Adobe Space Monkey
Posted by Sam at 2:44 PM

It's no secret to anyone that my favorite Adobe application is the powerful and feature-rich Adobe Space Monkey. Yes, Space Monkey is the graphic designer's best friend. With Space Monkey, I can...

Wait a minute. Space Monkey!? What the bloodclot is Adobe Space Monkey? And furthermore, why is it launching when I attempt to run Photoshop?

Ok... so here's the truth: I'll admit it. I was mucking about in some of the Adobe preference files. And yes, I did move a few of those files around. And yes, my intentions were less than pure. But what in the fiery pits of hell is Adobe Space Monkey?

My best guess is that those crazy programmers over there at Adobe Systems Incorporated have a crafty sense of humor. In an effort to thwart mucking about in places where one should not muck, they have inserted this safety feature that loads Space Monkey as punishment.

Ha ha ha... very funny. Now where's my Photoshop?

Comments: 29 | Post a Comment | Permalink

Space Monkey was, apparently, the codename of Potatoshop CS2(9.0). Dunno what happened on your machine, but it seems that your mucking aboot has unleashed the beta beast.

I have no fix for you yet. Or for Space Monkey.

Comment By  Blackwatch on July 19, 2005 8:12 AM

maybe try this

goto library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Registration Database.

find your CS 2 install and find each instance of something called EPIC_SERIAL=

you will see a number following and enter your serial number after each instance.

save the file. hopefully it works. you might get the adobe activation screen. if so enter the info and you are good as gold. post here whether or not it works

Comment By  Anonymous on August 14, 2005 1:31 AM

Well, I just ended up reinstalling. But I took a look at that file. Did it work for you? Seems like a pretty solid solution.

Comment By  Sam on August 16, 2005 11:04 PM

It's an alternate splash screen for CS2. You can see the splash and alternate splash screens for all of the versions of Photoshop here:

http://photoshopnews.com/feature-stories/photoshop-splash-screens

Comment By  Anonymous on August 19, 2005 1:48 PM

p.s.: You can find the alternate splash screens by doing the following:

From Photoshop, click the Photoshop menu then hold down the Command (Apple) and Option keys and click "About Photoshop".
Enjoy Adobe SpaceMonkey.
(Only tried on Mac OS X Version.)

Hidden graphics are fun.

Comment By  Anonymous on August 19, 2005 1:51 PM

I started the installer from the cd looking for the Goodies folder, so I could get some plugins, realizing it was a different cd after I got to the serial screen, I quit, which ruined my install. Editing that File (library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Registration Database) solved it, it had just gotten rid of my organization name.

Comment By  Anonymous on October 05, 2005 5:19 PM

When Space Monkey came up a window said my user name or registration was invalid. My name was not above the serial # on the Space Monkey screen. I went to(Libary/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Registration Database) and each instance with EPIC NAME= I put my name like the others. Two were blank I type in my name in the blank space now it works fine.

Comment By  Anonymous on October 11, 2005 8:11 PM

It just happened to me today and adding something after the EPIC NAME= fix it, but what happens? I didn't do anything on the Photoshop side. Is Photoshop detected I have installed Gimp yesterday and angry about me?

Comment By  Anonymous on December 03, 2005 12:03 AM

Well, I just cracked a cd from the university—and all I can do is cry and download the tryoutversion. What about that! Any other suggestions are more than welcome...

Comment By  Alex on March 13, 2006 3:44 PM

I now have this appereance:

[{236BB7C4-4419-42FD-0409-1E257A25E34D}]
EPIC_APP=Adobe Photoshop CS2
EPIC_VERSION=9.0.0
EPIC_ORG=Photoshop
EPIC_NAME=Photoshop
EPIC_SERIAL=104504369551026659849386

But it dont work. I tryed to change EPIC_NAME but nothing.
Please help. I need photoshop urgent. Thanks.

I hope it isnt bed that I copied my file content.

Comment By  mrki on May 05, 2006 9:40 AM

I now have this appereance:

[{236BB7C4-4419-42FD-0409-1E257A25E34D}]
EPIC_APP=Adobe Photoshop CS2
EPIC_VERSION=9.0.0
EPIC_ORG=Photoshop
EPIC_NAME=Photoshop
EPIC_SERIAL=104504369551026659849386

I tryed to change name but nothing.
Please help.
Thanks

Comment By  Anonymous on May 05, 2006 9:41 AM

sorry for double-post, it said that link is down.
please help no matter what ;)

Thanks

Comment By  Anonymous on May 05, 2006 9:42 AM

i was wondering if someone amazing can save me, my photoshop cs2 wont open and is saying "user name, organization or serial number is missing or invalid" . I went to Adobe Registration Database and two Epic Names were missing i filled them in but it didnt work. i am a student and desperate for photoshop as deadline is in 5 days, i have a disc to reinstall photoshop, can i just uninstall photoshop and reinstall it, or do i have to uninstall and reinstall the whole cs2 creative suite...some please help me.... im near tears

Comment By  Anonymous on June 08, 2006 5:11 PM

I gotta say it...YOU GUYS SAVED MY LIFE!!!
went through and made sure all the company names and user names were the same and deleted a totally empty one at the bottom and POOF!...no more Space Monkey...
I LOVE YOU!!

