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Matt Blodgett
Matt Blodgett
Participant
September 2, 2016
Answered

Photoshop CS3 Activation [CS3 is dead]

  • September 2, 2016
  • 12 replies
  • 65889 views

I purchased Photoshop CS3 several years ago, but have lost the installation disc along with the activation key.  I never registered the product on adobe's website.  I do have 2 machines that I have activated the software on previously.  In addition, I have a backed up copy of my photoshop folder from "Program Files" in Windows.  Is there any way to retrieve the activation key from my backed up folder?  Or can Adobe check based on my MAC address and find the key based on the 2 computers that have successfully activated previously?

    Correct answer Nancy OShea

    It's now 2020.  As an update, CS3 activation servers are gone.  And Adobe ended access to activation-free installers and replacement serial numbers.  Customer Care agents cannot help with this matter.  CS3 is officially dead.

     

    If you never upgrade your computer or OS, you could potentially keep using CS3 for another 12+ years.  But I'm sorry to say that re-installation is no longer an option.

     

     

    12 replies

    Show previous replies
    Terri Stevens
    Terri Stevens
    Legend
    September 3, 2016

    If you have the machines the software was activated on and they are working you should be able to extract the Product ID which is different to activation. Your post is slightly confusing as you talk about a MAC address by which I'm guessing you mean the unique ID of the network card in your computer rather than a Mac computer? So I'll assume your on Windows as you have a Windows backup.

    Download a copy of Belarc Advisor which is free

    Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer.…

    It will produce a list of serial numbers for most of the software on your PC. If you have a Mac you need the commercial version which is not free. If your CS3 was bought as an update to CS2 then this will not work as you'll also require the serial for CS2 -the upgrade qualifying product.

    You can download the installation media from here:

    Download Adobe Creative Suite 3 products

    John T Smith
    Community Expert
    John T SmithCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2016

    You really need to keep a paper copy of all serial numbers in a desk drawer

    Lost information - reply #1 in https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2008767

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