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Participant
January 4, 2020
Answered

Photoshop CS3 Activation [CS3 is dead and gone]

  • January 4, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 986 views

Hello-

 

I'm attempting to install a very old version of Photoshop, CS3 onto my computer.  The version apparently is so old that the activation servers are no longer used, so once I put my serial number in it only allows me to have a 30 day trial of the program I own.

 

I contacted Adobe support and they gave me a link to a page that instructs me to delete the program, then I use Creative Cloud Cleaner, and finally I navigate and delete a cache file.  The instructions then instruct me to reinstall CS3 from the CS3 product download page, however the program is no longer listed.

 

I went through this process and attempted to reinstall via my CD, and once again I'm back where I started... with not being able to activate the program.

 

There's got to be a way around this.....

 

Help!  Thank you!

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer John T Smith

Sorry, no... all versions of CS3 and earlier are completely gone... that includes the links to download the special non-activation version

 

If you do not want a Cloud subscription, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/elements-family.html

4 replies

Participant
January 4, 2022

Hi--

 

My Cs3 just dropped out--

 

is it best to start all over --and sign up with CC--assuming there are no upgrades available for CS3? 

 

will I have access to my CS3 created files in the CC version of photoshop--?

 

thx

 

Chris

AxelMatt
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 5, 2022

Yes, you can open older Photoshop files with the "CC version".

 

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 5 - Topaz Photo
John T Smith
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 4, 2020

I can only guess that support agents read from a computer screen of information, and that the information has not been updated... I contacted the Adobe employee who monitors these forums, so hopefully this won't happen to someone else

Participant
January 4, 2020

Ugh!  That's awful!  Why didn't Adobe tell me that?  

 

Not happy.  I guess I can keep installing the program every 30 days.  

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 4, 2020

Sorry, no... all versions of CS3 and earlier are completely gone... that includes the links to download the special non-activation version

 

If you do not want a Cloud subscription, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/elements-family.html