Skip to main content
E
evag73932455
Participant
June 25, 2015
Question

"you can only authorize this computer with an AdobeID that hasn't been previously used"

  • June 25, 2015
  • 2 replies
  • 2821 views

When I try to authorize my new computer with my AdobeID, it gives me this message:

"You can only authorize this computer with an AdobeID that hasn't been previously used to authorize any other computer or mobile devices. Please try again."

It says nothing further and I have no idea what it's talking about since I have only ever authorized my AdobeID with one computer, and that was my old MacBook which I have now replaced. So, what do I need to do to get my current compute replaced? The chat support was totally useless and just sent me here.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

J
jenm47936865
Participant
August 12, 2018

I have the same problem, but have a mac. my AdobeID is my email address and WAS used on my previous computer. Therefore, it was NOT anonymous.

Dominic Michael
Adobe Employee
Dominic Michael
Adobe Employee
June 25, 2015

This reason behind this error message. This device is activated with an Anonymous account which has a unique UUID stored in the registry. When you try to activate the same machine with different Adobe ID (UUID), this error message will be thrown.

Solution1: Deactivate the anonymous account and activate with the existing Adobe ID

Note: In this case, the books you have fulfilled with the Anonymous account will be permanently lost.

If you like to continue reading the books fulfilled by Anonymous account, you have to follow solution 2

Solution 2: You have to assign the UUID of anonymous ID to newly created Adobe ID. For more information please refer to, Adobe Digital Editions – Anonymous Activation

Hope this solves your issue.

    E
    evag73932455Author
    Participant
    June 25, 2015

    Hi Dominic, thanks for your reply. I'm not sure which solution is the appropriate one for me because I'm not aware of having an Anonymous account. Here's what I need to be solved:

    In January 2014 I purchased an electronic book that is a .acsm file. At that time, I downloaded ADE on my old MacBook, created an AdobeID, and linked that file to my AdobeID. I was able to read that book on my old MacBook just fine. Then my MacBook crashed, and I had to replace it. I downloaded ADE onto my new MacBook Pro and when I try to link it to my already-created AdobeID, so that I can download that same book again and access it on the new computer, that's the error message I receive above.

    So, what do I do in order to link this new machine with my already-existing AdobeID so that I can access books that are associated with that AdobeID?

    It sounds like Solution 1 is the answer, but I'm not sure what that means to "deactivate the anonymous account." How do I do THAT?

    Dominic Michael
    Adobe Employee
    Dominic Michael
    Adobe Employee
    June 26, 2015

    If you are 100% sure, that you have not fulfilled any book using the Anonymous ID, you can go for Solution 1.

    How to deactivate Anonymous account?

    1. Launch ADE
    2. Switch to Library mode
    3. Select the menu item Help-->Erase Authorization
    4. Click Erase Authorization

    Note: In this case, the books you have fulfilled with the Anonymous account will be permanently lost.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices