Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

I have Lightroom 5, the original purchased disc. I've been fine with it, it does what I need, so please don't get into the reasons to go for the subscription LR.

When I opened the program a week ago it had automatically been upgraded to LR 6. Odd. Editing in LR 6 was a disaster. I had to repeatedly go back to Library mode for exporting or removing photos, it would just hang up and need to be restarted, etc.

My first thought of course, was to ask the you folks if you had any ideas about this. Then my second thought was that you'd tell me to call Adobe. I chose the latter.

I got a young woman who spent about 35 minutes online, taking over my system and doing a lot of updating to the Adobe end of things. I guess the "automatic" move to LR 6 wasn't completely accomplished. Things are working smoothly now. But, she never gave a clear reason why the upgrade happened.

So, I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this "automatic" upgrade? I haven't investigated the changes from 5 to 6. Five has been fine for my purposes but maybe I'll find some nice surprises...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

What you've described shouldn't have happened. Since none of us here were there to watch the event, we're all total dependent on what you're able to describe. One way to help clarify is to now go into LR and select the Help / About menu. Ideally, you can capture a screen print of the details. At a minimum, please specify the LR version and the Camera RAW version the software is reporting, like the capture below.

One of the issues in modern computers is security. Another issue is software licensing. Adobe has / had some third-party software integrated into their Lightroom software that presented some licensing issues between Adobe and these other companies. To try to resolve, Adobe sent letters a few years ago to all their old customers saying they couldn't continue to use this old software. Adobe didn't elaborate why nor even what to do to replace the old software. I'm sure most individuals just ignored the issue. I did.

In terms of security, what was 'good enough' in the past typically presents significant vulnerabilities to the hackers in the present. Therefore, as a company, you don't run old software, exposing you, your computers, and your company to a hacking risk, giving all the risks you have in just your current software. So, you turn off old software on your servers, such as turning off the type of software that would automatically 'respond' to upgrade requests from customers still running circa 2015 LR5 installations.

You had until about March 2018 to pay the $89 USD to upgrade from the old LR5 to the still old and final standalone LR6. Given all the background above, it sounds rather odd in June 2021 that anyone from Adobe would help you get to LR6 without a payment, and it sounds even odder that Adobe would let you 'upgrade' to an unsupported software version with no payment at all.

The requested screen capture:

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Assuming you come back to report you are now running LR v6.14, just like I do today, the possibility exists that you did actually purchase the LR6 upgrade around 2017ish, that purchase was reflected in your customer profile on Adobe.com, and the technical specialist you reached on the phone worked-out whatever issues that LR6 software had encountered while being installed, a problem that might have existed for years before finally being exposed.

After 3-years of working in LR6 after 3yrs in LR5, the only 'obvious' difference I remember noting is the behavior in cloning / masking in Spot Removal. I don't have the old software to put words into it, but the LR6 performance is better, or at the minimum, different. Assuming your software reports v6.14, you picked up another 3-years of camera RAW support and lens profiles, but you're still only seeing equipment that existed up until Dec 2017.

Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

Paul,

Thanks for the comprehensive reply. After the auto upgrade, according to the system information, I had version 6.0. Then, after the Adobe support I now have 6.14 like you and Camera RAW 10.1. I couldn't manage a screen capture, but my info is the same as what you posted, including the 2007 - 2017 statement. I'm pretty certain I didn't purchase any LR 6 upgrade.

The first part of your reply makes me wonder about the vulnerability of my system. This was a good "invasion" but most are not. I have Windows 10 and rely on their security and that of my Internet provider. I was told by the IT folks at my former job that these would suffice. ??

One last question, I was so frustrated before the Adobe fix, that I just wanted to reinstall LR 5 from the disk. I don't depend on the LR cataloguing (move photos to a different program). Would this have worked or would there have been some internal conflict with the upgrade trying to fight the LR5 reinstall?

Thanks for your input on this...

