If you guys have the msi installer, use Wise InstallTailor to get an mst. Then download ang msi/mst editor to modify the mst and to remove the custom actions.

Just a suggestion. I haven't tried it myself. I've been busy recenly.

i just used the autoit script. works fine

Just create a MST with your changes and post it instead.
(It'll be smaller too.)

right,
sorry it took me so long but i was at school. i've attatched the edited msi. which doesn't prompt for activation. just replace the original and follow the instructions from the first post.

either
setup.exe /v/qb

(but remember that could cause problems because setup.exe closes almost as soon as it calls the msi and this means your script might move on before the install is finished)

or

"adobe photoshop cs2.msi" /qb

good luck

EDIT: it wont allow me to upload an msi so download from here:

www.mrmb.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/adobe photoshop cs2.msi

Thanks mrmb, works like a charm

Why not just use an mst? I'm just curious.

Thanks mrmb. It works. Great job buddy.

I wish there was a way to activate it silently though.

Me too, but seems this is the closest we get.

well cus i think an mst just sets options like parameters where as i had to actually remove a component from the msi. i don't actually know a great deal abot it and i was only stabbing in the dark when i tried editing the msi in the first place.

Actually, anything you edit on the msi can be done with an mst file. You can edit the mst to add registry entries, modify the public properties, remove a custom action, remove a component, etc. One more advantage of that is the file size is smaller compared to the msi, so it's easier to distribute.

I have nothing against editing msi's. I also do it myself. However, it's not the best practice. That's why they make mst's.

Adobe mentions how to make a 'silent install' on the support page...dont know if you want to go to the trouble.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/331297.html

Run a silent installation of Adobe Creative Suite 2.0


What's covered

Create an installer XML file

Run a silent installation



When you purchase a volume license for Adobe Creative Suite 2.0, Adobe provides an option that allows you to run a silent installation (that is, an installation with preselected options and no interface) on Windows or Mac OS X. In a silent installation, a custom installer runs the installers for each product in the suite by using command-line installation tools built into the operating system. To run a silent installation, you must create an XML file (or script) for the custom installer.

Any chance of an updated similar version of Adobe Illustrator CS2.msi?

Great find jroc.

However, there are some factors to consider.

1. This for Creative Suite. I'm not sure if the msi if the Photoshop CS2 supports xml files.
2. This is for the VL version (volume license).

A little bit off topic, but: which programs do (did) u use for editing MSIs?

Can you show us how you did it? I'd like to do the same with the illustrator cs2 msi file.

orca

InstallShield!

If only i had illustrator!

i was using some dodgy freeware msi editor (but it did the trick)

@mrmb

pls write some sort of guide. And then pm one of the moderators
to put your guide on the first post of this topic. So that people dont
have to go through 3 pages.

provide the files u hv them.

thanks!

A guide would be GREAT if you can make one!

indeed it would

All you need to do is remove the custom action in the execute sequence.

Remove this:
CA_ActivationCheckLicense

You can try deleting this also: (not sure if this is necessary)
CA_ActivationCheckProductActivationStatus

Here is my MST file. I removed the CA_ActivationCheckLicense custom action.

This should work on the RETAIL version. Not sure if it will work on the trial because I think they use different MSI's.



EDIT: The only difference between the trial and the retail msi is the UNITYSECTION. Therefore, this should work with the trial as well.

I made this for those who don't have fast internet connection. 5kb is way much easier to download compared to 5mb.

EDIT2: File attached again.

I edited the MSI file directly to remove CA_ActivationCheckLicense from the CustomAction section of the MSI as per totoymola's suggestion above. I used Orca to do this.

About to test now. Stay tuned for the feedback...

Please post your results.

See below for result. That's the most descriptive error message ever.

Any ideas?

that's weird.. try /qr

what did you do? how did you edit the msi?

I edited the MSI by using Orca. All I did was remove that one line called CA_ActivationCheckLicense from the CustomAction section as you suggested we do, and resaved the file.

Interestingly enough, I get the same result with mrmb's posted MSI. It could be a problem with my setup though. I'm testing in Virtual PC 2004 (w/o SP1). It's NOT a clean install. I've had Photoshop CS installed previously and recently uninstalled it to see if I can get Photoshop CS2 to install silently. Stay tuned for more meaningful results.

Also, when I open up mrmb's MSI, I noticed that he did NOT remove CA_ActivationCheckLicense, which makes me more curious as to what changes he made, if in fact his MSI works on others' systems.

Sorry but I can't really help you on that because I don't use Orca.

