differnt crack instead, or run the installer as administrator, or even a simple rebbot sorts it out! ---
**Author:** ![sovon](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/sovon/32/172691_2.png) [@sovon](https://onehack.st/u/sovon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/5 "2026-04-05T20:04:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tempo\_Khan](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/tempo_khan/32/76599_2.png) [@Tempo\_Khan](https://onehack.st/u/Tempo_Khan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/6 "2026-05-07T16:28:18Z")
### Quick Fixes (Try in This Order) 1. **Run Setup as Administrator + Compatibility Mode** 2. **Disable Antivirus / Windows Defender Completely** 3. **Clean Previous Adobe Traces (Very Important)** 4. **Other Common Solutions** 5. **If Installer Still Fails** **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. ---
**Author:** ![Prometheus](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/prometheus/32/34950_2.png) [@Prometheus](https://onehack.st/u/Prometheus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/7 "2026-07-08T13:48:08Z")
# 🎯 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. * * * ![image](https://onehack.st/uploads/default/original/3X/7/f/7f6cbd38b9d3414b9da1908578a55199a8bd5691.jpeg) * * * 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: > > ```auto > 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](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](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/](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)`: > > - **195** → payload extraction died. Install **MSXML 6** + **VC++ 2013/2015 Redist**. Full trace: [https://community.adobe.com/t5/enterprise-teams-discussions/can-t-install-creative-cloud-package-quot-the-hdpim-setup-process-return-code-is-195-quot/td-p/11588685](https://community.adobe.com/t5/enterprise-teams-discussions/can-t-install-creative-cloud-package-quot-the-hdpim-setup-process-return-code-is-195-quot/td-p/11588685) > - **127** → dependency snapped. Nuke first with CC Cleaner: [https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/download-failure/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/download-failure/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html) > - **182** → precheck script crashed. Run as admin from `C:\PS\` — no spaces, no non-ASCII in path. > - **42 / 72** → cert validation failed: [https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/Error-code-42-or-72-when-installing-or-updating-Creative-Cloud-desktop-app.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/Error-code-42-or-72-when-installing-or-updating-Creative-Cloud-desktop-app.html) > > Full Adobe download/install log troubleshooter: [https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/troubleshoot-download-install-logs.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/troubleshoot-download-install-logs.html) > **🚀 Skip the bootstrapper — build clean installer from Adobe's own CDN** > > - **adobe-packager** — Python script, pulls raw payloads from Adobe’s CDN, stitches into a normal installer, zero HDPIM: [https://github.com/Drovosek01/adobe-packager](https://github.com/Drovosek01/adobe-packager) > - **CC Offline Package Generator** — adobe-packager wrapped in a GUI: [https://github.com/chriswayg/CC-Offline-Package-Generator](https://github.com/chriswayg/CC-Offline-Package-Generator) > - **Internet Archive terminal PS 2020 build** (v21.2.9.67 x64, verified clean): [https://archive.org/details/adobe-photoshop-2020-v-21.2.9.67-x-64\_202206](https://archive.org/details/adobe-photoshop-2020-v-21.2.9.67-x-64_202206) > - **ProDesignTools direct Adobe CDN URL directory** (kept accurate for years): [https://prodesigntools.com/creative-cloud-2020-direct-download-links.html](https://prodesigntools.com/creative-cloud-2020-direct-download-links.html) > **🔇 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](https://github.com/Ruddernation-Designs/Adobe-URL-Block-List) > > Alt maintained fork: [https://github.com/ethanaicode/Adobe-Block-Hosts-List](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): > > - **m0nkrus main Telegram** (primary source, verify SHA against channel post): [https://t.me/m0nkrus](https://t.me/m0nkrus) > - **m0nkrus rutracker canonical thread** : [http://rutracker.org/tracker.php?pid=1334502](http://rutracker.org/tracker.php?pid=1334502) > - **m0nkrus-adobe-tracker** — desktop app that watches for updates + hands you magnet links: [https://github.com/djkato/m0nkrus-adobe-tracker](https://github.com/djkato/m0nkrus-adobe-tracker) > - **GenP CI-built with SHA-verified releases** (build-your-own patcher route): [https://github.com/TheMythologist/GenP](https://github.com/TheMythologist/GenP) > - **dbzer0 wiki** — post-Reddit-ban knowledge base, canonical GenP + Monkrus guide: [https://wiki.dbzer0.com/genp-guides/](https://wiki.dbzer0.com/genp-guides/) > - **AppNee GenP archive** (secondary mirror): [https://appnee.com/genp/](https://appnee.com/genp/) > **🗺️ 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. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/system/32/165705_2.png) [@system](https://onehack.st/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/i-trying-to-install-with-win-10/318477/8 "2026-07-08T13:48:27Z")
> [@Prometheus](#): > > 🎯 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 fe… **📈 The Core-Community strengthened the reply above with AI.**