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Vladimír Chalupa 72
Participating Frequently
January 27, 2022
Answered

Install older version of Adobe product

  • January 27, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 4610 views

We are looking for help with licenses for Adobe products we have purchased in recent years. These are primarily different and older versions of Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat Standard, Acrobat Pro, or Adobe Photoshop Elements. During several reinstallations, we found that the product could no longer be activated due to the shutdown of the activation server by Adobe. We get into a situation where we have a legally purchased product, but we are not able to operate it. We fear that over time, this situation will occur with other product versions. I would like to ask for a solution on how to proceed and legally put older Adobe products into operation. These are licenses, for example, from the TLP program.

    Correct answer LinSims

    Post completely off topic.


    My understanding is this: The problem isn't whether you have the equipment/OS that will allow Creative Suites 1-4 to run. The problem is that Adobe couldn't keep the activation servers for those softwares running anymore and the activation software doesn't run on the newer hardware/OSs. That means that in addition to not being able to activate the software over the Internet, Adobe can no longer supply an offline activation code because generating that also required the activation servers to be running.

     

    Whatever you may think the perpetual license guarantees you, the fact remains that there is no way, none, at all, to reactivate any of the Creative Suites 1-4 products. If you want to continue using Adobe products, you will have to subscribe to a Creative Cloud plan that provides you with the products you need.

     

    If you want to complain about this, you can contact Adobe directly using the following information. There's nothing we can do to help you, because we are not Adobe employees. There's nothing the customer service people at Adobe can do to help you, either, because they have no control over this decision or the machinery.

     

    Adobe
    345 Park Avenue
    San Jose, CA 95110-2704
    USA Tel: 408-536-6000
    USA Fax: 408-537-6000

     

     

    2 replies

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 27, 2022

    Adobe owns the software.  Perpetual licenses were never "forever" licenses. 

     

    Activation servers for legacy CS1, CS2, CS3, and CS4 are dead. Therefore those products cannot be reinstalled.

    Which version of Acrobat, Photoshop and Elements do you have?

     

     

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    K
    kstunte
    Participant
    January 28, 2022

    I support Vlad's frustrations. I had purchased CS4 for over $500 and it worked fine until my laptop died and I needed to purchase a new one. I have no interest in paying $20 every month when I wish to use the programs I paid for :/. Can any amount or discount be applied to creative cloud?

      Abambo
      Community Expert
      AbamboCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 28, 2022

      I understand your pain.

       

      With whom did you complain that your old computer died? As I said, as long as the program stays installed, it works fine.

       

      IMHO professionals have a strong advantage to use the subscription-based model. If you are a hobbyist, it's more complicated.

      ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
      Abambo
      Community Expert
      AbamboCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 27, 2022

      All the programs continue to work as long as you do not touch to the installation. Currently, the activation servers for up to CS4 products have been retired due to their age. Furthermore, current operating systems may or may not run the software. There is nothing you can do about it.

       

      You will need, over the time, to invest a minimum also in your software, not only in your hardware. So, yes, I fear too, that over time, more and more older products won't be able to be reinstalled.

      ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
      V
      Vladimír Chalupa 72Author
      Participating Frequently
      January 27, 2022

      Thanks for the answer, unfortunately it didn't help me much.

       

      We acquired perpetual licenses without a time limit, and I don't think we can just limit the operation of the product by canceling the license server. We need to continue to use products on older OS. Yes, OS support is coming to an end and some have already ended. Adobe CS4 product support has expired.

       

      But nowhere in the original license does it say that the product is only functional until the activation servers work.

        Abambo
        Community Expert
        AbamboCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 27, 2022

        Yes, I understand your pain. But consider this:

        As long as you do not change your system, any Adobe program installed continues to run. There is no limit to running the computer program. As soon as you change the parameters (i.e., a new computer, new installation) there is no guarantee that the program can be installed and activated.

        ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
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