The promise of Windows 10 S is that it provides a more secure environment by restricting users to apps downloaded from the Windows Store. Unfortunately, that also leaves users without any alternatives when an app is hit with a nasty bug that prevents it from running, as has been the case for Adobe Photoshop Elements 15.
Thankfully, Adobe has now provided a workaround for the issue (via Paul Thurrott), and it involves a pretty simple process. All you have to do is create a few folders with the correct names, and you should be good to go. Here's a look at the steps involved:
- Navigate to the ProgramData folder in your installation directory. For example, if your installation directory is C then navigate to C:\ProgramData. (If you can't find the location, probably the ProgramData folder is hidden on your computer. To show hidden files and folders, see Show hidden files.)
- Create a new folder and name it Adobe.
- Create a new folder inside Adobe and name it Elements Organizer.
- Create a new folder inside Elements Organizer and name it 15.0
- The folder structure should be C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\15.0
- Launch Photoshop Elements 15.
It's not exactly clear why Adobe isn't currently able to fix the issue without action on the user's part, but Windows 10 S users willing to get their hands dirty will finally be able to actually use the app. Hopefully an official fix from Adobe will land soon for those who might not think to dig into Adobe's help articles.
