# Finding old versions of Commercial Software **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647 "2005-09-14T18:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/1 "2005-09-14T18:59:36Z")
Not sure if this is the right section for this question… if it isn’t, I apologize… My g/f is looking for a copy of Adobe Photoshop 5.0 for windows. She has a few old computers and this is the only version that will run on them. I’m getting her a new (modern) computer with the latest version of Photoshop for Xmas this year, but she needs to find something in the meantime… I’ve done a lot of searching online, but either I can’t find that old of a version, or the sites I’ve found seem suspicious. I’m watching a few eBay auctions - those may end up being “the way to go”… I’m wondering if there are any reputable sellers of older versions of software? All suggestions are appreciated… ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/2 "2005-09-14T19:27:59Z")
GIMP may run on older machines, and AFAIK, can read PS file formats. Plus it’s free. The downside would be a somewhat different interface, and I’m not how well it exports to PS formats. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/3 "2005-09-14T19:29:06Z")
not SURE how well, that is ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/4 "2005-09-15T02:08:53Z")
I’ve gotten several things from [Oldversion](http://www.oldversion.com/) but they don’t seem to have photoshop on their table of contents. Check out the [“requests” forum](http://www.oldversion.com/talk/forumdisplay.php?f=7) on their message board; there is a photoshop thread that’s nine pages long. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/5 "2005-09-15T20:03:08Z")
No luck there…mostly people looking for warez… I’m looking for a legit copy. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/6 "2005-09-15T22:29:23Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > No luck there…mostly people looking for warez… > > I’m looking for a legit copy. Try [Recycled Software](http://recycledsoftware.com/). I didn’t see Photoshop in their list, by you can contact them directly and double check. And there might be something else suitable there. All the software there is legit. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/7 "2005-09-16T02:47:12Z")
Timely thread - I need a copy of Lotus Notes - don’t need a recent version… ---
**Author:** ![citybadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@citybadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/citybadger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/8 "2005-09-16T02:55:25Z")
If you buy the latest version but then run an older version, I certainly wouldn’t have an ethical problem with it and I doubt many software publishers would either. The licenses for Microsoft Office and Windows XP Pro allow you do exactly that I used to purchase computers with Windows XP licenses but Windows 2000 pre-installed. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-old-versions-of-commercial-software/321647/9 "2005-09-16T03:04:06Z")
Has she tried some of the local schools? I am amazed at some of the ancient software that is always showing up in the staff lounge’s “Free to a Good Home” box.