Comment By  Anonymous on July 21, 2006 3:03 PM

For those of you on Mac who are experiencing expired serial number problems:

Go to /Library/Application Support/Adobe

Move the file 'Adobe Registration Database'

Run the installer off the CD

Enter your SN#

Once the SN is accepted, quit the installer. It will have created a new Database file, and Photoshop should now work.

Comment By  Anonymous on September 09, 2006 8:53 PM

I am having this problem, but I can't even find "Adobe Registration Database"

Comment By  libby on November 01, 2006 7:29 PM

My main drive (which is in two partitions) failed on boot one day. Fortunately I've got another hard drive in the G4 tower. So I botted from there. Only problem is that a legit Photoshop install is on the non-boot drive now and on launch I get the Space Monkey.

I moved all the application support files over so they're living on the boot drive and that got rid of the Space Monkey but I can't get the app itself to perform as expected. I'll try moving the application itself and see.

Comment By  Anonymous on November 02, 2006 6:08 PM

Pimp!

I was getting the SpaceMonkey splash screen, and was being told my registration/serial was invalid, but your suggested fix seems to have done the job.

I went into the "Adobe Registration Database" file (located exactly where described in previous post) - near the very top was a blank EPIC_ORG and EPIC_NAME... I filled both of these in, and now Photoshop loads regular.

thanks guys!

Comment By  Anonymous on December 05, 2006 9:46 AM

ok i really need a lot of help here. I have a mac os x. I need Adobe Photoshop CS 2. The Full Version. I have surfed countless fo forums & blogs about how to crack trought from Tryout Version to Full. I have tried everything i could find from Spacemonkey to toying with the Adobe Registration Database to deleting things adn the list goes on. Whenever i do manage to get to A Personel Autho. Page asking for a SIN. nothing seems to function. Could someone please help me i would greatly appreciate it. Perhaps even a step by step. And i prefer not to leave my computer on for 65 days trying to download a bittorrent of 5 CDs of the Full Version of PSD CS2 if you get my drift thanks.

Comment By  Anonymous on December 08, 2006 12:09 PM

Okay peeps... this post ain't about stealing Photoshop. I don't condone software theft. Carry on with the discussion, but I'm sure there are better forums for such topics.

Comment By  Sam on December 08, 2006 1:29 PM

I had the same problem...followed your procedure and all works fine now

Comment By  SG on February 08, 2007 3:10 AM

Hi, i found it very helpful about that file, my Serial was ok just my name and organization was missing.
What i did just before i wasnt shure if my flash was on that install so i just pressed adobe instaler and after few steps pressed cancel so that must be my reason for monkey...

and look what a weird face it has, feels like somebody put monkey face on real person's face ;))

guys congratulations with adobe creative suite 3 and espescly after effects creative suite 3 for Intel-based MAC

Comment By  Anonymous on April 10, 2007 8:20 AM

Hi!! Worked perfectly by filling in the name and org. Thanx a lot!!

Comment By  Anonymous on June 16, 2007 10:55 PM

Like many before me, this article's fix saved my butt and I am very grateful.

Now, does anyone have a guess at how this happens? Unlike sambot, i'm pretty sure my client had not been messing around with his Photoshop prefs. So what could have caused Space Monkey to rear his ugly head?

Comment By  1-800-Weirdos on August 02, 2007 12:13 PM

Just wanted to say thanks loads for this article and all the help. The EPIC_NAME= fix was the ticket. In our version, it was the Creative Suite 2 entry that was left blank, so copied and pasted the EPIC_NAME and EPIC_ORG from the Photoshop entry and hey presto!

Thanks loads again!

Comment By  spoonofmilk on February 15, 2008 5:46 AM

Hi Thanks, this fixed my problem. I was trying to correct an error with Dreamweaver, and apparently messed something up.

For those of you on Mac who are experiencing expired serial number problems:

Go to /Library/Application Support/Adobe

Move the file 'Adobe Registration Database'

Run the installer off the CD

Enter your SN#

Once the SN is accepted, quit the installer. It will have created a new Database file, and Photoshop should now work.

Comment By  emerald on March 19, 2008 9:29 PM

I had the problem with space monkey after immigrating some users from another machine. Apparently I picked up an old application resources or something. INdesign asked me for my registraiton, and photoshop went space monkey.

I tried to reinstall photoshop from the CS 2 CD, and when I got to the custom install feature, after I had entered the serial number, it would not let me install. So I quit the CD, and voila, photoshop now works. So i'm thinking, just use the install CD to re-enter the name and serial number and your problems with space monkey will be fixed

Comment By  Gerard on May 08, 2008 3:08 PM

I uninstalled and reinstalled and still the same Space Monkey. When I opened the Adobe Registration Database I did notice one EPIC NAME= missing. After adding my name and saving; no luck.

Then the serial number was different than my serial number so I changed it and that didn't work.

I moved the file and put the installer 1 disk in and entered the SN again and that didn't work.

Is the file matching the names with some online database? If originally I entered my name as Thomas and now as Tom will that be a problem? Because I can't remember which name I entered to begin with. Also, I've switched companies probably 3 times since I originally installed. Does the company name have to be the original?

What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions are helpful.

Comment By  TM CLAN on January 10, 2009 12:17 AM

I can't remember what I typed as my EPIC_ORG= during my original installation on my old computer.

Does anyone know how I can find out?

EPIC_ORG= is the only one missing in that Registration database file.

Comment By  Tyson Peisley on January 12, 2009 5:19 AM