Error: "Adobe Application Manager is needed"

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Issue: "Adobe Application Manager is needed" error

One of the following error messages occurs when you launch or use a Creative Suite 5 or CS5.5 product:

  • Adobe Application Manager is needed to update your product.
  • Adobe Application Manager is needed to start your trial.

Solutions

1. Install the AAM patch

The AAM patch installs the correct version of the Adobe Application Manager. Select the patch from your operating system below:

2. (Windows) Verify short filename paths

1. Determine whether short filenames are causing the problem.

  1. Launch a command prompt with administrator privileges.
    • Windows XP: Click Start > Run, type cmd, and press Enter.
    • Windows Vista/7: Click Start, type cmd in the Search field, and press Enter.
  2. Type fsutil behavior query disable8dot3 and press Enter.

2. Manually create short file paths

Important: Substitute <user_name> with your user name.  

  1. Log out of your current user account and log in to another Administrative account.
  2. Launch an administrative command prompt.
    • Windows XP: Click Start > Run, type cmd, and press Shift + Enter.
    • Windows Vista/7: Click Start, type cmd in the Search field, and press Shift + Enter. 
  3. Set short filenames.
    • Windows XP
    1. Type fsutil file setshortname "c:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\Local Settings" local~1 and press Enter.
    2. Type fsutil file setshortname "c:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\Local Settings\Application Data" applic~1 and press Enter.
    • Windows Vista/7
    1. Type fsutil behavior set disable8dot3 2 and press Enter.
    2. Type fsutil file setshortname "C:\Users\<user_name>" user~1 and press Enter.
  4. Log off from the current user and log in to your original user.
  5. Reinstall the Creative Suite 5 or CS5.5 product.

3. Install the Creative Suite 5 or CS5.5 product silently

Windows

  1. Using a command prompt, navigate to the folder containing the Set-up.exe file.  
  2. Open a command prompt with administrative privileges, or enter the command into the run/command line field within your deployment technology. 
  3. Type Set-up.exe --mode=silent and press Enter.

Mac OS X

Important: In a Terminal window, navigate to the folder containing the Install.app.

  1. Open a Terminal window or enter the command into the Unix command-line field within your deployment technology. 
  2. Type sudo Install.app/Contents/MacOS/Install --mode=silent  and press Return.
  3. Type your administrative password and press Return.

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