Unable to Reach Adobe Server (Windows 7 Fix)
The Issue
As a Windows 7 User with the cut off of continued support, I've had to use older versions of Adobe Products to continue use of my subscription like many other Windows 7 users. However, if you have an accidental update creative cloud or unknown software glitch, you can end up with the error "Unable to Reach Adobe Server" which loops infinitely no matter how many times you try to retry the connection. Even after uninstalling and trying to reinstall, the exe install files couldn't connect to the server in order to properly install. This almost made me cancel my subscription and was extremely frusterating and resulting in hours long searches through the forums to find some clarity on the issue. Here are my recommended solutions after hours of searching and talking with Tech Support about this issue on my Windows 7 machine.
First Steps
My recommendation is to start with the forum recommended solutions before reading the second part of this post which details the solution I received from Adobe's Technical Support. I tried all of these options in my own pursuits to no avail but they may just solve your particular version of this issue. I would highly recommend checking the Host Files, Firewalls, and Connectivity to the Server through your prefered browser first. You can find these solutions here:
https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/unable-to-reach-adobe-servers.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/common-network-connectivity-issues.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-network-issues.html
If you're experiencing this error through a company/business licensed version of Adobe's Products you will definitely want to contact your IT Department and look at access of the software through your hardware firewall. and examine the port forwarding of your network THIS ISN'T USUALLY AN ISSUE FOR SINGLE LICENSE USERS WORKING FROM A PRIVATE HOME NETWORK. RESOURCES FOR THIS FOUND BELOW:
https://helpx.adobe.com/enterprise/kb/network-endpoints.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-media-server/config-admin/configure-ports.html
The Solution That Worked For Me:
If you've tried all of the solutions above and still find yourself with the same error popping up over and over, this next step is for you provided by my experience with a Tech Support Representative.
1. Fully close out all Adobe programs that are giving you this issue.
2.Open Control Panel, Click on Programs, and then Click on Programs and Features.
3. Note all Installed Adobe Features on your computer using Programs and Features.
4. Open Windows Task Manager and Click on the Processes Tab
5. Close out all Adobe and Creative Cloud Processes that are Active on this tab. Use the list from Programs and Features as a Guide if you aren't too familiar with this screen. You'll want to scroll through the whole list to make sure you close all of the related processes.
6. Next you will need to download this Microsoft Easy Fix program:
7. Run the program and restart your computer once the program has finished running.
8. After restart, give your computer about 5 to 10 minutes to finish with any start up processes that may still be initializing after the restart.
9. Once your start up processes have finished initializing, open one of the programs or install exe files that havent been able to connect to the server. With a little luck they should be connecting to the server now.
In Conclusion
In my own personal experience I had uninstalled creative cloud and photoshop on my end before the speaking with tech support. That may have affected the outcome of this process but I am not certain. I am also not too certain on what the Easy Fix actually fixes but I was led to believe that it is linked to the TLS 1.2 on Windows 7 not being supported anymore and supplementing some fix for that protocol.I havent seen this particular fix highlighted in regards to this issue, and I'm not an expert in this field but the fix worked for me and may save some of you a mindnumbing deep dive into tech forums. Good Luck and I hope this helps you as much as it did me.
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