Sandi

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Without having direct access to your computer or being able to ask the Adobe tech, it's hard to say what happened. If they got you to v6.14, that's the best situation, certainly better than futzing around with v5. A problem with v5 is the same as v6, that is: there were a number of point-updates from the original v5.0 as available on disk or for download. That final install file that (I think) took you v5 to v5.7.1 is not readily available. For a while, say as recently as 2019, Adobe had posted all the final install files on their website for all original software, such as LR v3, v4, v5, and v6. There wasn't a 'time limit', but if you missed the chance to grab these files to match to your purchased licenses keys, by 2021, all these files had been removed by Adobe.

So, unless you had your own saved copy of the final v5 update, you'd likely encounter a problem or degradation of performance by dropping back to a CD-install of v5.

Regarding vulnerable risks of old software, this is a generally true statement that may / may not apply to specific software titles and versions. The LR6 software has ZERO dependency on the internet, especially with the final v6.14 install. You can go into the Edit / Preferences / General and turn off the automatic check for updates. Software that never talks to the internet has the least likelihood of having a problem via malicious corruption.

Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

More very helpful information. I do have the original V 5.0 CD so if worse came to worse, I could always go to it, I guess. I hope I don't have to mess around with this any further.

Also, good point about unchecking automatic check for updates. I'll do it as I don't imagine Adobe will be sending me any more freebees!

Thanks again...

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You might visit your 'order history' for your Adobe account. I have LR5, PSE10 and a general LR in my profile. I know from the date and price, this 'general LR' is the LR6 upgrade. The purchases listed in your order history might explain when and how LR6 got onto your equipment. Having Adobe remote into your machine and set-up LR6 still should map to a purchase of that upgrade in your order history.

I also note for every purchase in my history there is an Order number containing a link to my serial number and to the download install files. I mentioned earlier needing the 'final' install file for the software, not the original. If you right-click the appropriate download links, you can 'save as' these files into your back archives to have handy to recover your software after some potential disaster in the future. You need the install file and the serial number, else you have to remember how to navigate back to these links in the future, assuming Adobe keeps them in your Order history.

My LR6 upgrade depends on both the original LR5 and the LR6 upgrade. Save both these files if your Order history is similar. I've rebuilt my laptop twice now in the past 2 months so I'm rather familiar with the Adobe install process, more so than I was maybe 3 months ago.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's really weird, especially getting an upgrade to LR6. Updates to LR 6 ended a long time ago, so I'd be suspicious of whatever was put onto your computer, especially since it doesn't work.

Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

I found my order history. There's just one purchase for LR 5 in 2017. That sounds rather recent, but that's what it says, with the order number. Then it lists LR 6 with no date, all under the same order number. I've saved the Windows .exe file. This would install it again if I ever needed to? Or, it would be proof to Adobe that I am legitimately entitled to install it again? This is certainly giving me an education!

Order history
Order xxxxxx
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
ITEM SERIALS PLATFORM
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxxx-xxxx Mac/Win
Photoshop Lightroom 6 Mac Download .dmg
Photoshop Lightroom 6 Windows Download .exe

Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

Jerry,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it's entirely weird and triggers suspicion on my end. But the fact that this woman from Adobe spent so much time with me and got my LR 6 running properly... sounds like I was the recipient of a very fortuitous quirk on their part.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Who knows. The software would be updated every 2 or 3 years, I forget the exact details from 4+ years ago. It might have been every 2 ish years with some overlap when you could buy both. The second half of 2017 would only have been LR6 as LR5 was discontinued in late 2015. To "say" LR5 would seem not possible with a 2017 purchase date, but we have no way to go back in time and see the history inside the Adobe records.

Either way, the details of your Adobe account say LR6, and that's why Adobe was willing to help you, because of those purchase details in your account.

Siena Loc: Rocky Hill, CT

At this point, I'll leave well enough alone. Adobe offered good support and you've been incredibly helpful. It all looks good.

Again, many thanks!

Sandi

PS. I visited a cousin in Chicago in 2019. First time there and I loved it. Beautiful city and lovely folks!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks, glad to help. I'm a big believer in LR and especially LR6 for those who purchased it back when there still was a chance. I haven't been out of Chicago now since 2019 so it's about all the images I have to share of late ...