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How do I prevent Creative Cloud from taking over my CS6 perpetual license?

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
September 25, 2014
10 replies
49985 views

I have a perpetual license for CS6 Master Collection / Windows that I installed on my PC and laptop a couple of years ago. 12 months ago, I signed up for the creative cloud / all apps plan. I canceled the creative cloud plan yesterday and my CS6 perpetual license stopped working. After several chat sessions with Adobe techs, I was told to completely uninstall CS6 Master Collection and re-install with my serial number. This worked to solve the activation issue.

The same thing also happened on my Macbook. I only have a Photoshop CS6 perpetual license on the mac, not the Master Collection. I had installed creative cloud and then signed out of CC which caused CS6 to ask for sign in when I try to run it. I have not yet got Photoshop CS6 working again on the Mac. I assuming that I'll need to uninstall and re-install it as well.

I never installed CS6 on any of the machines through the creative cloud setup. CS6 was installed prior to CC on all 3 machines using the DVDs and serial numbers.

Even though I cancelled my CC/all apps plan, I was wanting to start a new CC plan for Photoshop only. I am now hesitant to do this because I don't want it to take over my CS6 activations again. Is there anyway to prevent this from happening? Also, does anyone know why this happens? I am thinking that maybe when CS6 runs updates it automatically is switching the license from the perpetual license to the CC account if their is one installed. In any case, I'd like to prevent this so that if I install Photoshop CC but then sign out, my CS6 would still work without needing to re-install.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Rajashree Bhattacharya

You had to reinstall CS6 after cancelling the CC as both were from the same Adobe ID. You can always use & keep both CC & CS6 together.

Please refer to the blog:

Can I install both CS6 and CC apps on my computer? « Caveat Lector

Other references are :

Regards

Rajshree

timw72894434

Participant

Absolutely. The same isssues, in my case a week ago and my CS6 stopped working, meanwhile all the CC rubbish is constantly requiring a sign in before I can use it. I have two older computers (32 bit) and frankly the CC stuff is very unstanble. To make matters worse, Adobe seems to have upgraded by CC programmes to thinhgs that barely function. When I called the utterly mindless support,after nearly 3 hours I spoke to somone who tyold me that (a) Adobe only supply CC2020 and 2019 and no longer support 2015-18 and have discontinued CS6 which adobe technicians installed on my computers two years' ago as a problem-solve. I find it deceitful and I think potentially illegal to change the contract and terms that I had agreed many years ago when I took out a subscription. Getting in touch with the senior management seems very difficult but I shall certainly try to do so. It is a shame there are not alternative products or I should have dumped this company quite firmly. It is disgraceful behaviour.

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Ralph5F87

Participant

Absolutely agree. The way CC has been pushed on CS6 users who BOUGHT the software outright must be illegal. It's not just Adobe though: my wife inadvertently upgraded to Catalina and that OS removes all CS6 functionality. I've paid over £2000 for my Adobe software & am now expected to fork out a £50+ pm fee for the same stuff?

John T Smith

Community Expert

>upgraded to Catalina and that OS removes all CS6 functionality

That is not Adobe's fault... Adobe did not do anything to CS6 to make it stop working, the blame for that is all on Apple

John T Smith

Community Expert

>CS3 on an old mahine that used to work and now no longer works

As far as I know, the activation server for CS3 had been removed from service... at one time Adobe provided a special non-activation version to registered owners, but I don't know if that version is available

Go to https://www.adobe.com/about-adobe/contact.html
-click on the Chat bot on the bottom right hand corner of the first screen
--the chat bot is the circle with a funny looking box with 3 dots inside
-click on Downloading or Installing, then type Agent

Do NOT let the support agent tell you to come to the forums for help... no user in a public forum has access to Adobe's internal links, you MUST obtain the program and update links from Adobe support

AND when you finally do have a download link, be sure to copy every file you download to an external drive (or 2 or 3) so you never have to hunt for download links if they are moved again... also make a text file containing ALL of your serial numbers and copy that file as well

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patrickw41302176

Participant

I also have a problem, however, with CS3 on an old mahine that used to work and now no longer works, message coming up saying no longer supported. But why? I have a perpetual licence on that old standalone computer.

