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Anonymous

Answered

Unable to Activate Photoshop CS2 and CS3.

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Both programs are installed on my new laptop. I deactivated years ago when I had my desktop computer. The phone numbers listed on the activation page of both programs do not work. I try to activate directly from the programs on the internet, it says servers not working, try later. I tried later, same answer. How is it possible to activate these old Photoshop CS 2 and 3. I would think the license would be expired by now, they are really old, 2008 I think I purchased them and had no problem activation. It appears the activation keys are valid on both programs, they want an Authorization Code either by internet or phone a phone call to get this, neither works for me. Any help on how to reach Adobe Customer Service or Tech support to help me activate these.What is the email address for Adobe's Customer Service? !

John WallerCorrect answer

Community Expert

Update:

Neither CS2 nor CS3 can be activated any more. Those old activation servers were retired years ago. There’s no activation process in existence for those versions.

--- Previous reply ---

The steps now:

Uninstall your existing CS2 and CS3
Download the non-activation version of CS3 from Activation or connection error when starting CS3 or Acrobat 8
Install and enter the new, non-activation serial number obtained from the link above. Your existing CS2 and CS3 serial numbers will no longer work.

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W23910550wks4

Participant

I wish someone would mount a class action suit against them.

What Adobe has done is theft... I paid for a product and they stole it back.

William Kizer

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littlmrnofear

Participant

and why do I have to suddenly activate it??? it has been installed and activated on this laptop for like 6-7 years and all of a sudden it's asking to activate the unavailable activation... nice move Adobe. I have been using your products since Aldus Freehand went under a million years ago and now this???

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jane-e

Community Expert

it has been installed and activated on this laptop for like 6-7 years
By @littlmrnofear

The activation servers for CS2 were shut down thirteen years ago in 2012. Where did you purchase your copy 6-7 years ago? Legal copies were no longer being sold by then.

Jane

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davescm

Community Expert

It is true. In the circumstance you describe, Adobe did not stop the application from working. Working backups should still work fine if they restore the system back in time.

However support for a reactivation has been withdrawn by Adobe.

Dave

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Rainyone

Participant

This is [removed by moderator] I got a new laptop for Christmas and stopped using my old slow desktop, which had Adobe CS3 working on it no issues once so ever. I installed it on my laptop only to have actiavation issues. Wow Adode I would think this is so different then fraud, we have bought the program and have activation codes and yet we are unable to continue using our paid for program? All just becuase Adobe decided that they werent making enought money off of people that purchased their program years ago and enjoyed using it so much that they wouldnt purchase another version.

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John T Smith

Community Expert

>gather it is the same for CS6

For CS6 and earlier you may download ONLY if you bought direct from Adobe via download
-Log-in to your account and click this link https://account.adobe.com/products
--click Order history on the left and then the link to your order that will show on the right
--and finally click the link "Downloads and serial numbers" that will appear
--as always, write the serial number in a text file AND copy that text file and the
---download file(s) to an external drive (or two) to be sure you have what you need
-if you did not buy direct from Adobe via download you must find your original install
--if you have an Education or volume license you MUST use your original media
--the link for an Education or volume license download is not available at all
-if you bought a disc and don't have a drive you will need to buy an external USB drive
-if you bought a download from a 3rd party vendor you will need to contact that vendor

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noizy

Participating Frequently

Kindly and hard working John,

John, you wrote: "For CS6 and earlier you may download ONLY if you bought direct from Adobe via download. "

As I have explained, people of my generations buy discs, not downloads, and that is all we are probably every going to buy.

If you know a legitimate way I can try CS6, please tell.

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John Waller

Community Expert

>> If you know a legitimate way I can try CS6, please tell.

There is none. Software is download only these days. Makes no sense for software vendors to ship discs in these days of high speed broadband.

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noizy

Participating Frequently

That linkk no longer works.

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John Waller

Community Expert

The links for CS2 and CS3 have been retired. Both products are dead and can no longer be used.

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noizy

Participating Frequently

I noticed that. I gather it is the same for CS6--is that true?

That is a severely unethical business practice, and probably illegal. It is also just plain bizarre.

I am pretty darn sure that there was nothing like a Terms of Use or End User agreement where we agreed that products we purchased (for quite a lot of money) might become "dead and can no longer be used."

Besides the fact that the old product more than met my needs and I don't feel like learning the newer CC versions, the new products are prohibitively expensive.

I suppose the good news is that Adobe's business decision has inspired and created an entire new ecosystem of similar products, based on the "not subscription-based model." "Not subscription-based" is an entirely new niche of software development imspired by Adobe!

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johnm76781326

Participant

I have the exaxt same problem. Upon contacting Adobe help they "are sorry" and sent me to this link for help. A lot of help Adobe has been. Won't be supporting Adobe by buying thier products anymore.

Moderator Edit: Foul language removed

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T

Test Screen Name

Legend

It sounds as if you haven’t been supporting them much recently, if CS3 was the last thing you bought. Over 11 years ago. Have a good day now.

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mothandrust

Participating Frequently

If the Adobe products that you currently have are sufficient for your work, why spend more money for something that isn't needed? There are still many "starving artists" with tight budgets.

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John Waller

Correct answer

Community Expert

Update:

Neither CS2 nor CS3 can be activated any more. Those old activation servers were retired years ago. There’s no activation process in existence for those versions.

--- Previous reply ---

The steps now:

Uninstall your existing CS2 and CS3
Download the non-activation version of CS3 from Activation or connection error when starting CS3 or Acrobat 8
Install and enter the new, non-activation serial number obtained from the link above. Your existing CS2 and CS3 serial numbers will no longer work.

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A

Anonymous

Thanks. I uninstalled both CS 2 and CS 3 as you suggested. I will try what you suggested below.Thanks, Kevin Mercer Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

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