He removed that for sure, because that is the custom action that triggers the activation window. Well, there are other possible ways to disable that. Maybe he didn't remove the action, but he changed the condition so it will not be called. Or maybe he didn't remove it from the table, but he removed it in the execute sequence.

I have zero experience with editing MSI's, so got no clue what he did. I've been messing with Orca a total of about 2 hours. As an added note, I tried using /qr when installing, and I got further than before. At least the install started this time. Instead though, I end up with it asking me if I want to open the readme file, and then upon trying to launch Photoshop, it says the serial number provided isn't valid (or something to that effect), which is probably normal since I never provided one in the Abcpy.ini file. No sign of any activation wizard yet either.

This is what I did.

First, I entered my license number in the INI file, then ran this command.

start /w "Adobe Photoshop CS2.msi" transforms="Adobe Photoshop CS2.mst" /qb!-
I didn't run all the other msi's because I'm only concerned about the activation window. Luckily, it didn't show up because of the transform file. But I have to do a test again, on a clean system.

lol...I hate it when that happens!

I'm in the process of creating a fresh install of XP. Will update again later tonight after I try some stuff out.

I attached the MST again. I tried it on my current system twice without any problem.

orustom, instead of editing the msi directly, try using the mst. I'm not familiar with Orca, but if you remove the custom action, you have to remove it to the sequence also. And should not delete it from the binary table. (If I'm not mistaken, it's under binary24) That's probably why you're getting an error.

The target of CA_ActivationCheckLicense is CallALMCheckLicense. That is the activation window. The custom action CA_ActivationCheckProductActivationStatus is also under binary24, that's why I thought you have to remove it also.

I download his msi so I can give you a good answer to you question.



In short, we are going on the same direction. He also removed the custom action like what I did.

I hope this answers your question.

Wait, if you already have his modified msi, why do you have to make a new one?


mrmb, I think you should compress your msi (with winrar) to save bandwidth.
Uncompressed - 4.85 MB (5,091,328 bytes)
Compressed - 1.09 MB (1,145,971 bytes)

Thanks for the info. I'll post some results tomorrow evening. Gotta get to bed before I pass out on my keyboard.

wow you guys rock. i havvent replayd in this topic because i got banned without a reason.

ive tried your solution with Wise Package Studio, and search the msi script for CA_ActivationCheckLicense. I've removed that line (in total 3 in a row) and then run the installation (setup.exe /v/qb!). It really went sillently and i want to thank you all for helping me and many others with this problem.

greetz Astie

Oh.. I'm sorry to hear that.. Well at least you're not banned anymore.

I'm glad it's working for you.

@ totoymola: I tried using your MST file on a clean install using the original unmodified MSI file, and it works perfectly - no activation window!

Of course the activation window DOES come up when I first start Photoshop after it's installed. The registration window also comes up the first time it's started. Any idea how to get rid of both of these? That would be the next step. My guess is its some form of registry edit....

Edit: OK, so I used Regshot to take a snapshot of the registry before and after doing the activation, and I saved the differences in a .reg file. Now to try it out from scratch on a clean install. Stay tuned!

Edit 2: Well, for whatever reason the registry edit didn't work. The .reg file I made was refusing to integrate into the registry using a simple double-click, so I had to cut back one key at a time until I determined that the keys that could not be updated were all in the following branch:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_ADOBE_LM_SERVICE]

So using a .reg file that was missing that branch did not disable activation.

http://rapidshare.de/files/1655029/PhotoshopMSI_MST.exe.html


msi w/ mst together in one file.

Notes: on using Rapidshare. click free, wait 30 seconds, downlaod file.

This might help you guys :

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/331261.html

Tried the MSI just now and thanks a lot for all your work on the unattended the fact that it now installs without the activation screen appearing is enough for me and i hope this makes your work that little bit nicer!

Thanks Everyone!

Discussion Removed.

Looks interesting couldnt you just create a couple of variables, place the desired data such as activation code, serial etc and use the script to activate the software using the code instead of using that generator which in theory would give you endless posibilities.

Sorry not that familiar with AutoIt so if my suggestion is so noobie then just disregard it

Discussion Removed.

About the activation, we have to keep track of the file that is created when we activate. It can be a file(s), registry entry(s), or both. Just like the Adobe Acrobat Professional.

here is the activation file located for every user of your pc. its a .dat file.

Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe Systems\Product licenses

Sweet. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Gonna have to try copying over this file along with the registry changes and see what happens.

Can we modify that to activate Creative instead of only Photoshop?

@ totoymola: Is it possible for you to make us an Illustrator CS2 MST file as well?

I will try tomorrow. I can't do it now because I'm studying for my test.