Need to delete 'programs' that are said to be running but aren't

I am trying to reinstall Adobe Creative Suite 2 (CS2) within Win 7 using the special routine devised by Adobe. I had been sailing along continuing to use CS2 (first released in 2003) when a message popped up two days ago saying that because activation was now closed I had to uninstall the suite and reinstall it with special files that had been provided by the company (back in 2013). I could no longer ignore Adobe.

I have tried to install the whole suite using the supplied files but there are a few problems within Photoshop at least. So I have uninstalled the suite several times and tried again without full success. My latest try has stalled as it is said that a program is already running. I am now trying to use a Win 7 compatibility setting in the setup files to see if this helps.

The general Windows 7 issue I am raising is how do I delete a leftover folder that seems to be preventing me from doing another reinstall. There is a folder called Adobe within Programs that contains just one subfolder entitled Adobe within which are two further subfolders that refer to Illustrator and Version Cue. Only the latter has anything in it. I have tried but I cannot delete the whole folder. How this folder is preventing the latest reinstall is a mystery to me, but I assume that this is what Adobe is talking about. There are no programs within CS2 that are running in the normal sense.

I very much hope that someone can help me with this. Previous installation attempts have been apparently successful but within Photoshop many image files (*.pdf and *.jpg) don't open properly. Often a box will pop up naming a filename but nothing is in the box. I haven't tried out Illustrator and InDesign.

Someone in Adobe Community says that I shouldn't be trying to run CS2 under Win 7, but this is misinformed. It is perfectly able to run it under Win 7. And it was doing so two days ago!

Layback Bear said:

Try removing the programs from Safe Mode. They probable are running in Safe Mode.

Thanks, LB. Safe Mode worked with the deletion.

However, when I now try to reinstall the suite I am told midway that the whole suite is already installed and I need to uninstall it before I can proceed. This is nonsense, of course, as I have removed every trace. The only explanation may be that I have tried to run the installation too many times. I, of course, already had it properly installed several days ago, but Adobe's interference has ruined all that. It is very poor when someone who has paid for very expensive software and has had a legitimate activation for years should have this happen.

Under normal circumstances, I could contact Adobe and seek help. But Adobe has washed its hands with old software and won't supply support. I don't want support related to the suite but simply in relation to the installation. I used to attend functions in Australia related to Adobe software regularly but it looks as if there is no local Adobe presence left.

just to tell you. maybe your programs are running in background and you can close from there.If you opened the program and it did not open then that means it is opened but doesn't start. Then all you have too do is log off quickly and turn on again. then do not open the program, just delete it.