J

JvanH

Participant

I had the same issue after cancelling my Creative Cloud abo. I couldn't start my Photohsop CS6 - when I tried I got the message about renewing my subscription. I deinstalled all CC applications (Windows 7, 64bit), used Adobe's removal tool and their Creative Cloud cleaner but nothing worked. Still the same renewal message.

Then I re-installed the Creative Cloud Client and logged out (the "head" icon). After that I could start Photoshop CS6 :-)

Took me a couple of hours. So it might be helpful for someone with the same issue.

J

jonalisa

Participant

That absolutely worked! Thank you very much!

jonalisa

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dstk64

Participant

I've had this happen twice. It seems to work fine once you uninstall CC2015 and reinstall CS6. If you don't have the serial number, hopefully you registered the # with Adobe. I also ran a program called "AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.dmg" in between the uninstall and install. GOOD LUCK!

ProDesignTools

Community Expert

dstk64 wrote:

It seems to work fine once you uninstall CC2015 and reinstall CS6. If you don't have the serial number, hopefully you registered the # with Adobe. I also ran a program called "AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.dmg" in between the uninstall and install.

Yes – per Adobe's help page, that's right:

Adobe Creative Suite 6 applications unexpectedly revert to trial mode

Here's also the Cleaner Tool, if you need it.

So first uninstall the CC apps, then run the Cleaner Tool, then reboot your computer and reinstall/reactivate your CS6 apps.

stephens33193539

Participant

I've been using Adobe CS6 for years, then I get the "validate or else" message. I ignored it thinking it wouldn't affect my software since I owned it, and it was some CC mistake in the update that would only apply to them. Of course it now doesn't work, and it even tells me I'm offline. Thanks Adobe. I don't have the serial number, and so am screwed. After a half hour with Adobe Chat, I'm told this was a "common update" that requires all users to reinstall their Adobe CS6 to get a more stable version with more features. In my twenty years of design work, I've never had such a "common update". Great....so, they thought it was a good idea to basically turn off my software for this excuse. They know they either made a fubar mistake in their update, or have some intentional ploy to get the CS6 hold outs to CC. I would really like to stick it to them with a "loss of wages" or "inability to deliver work product" lawsuit, but in the end will most likely need to move over to the dark side and use CS6. Right now, I hate you Adobe!!!! I'm so depressed. Always sticking it to the little guy.

H

Howling Dog

Participating Frequently

I have been dealing with the same issues since December opening my Illustrator and InDesign CS6 on my Mac running Yosemite after canceling my CC subscription for Illustrator and InDesign.

The InDesign issue was fixed in December, before my Illustrator CC subscription expired, via an Adobe chat session and desktop takeover but I was informed by Adobe that phone and chat support are no longer available to me since I cancelled my subscription (even though my CS6 Creative Suite was working fine before and was obviously affected by the Creative Cloud install of Illustrator and InDesign.)

I have reinstalled Illustrator and it still not will not open. Abobe Application Manager opens up saying that my CC subscription has expired and that I need to renew to open CS6. I have not uninstalled the Illustrator CC application because it wants me to close InDesign and I'm afraid that I won't be able to open InDesign CS6 after the uninstall. Will try on the weekend but need it to work. Any other advice is greatly appreciated as I was informed by Adobe that phone and chat support are no longer available to me for CS6 since I cancelled my CC subscription.

Feel such a love/hate relationship for and so disappointed in a company that I depend on for my livelihood, whose products I have been using for 25 years and thought enough to have actually owned stock in. I'll obviously need to be running a suite of CC apps in the very near future but I don't need them NOW and want to be able to use what I rightfully (and I believe legally) have purchased the rights to use. CS6 is more that fine for my purposes right now… Any additional advice is greatly appreciated.

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Catherine Satrun

Participant

mariajean, did you find any solution to this? I'm currently having similar issues and tried the advice here without luck.

B

Blackfox1985

Participant

Does anyone have any other suggestions, as mine is still not working. I did not have the (C:\ProgramData\Adobe\OOBE), but did have the:

Navigate to: C:\Program Files X (86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD\

and renamed it, but everything sill just keeps saying has stopped working. Any ideas?

