Windows 11 can't properly run Adobe CS4, even after looking up solutions

(TL;DR at the very bottom)

Hi.

After an array of computers that just won't work properly, I have went about my first day of using a desktop computer re-setting up everything that comes to software, along with uninstalling programs that I don't want, like OneDrive. I have very few programs that I use, whether it be for personal use or anything else. These programs include (but aren't limited to): FL Studio 2024, Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 (2005), Audacity 2.3.X (c. 2019), iTunes 7 (2006), and last but definitely most importantly, Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 (both 2008).

For a little bit more context, for the past few days at that, I have been using a Lenovo ThinkCentre (or however it's spelled). I could care less about what model it is, considering I know very well my issue isn't exactly hardware-related. What should be noted, however, is that it only has 3 drives installed: 2 storage drives (C: and D:), and 1 optical media drives (E:). This will become handy later.

You might be questioning why I put the years on the software listed specifically, and my answer to that is because I find it baffling that, of all things, software older than the ones having problems with Windows 11 still work in their native form, even without turning on Compatibility Mode(s).

Everything else on the program list installed just fine. No issues or strings attached to one another. Exactly working as if I was still using Windows 10 on an underpowered Dell laptop. However, I noticed a few things that arised during my installations and usage of both Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Adobe Premiere Pro CS4:

• After installing Photoshop CS4, every .zip file I try opening crashes File Explorer, and inevitably restarts itself for no reason whatsoever. I even reinstalled it without Drive CS4, and the problem persisted.
• After installing Premiere Pro CS4, I can't mount .iso files. It also pops up specific errors about PxHlpa64.sys during the installation process. From what I've gathered, this is part of a leftover driver for a Roxio product, which would make sense for something like Premiere Pro.

My solution was to delete some values in certain Registry Editor locations, as apparently those were installed because of Photoshop CS4. The same can be said for Premiere Pro CS4. Did it help me at all? No. It made it worse, because right when I restart my system, Windows decides it wants to "prepare automatic repairs" for something that shouldn't need repairing in the first place. I could be dead wrong, but these specific values and entries weren't even pre-installed by Windows, so deleting them shouldn't be a problem whatsoever.

One error that I have seen ocassionally pop up on the Automatic Repair screen was F:/Windows/System32/LogFiles/Srt/SrtTrail.txt. In the past, I have received this error on my first computer with the C: Drive. Of course, I knew very well that computer was just long gone. Yet, there was something about this error specifically that threw me off: the fact that it was in the F: Drive. I would assume this is just Windows' way of pointing out it has a virtual drive for mounting ISOs, but Windows is never installed on this drive. In fact, nothing is at all.

The only real reason I'm able to type right here with the computer now is because I have local re-installed Windows on here for about the upteenth time in a row, and I have yet to re-install all of my other software.

There really isn't a whole lot I learned in my life, and I still haven't learned too much today. Yet, somehow, through the use of time-crunching trial and error, I have reached a conclusion as simple as "Too much butter can kill a snail.", and if you read the title once or twice (maybe even skimmed it), you might've already guessed what my problem is to begin with.

And, maybe my problem has nothing to do with this. Who knows? It could be caused by gremlins who like to chew on cables of all things.

I look forward to practically any responses at this point, even if it's something braindead that goes along the lines of "Have you tried not using old software for once and tried asking out someone of female specimen, Ross?", or even "I don't care about your computer problems! I ain't reading all that."

Sincerely,

Ross D. Moss

For those looking for a TL;DR, I'll try to summarize this whole mess as much as I can: the Adobe CS4 suite of software has problems on Windows 11 specifically, where drivers aren't recognized, and folders installed from said software-s caused File Explorer to crash, mainly from trying to opening .zip files using the default archiver provided with Windows. This isn't exactly the most explicit TL;DR you'll get, but I'd recommend reading everything else. You'll get a kick out of it.