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peters57502480
peters57502480
Participating Frequently
June 19, 2024
Question

Processor upgrade has deactivated PS Elements 2020

  • June 19, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 606 views

I have been using Photoshop Elements 2020 happily for years, on my laptop and desktop at home.

 

I upgraded the processor and motherboard, which Adobe thinks is a new machine, and has reverted my bought-and-paid-for product to trial mode. It tells me I have used up my two installations, and obviously I can't deregister from the "old" machine.

 

Support are refusing to help and do nothing but try and force me to sign up for an overpriced subscription. How am I able to use the software I bought on what was supposed to be a lifetime licence?

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Jeffrey_A_Wright
Community Manager
Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
Community Manager
June 19, 2024

I am sorry, @peters57502480 , but a significant change to the computer will be detected as a new device. Either of the changes you mentioned will cause the computer to be seen as a new device. You can use the steps listed in https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-activation-limit-reached-sign.html if you want to deactivate Photoshop Elements 2020 on your laptop. Once the deactivation is complete, it can then be activated on the computer with a new processor and motherboard.

 

For future viewers of this discussion, please make sure to deactivate any installed Adobe software before implementing significant changes or upgrades to the computer. Processors, video cards, sound cards, and other connected devices are utilized to create the unique identifier that allows the computer to be activated. When these components are changed, it changes the identifier and will cause the need for a new activation to occur. Please see https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-activation-limit-reached-sign.html for steps to deactivate most Adobe desktop software titles.

    peters57502480
    peters57502480Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 20, 2024

    So if I deactivate it on my laptop - then I won't be able to use it on my laptop? Meaning I only get one device to use, rather than the two that I paid for?

     

    Bit pointless putting that "for future viewers of the discussion" - people are only going to find this after their paid-for products are deactivating themselves!

     

    Surely the correct fix for this is for you to remove all historic activations on the Adobe servers, then I can sign in again on my devices, and use the software on the lifetime licence that we originally agreed? From my conversation with your "support", I can see how desperate you are to get people to sign up to never-ending subscriptions, but it's very questionable that you're remotely killing people's software to do this.

     

    peters57502480
    peters57502480Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 20, 2024

    Also it says very clearly on https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/download-install/kb/activate-deactivate-products.html -

     

    "If the computer on which you installed the product is no longer available (for example, you have lost the computer, formatted the hard drive, or the hard drive has crashed), you can deactivate your apps from your Adobe account page. Then install the apps on the new computer and follow the onscreen instructions."

     

    Presumably if someone did suffer a hard drive or other component failure, then they too would have lost their software forever, like me?

     

    Yet the desktop and the Photoshop / Premiere installs are not visible here. Why? Again, I have no doubt it's about forcing people to take out expensive subscriptions by retroactively disabling paid-for software.

    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Greg_S.Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 19, 2024

    I am going to ping @Jeffrey_A_Wright , an Adobe employee who may be able to help you.

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