D

David_Illig

Inspiring

Most interesting. This looks like a bug to me--I can't log out of CC without disabling the CS6 apps that I bought before CC existed. A pox on Adobe for making it difficult to get their products launched and running and for not fixing bugs like this one.

S

Steve24590

Known Participant

Same thing happened to me today but there is a much easier answer, at least for me. Copied from my post on another thread:

I very much appreciate the reply but I did find a much better solution after I finally found a way to speak with Adobe directly. I was advised to go into my C drive, open ProgramData folder, open OOBE folder, and rename the file ffc to ffc.old. That's ffc dot old. Seems the dot is missing between the ffc and old when posted. (C:\ProgramData\Adobe\OOBE) At this point Windows Control Panel, Remove Programs no longer advised me that I had an application that required Creative Cloud and uninstalled the Creative Cloud program. It took a good deal to find a telephone number that I could actually talk to someone and resolve this which isn't what I expected from Adobe. That number is[Moderator deleted private information. Please do not post private information like e-mails and phone numbers]. I find the tactic that Adobe used as bad as a virus or malware and is not what I would have expected from them. At least there is a way without a lot of time loss to correct the problem.

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blueOctopus

Participant

How would I do this on a Mac? There are oobe files in Utilities/Adobe Application Manager, but they are dylib libraries and not folders, and also there is no ffc file or ProgramData folder either.

Rajashree Bhattacharya

Correct answer

Community Manager

You had to reinstall CS6 after cancelling the CC as both were from the same Adobe ID. You can always use & keep both CC & CS6 together.

Please refer to the blog:

Can I install both CS6 and CC apps on my computer? « Caveat Lector

Other references are :

Regards

Rajshree

S

shootingDistance

Participating Frequently

I have the same problem-- i have perpetual licenses for my adobe products, but about a month ago, creative cloud malware appeared on my computer; not knowing what it was for, but knowing that i DID NOT EVER WANT 'creative cloud', and feeling secure that it was not part of my product suite -- last upgraded earlier in the spring, i did nothing to engage it. It appeared to be a 'free subscription' of some kind, and i left it alone. All of a sudden i week ago, my Lightroom app is blocked from opening, by a software license 'agreement' interface that tries to force me to agree that this is creative cloud software. When i reject the agreement, it will not let me access my LR6. This is malware in the extreme, coming from ADOBE!

1. I DID uninstall CC, BUT Still am blocked from LR. I used the uninstall tool that someone on the forums gave me yesterday, and the creative cloud malware program disappeared from my Windows Programs list --BUT I am STILL GETTING BLOCKED from accessing my Lightroom, by the interface that tries to force me to agree that i want creative cloud in order to use my software.

2. Does anyone know if i also need to now uninstall my original LR program? It does not say "CC" on it, and it was the one that was working fine for months, until this week. i would like to know if i ALSO would need to uninstall my Lightroom AND IF that would mean I lose my catalog or all of my presets, etc.?? I have thousands of photos from years of work in the catalog. That would be so rotten.

3. This does not appear to be affecting my Photoshop CS6 - i am still able to open and use that. (so far, at least) It is the Lightroom6 that will not open because the 'creative cloud' thing has taken it over.

4. Note that I never sought or wanted the creative cloud app; i explicitly went to tech support several months ago when i wanted to upgrade to LR6 and asked how to get the desktop LR upgrade WITHOUT having to take creative cloud. They sent me to the link that they said was for the standalone application - because, of course, it was not so much 'buried' as it was absent form the Adobe site, since everything you click on there now takes you in a circular path into their CC products, no matter what you are seeking help for.

5. Just as a note: I am so disenchanted with Adobe's official tech support on this. The problem is now a week old, and they do not reply, and the instructions they sent have not done the job, and don't seem to want or care about being accountable. I am seeking help on these forums because the company doesn't offer it. I can't say enough how upsetting that is. And if they were really accessible, i would let them know, but they are not.

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gianfranco1990

Participant

Adobe is the WORST with customer support. The absolute worst. It's a disgrace to the massive user base, which is slowly eroding as competitors like Sketch and InVision begin to grow. And I hope to God they give Adobe a run for their money!

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