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webmaster698
webmaster698
Known Participant
April 25, 2017
Answered

Macromedia Dreamweaver 8

  • April 25, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2566 views

Hello,

I have ha Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 now since my Windows XP days.  When I upgraded my computer to Windows 7, it still worked great, with just as much functionality.  I even put in on my Windows 10 laptop, and still it worked just as good, again with no diminished functionality.  A few days ago, Macromedia Dreamweaver, for some reason stopped working on my Windows 7 machine.  Every time I open it, I get : Please reinstall software. I can't figure this out.  I reinstalled the software, I get the same error message.  To make things more bizarre, my Windows 10 machine still runs Macromedia Dreamweaver with no problems.

Does anyone know of a fix? I don't want to just throw away the CD.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jon Fritz

    If you owned CS2 (which DW8 became part of after Adobe took over Macromedia), you can download and install an offline-activation version of it, then use Adobe's offline activation code (included in the download process) to get it running: "Activation server unavailable" error in Adobe CS2, Acrobat 7, and Audition 3

    Aside from that, the program is long out of its support window.

    You might also look into using Brackets, it's a free coding tool:  Brackets

    EDIT: I guess DW wasn't included in the downloadable version.

    2 replies

    webmaster698
    webmaster698Author
    Known Participant
    April 25, 2017

    Ok, I tried running several different compatibility modes.

    Any ideas if that doesn't work?

    webmaster698
    webmaster698Author
    Known Participant
    April 25, 2017

    It seems to have a problem with activation?

    Jon Fritz
    Community Expert
    Jon FritzCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2017

    If you owned CS2 (which DW8 became part of after Adobe took over Macromedia), you can download and install an offline-activation version of it, then use Adobe's offline activation code (included in the download process) to get it running: "Activation server unavailable" error in Adobe CS2, Acrobat 7, and Audition 3

    Aside from that, the program is long out of its support window.

    You might also look into using Brackets, it's a free coding tool:  Brackets

    EDIT: I guess DW wasn't included in the downloadable version.

    Jon Fritz
    Community Expert
    Jon FritzCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2017

    Have you tried different W7 Compatibility Modes yet?

    Years ago, others had gotten it to work using the XP SP2 Compatibility Mode.

    Dreamweaver 8 and Windows 7

    webmaster698
    webmaster698Author
    Known Participant
    April 25, 2017

    I don't think I have an SP2 disk.

    How do you do it, assuming II have the disk?

    Can you still use Windows 10?

    Jon Fritz
    Community Expert
    Jon FritzCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2017

    I'm sorry, I didn't explain what Compatibility Modes are.

    When installing on Windows 7, you have the ability to use different Compatibility Modes (built into the OS itself) that essentially emulate features of older versions of the OS when you run a given program. It allows us to run ancient software in more modern OSs by faking the older OS the program was built for.

    XP Service Pack 2 is one of those modes.

    Do a quick Google search on "Compatibility Modes Windows 7" to get the info on how to enable them when installing DW8.

    Your W10 machine is likely already doing the same thing.

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