CS3 : "never reactivate" disappeared

I haven't installed Design Premium, but I have installed Design Standard. For that, you need three things - a self-extracting archive containing the main program suite (in my case ADBESTPPCS3_ESD1_WWE.exe), another (probably optional) containing documentation/'goodies' (for CS3 DS this is STPPCS3_Cont_WWE.exe), and the key. These must be the special versions you got from Adobe when they were still providing activation-free replacements - the installers on the original DVDs are now useless, as is the original key, so don't try any of this without the new versions. I think, incidentally, that everyone with a specific version of the suite (like Design Standard for Windows) got the same installers and the same replacement key.

Once you've extracted the archives, you can run the installer from one of the extracted folders ('Setup.exe') and should be asked to provide the key, unless it's a system you have previously installed CS3 on, in which case it may remember the key. I don't recall a 'never activate' setting, but there is a Help->Registration->Never Register button. I've only done this recently under W10, on a system where the activation-free version had previously been installed, and it went smoothly (the key was remembered, and I wasn't asked to activate).

If you still have activation issues, some troubleshooting guides were posted at the time. Here is one from user micheleu92425197 - some of the steps may still be relevant, though obviously you can no longer use the support pages (steps 1-4) and must already have the installers:

"Okay, we have the solution working here:

The problem is that the old serial number remains on the PC in a common file even after removing CS3.

Here is what worked for us:

1. Go to Adobe support page, key in CS3 activation. It will bring up the page on Activation or Connection error.

2. Sign in with Adobe login or create one.

3. It will ask for your CS3 serial number.  Key it in.  The page will respond with a new CS3 serial number.

4. Note the links further down this page for installing the new CS3.

5. Close out of CS3 and out of any browsers.

6. Go to control panel and de-install CS3 completely.

7. When this is finished, use File Explorer to find the AdobePCD folder in the c:Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Adobe folder. Delete this AdobePCD folder. This is the one that has the old serial number that is preventing the new activation and it is not deleted by de-installing CS3.

8. Now click on each of the two file links (file 1 of 2 and file 2 of 2) noted above on the CS3 install page. These will spawn a loader program which you must accept and will take quite a quite a while to load. In the middle of the first load, a box will open noting a missing AdobePDF.dll file. Use the browse button and find the file at c:Windows/sysWow64/ Once you have chosen this path, click okay.  The first file load will complete, then click on file 2 of 2 and let it load.

9. Once the loads complete, open CS3. This time it will ask for the new serial number obtained from the Adobe website above. Key it in as noted.

10. Open CS3 again.  It will bring up a box to register. Click on "Never Register." Now you are done.

I have opened and used CS3 several times since the above procedure.  There is no longer an activation request.  So far, every function is working with Windows 10 (even if the program is not certified for Win10.)

I hope this will help someone avoid the hours I spent yesterday loading and reloading."

You may also have to remove the cache.db file:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-temporary-activation-has-expired-message/m-p/9426415#M150018

And in some cases the cleaner tool might be useful:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

All traces of CS3 have been removed by Adobe

As far as I know, the 'special, non-activation' version came with a different serial number (or no serial number at all?) and it did not try and activate online... since the activation server is GONE