FrameMaker 11 activation limit

Question

I have an old perpetual license for FrameMaker 11. It refuses to load as of yesterday, saying the serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers. Note it was running fine, then suddenly it stopped. I think it was after I’d updated my macbook Pro (Tahoe 26.3.1, Parallels 26.2.2, Windows 11) so maybe somehow the Adobe Application Manager thinks this is a new machine. I lost access to one activation several years ago when a laptop stopped working and I recycled it. I’ve tried getting adobe to reset my activation count, but multiple chats resulted in agents not understanding the problem (they refer me to resetting activations in the ‘internal dashboard’, and of course FM isn’t on the Adobe dashboard) or just dropping the conversation. I wrote to techcomm@adobe.com and tcssup@adobe.com (also about not being able to run the FM17 installer), but haven’t heard back. Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

Jeff_Coatsworth · Accepted Answer

I’ve got very bad news for you - your perpetual license is toast in this scenario. I had a long conversation with the FM folks last year about this exact scenario where both activations were “used up” and it was no longer possible to deactivate either instance to free up the serial number.At one point, the FM support folks could access those old activation servers and reset counts from their end in situations like this. But now they can’t get to those old servers anymore. They still supposedly exist and work for external activations, but internally they can’t access them anymore. Their way around this used to be to issue a new serial number for you and then that would have a fresh activation count - but now with the switch to the subscription model, they can’t even issue new perpetual serial numbers.They’ve told me that all they can do now in this situation is offer a 90 day credit towards a subscription plan (which now offers a site to control your devices and activations).Sorry for the bad news.

YZZYX · Answer

Apparently the activation server doesn’t even work. I deactivated my FM10 on my old laptop, but it then would not activate on my new laptop. I suspect Adobe has done this deliberately to cut off the old licenses and force people to subscribe. Unfortunately, they priced me out of upgrading years ago, I don’t make enough money on book sales to pay for the subscription. Plus, I despise software subscriptions.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded