After Mavericks has been installed it needs Java Runtime version 6 to be installed in order to run older versions of Adobe CS and some other programs.

Java for OS X 2013-005

You can download it from Apple's site here : http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572

I normally get this pop-up and am surprised you did not get it :

I am having major problems activating CS4 on my new laptop with Mavericks. Can anyone help me?

I did get the Java prompt and, just to be sure, I went to the link posted above and did it again. I migrated to Mavericks using the Migration Assistant from a Time Machine Backup. Then when I open the CS4 programs I get Error: 150:30 (specific detailed message below). I looked on forums and discovered I needed to deactivate CS4 on the old laptop. I did this but still get the error. (Also, I am still able to open CS4 programs on the old laptop even though I successfully deactivated them). Fortunately I still have my installation discs (which I can't say the same for my Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, which I will have to buy again I guess?).

Here's the message I get when opening CS4 programs on new laptop:

Licensing for this product has stopped working.

This product 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 your IT administrator or Adobe technical support for help, and mention the error code shown at the bottom of the screen.

Error: 150:30

I restarted and shut down multiple times and still no go.

- Heidi

Also, I am a bit afraid to uninstall and reinstall as a solution because when I put the disc in it doesn't go to an installation screen, just shows Documents and Goodies folders. I don't remember this from the original install I did on the old laptop, just remember it being really straightforward like any other program installation. The first disc I am putting in says 'Content'. Will I still be able to install from the discs on Mavericks? Wish I tried this first now before migrating.

- Heidi

@ Heidi

Since no one has any suggestions, in your place, I would contact Adobe with the error messages and they will point you in the right direction to solve your licensing issues. FWIW I run my CS3 installation from another drive with Snow Leopard on it since I do not want Java installed on my main Mavericks installation. But I am an occasional and casual user so this works fine for me.

For your info, it is generally better to start a new thread as many people don't look at old threads and your question may go unanswered by people with experience to help you.

Good luck

Thanks - I did that last night and have solved the problem.

cheers,

Heidi

I had a somewhat similar problem on my new MacBook Pro which I was able to resolve by restoring a missing preference folder in the System Library.

As background I migrated my files from an older MacBook Pro running OS X Lion (10.7.5) to a new MacBook Pro runing OS X Mavericks (10.9.1).  I used the Apple supplied utility, Migration Assistant.  I migrated using a Time Machine backup of the old machine.  All Adobe CS4 programs transferred during the migration.

When I tried to start PS4 on the new machine I received the same:  "Error: Licensing has stopped working" message mentioned in the original post.

Adobe has a post: Error "Licensing has stopped working" | Mac OS which outlines a series of procedures to restore this function. Note the second step describes executing a terminal "sudo" command to use with 10.7, which is a powerful command which I am leery of using on 10.9 without Adobe direction.

BUT I didn't need to go to step 2 in the procedures.  The first step says:

Solution 1: Delete the FlexNet Publisher preferences folder

-  Quit all Adobe applications.

Thank you SO much, this totally worked!

yay!

What totally worked please? I am going up the wall trying to get CS4 to work on my new iMac.

This is what I posted on the Adobe forum:

I have just bought a new iMac running Mavericks and used Migration Assistant to migrate from my old iMac. (I have done this twice!!) Since then I am unable to use CS4 on my new iMac. It asks for my serial number which I type in but keep getting a big red X next to it :-(

I have deactivated CS4 from my old iMac including deleting the serial number.

I have downloaded and installed Java for OSX

I have followed the solutions 1 and 2 on http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/error-licensing-stopped-mac- os.html

Solution 1 achieved nothing (there was no FlexNet folder in my library or anywhere else on my computer)

Solution 2 suggested downloading the Adobe Licensing Repair Tool but the LicenseRecovery111.dmg folder was not recognised so wouldn't open so that isn't very helpful!

Solution 3 suggests repairing disk permissions - as this is a brand new download of Mavericks I have not tried that yet

Solution 4 suggests resetting permissions on the FlexNet Publisher licensing service folder (Solution 1 suggested deleting this from the Library/Preferences folder and yet it is now apparently in the Library/Application Support folder!!)

Solution 5 suggests resetting the permissions on the Adobe PCD folder - there isn't one on either the new or the old iMac!

Solution 6 suggests deleting the cache.db-journal in the Adobe PCD folder - see above

Solution 7 suggests re-formatting the drive to a file system that isn't case sensitive!!!!! Not really inclined to do that

Solution 8 - reinstall - new iMac does not have a DVD drive so how so I do that? Presumably it won't solve the issue in Solution 7 anyway?

Solution 9 - contact Adobe support - I did that and spent some time on chat with them only to be told that I didn't qualify for their help and to go to the forums

I have trawled through the forums and tried various suggested fixes but no luck.

Did you try the following from my post above?  I didn't see it in the solutions you listed.

On my new machine there was no "FlexNet Publisher" folder in the preferences folder!  I checked the old machine and the folder was present.  I moved a copy of the folder from the old machine to the [hard drive}/Library/Preferences/ folder on the new machine and now PS4 loaded without problem!

I have tried other CS4 apps and they all come up without a problem.  I don't know why the folder wasn't moved by the Apple Migration Assistant Utility.  The "FlexNet Publisher" folder was in the Time Machine backup but Migration Assistant didn't move it.

.....

Note that the referenced folder is in the top level system library not the user library.  Did you check your old machine to see if FexNet Publisher is on your old computer?  In my case Migration Assistant didn't move the folder when I migrated.  I manually moved the folder and it worked like a champ.

I had no FlexNet folder either, I did the same thing - copied one from another machine and miraculously, my CS4 applications are opening flawlessly now. Thanks, Garrett!

A million thank-you's to you, Garrett!!!! I wasted a long long time on the phone with Adobe with this problem, reinstalled Photoshop which  failed to fix the problem and was then told to run a piece of outdated software that does not run on anything other than "power pc's"! This simple folder replacement from my original (and thankfully still running) old iMac to my new (and buggy) iMac fixed this problem!!

I will keep a copy of this FlexNet Publisher folder on a jump drive with me at all times! Adobe was quite frank that they were not going to support CS4 on Mavericks.

Thanks again Garrett!

WHAT DIDN'T WORK:

• I installed the Java Runtime v 6. Didn't work for me.
• I also didn't have a FlexNet Publisher folder. So no luck there.

WHAT WORKED FOR ME:

1. Download the Adobe Licensing Repair Tool (at the bottom of the page).
2. Open LicenseRecovery111.dmg. DO NOT try and run LicenseRecovery.app within the dmg file. Nothing will happen.
3. Open the Terminal application (on your computer in Applications/Utiities/Terminal).
4. Enter the following into Terminal (and note that the spaces in the command are necessary):
   sudo python /Volumes/LicenseRecovery\ 11.6.1/LicenseRecovery/LicenseRecover.py
5. From there, follow the prompts to select a language and begin the program (entering n for no).

Source: Erik P. Hansen's blog

Garrett Jackson's solution worked perfectly for me...thanks so much!