Yes - as long as you have it registered, you can still download it up to 8.5. I'm sorry you're have a hard time.
Have you had problems in the past with crashes? I would try deleting your Configs and trying again, sometimes that helps.
If you image is not too complicated, you might load it into the background as a.jpg or .png file and using the pen tool and go from there. If you are trying to create 3D text using LW, I find that it brings in way too many points and I spend alot of time experimenting with the loader trying to reduce the point quantity down to a point where I am satisfied with the quality. I find that If I simply put it into the background, I can trace it with better results anyway.
