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-------ab
Participant
Dec 2, 2017 3:53 PM UTC
Answered

Need to reactivate Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional [Acrobat 8 is dead]

My Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional just decided that it needed to be reactivated and Adobe doesn't do it anymore?

 

It fails on an internet authorization which always worked in the past.

If you call the phone activation line, it says we don't do it anymore.

If you chat with an adobe person they say it must be done in forums?

 

I love Adobe products (especially PS and LR) and use them extensively, but I am thinking about punting all of them if they decide to take your money for a product and then decide to stop allowing you to use it. I understand stop supporting it, but preventing you from using it is a separate matter.

    John T Smith
    John T SmithCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Dec 2, 2017 4:05 PM UTC

    CS3 and Acrobat 8 activation server is retired see reply #1 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2372929

    -you MUST use the special serial number AND the special installer, not your originals

    -above includes a link to get the special version AND links to help with activation problems

    -more information on activation problems with the new version https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2385900

    View reply

    30 replies

    Luis23197097evmc
    Participant
    Feb 16, 2022 9:20 PM UTC

    So What's to say that if you purchased another new subscription, they won't just stop your access on that version too in the future.

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    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    Feb 16, 2022 9:26 PM UTC

    As of today, the subscription isn't to one version. It's to the product and includes upgrades, so you always have the latest version. They certainly make it hard to stick with and run an old version, they don't want that.

     

    Of course, if you stop paying, then you lose access. 

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    MT34160104ji09
    Participant
    Dec 9, 2023 10:37 PM UTC

    I use my old Acrobat 8.1 a few times a year ... where there is file that I need to edit.  It works, why would I pay  a monthly subscription for casual use?  Acrobat 8.1 works fine for my small changes, but my drive is failing and I am stuck trying to install this on my new drive.

     

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    defaultia5yvilj0ez4
    Participant
    Sep 19, 2021 1:24 AM UTC

    Well, that seals it for me. I won't be purchasing any new Adobe products. W do they think they are that they can just cut off a product? Tech suppor, yes. Updates, yes. But use of the purchased program???  I am a purchasing manager for a company...smooth move, Adobe. One less company and a 1500+ license loss for you! We will just use the free reader and pay our other vendor for software that works without conditions.

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    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    Sep 19, 2021 10:58 AM UTC

    Perhaps Adobe took the view (right or wrong) that the loss of sales from people who haven't updated in 15 years might not be a huge hit.

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    suezew
    Participant
    Dec 17, 2019 2:36 AM UTC

    I'm having the same issue.  My program was working great on Windows 10.  Then decided it needs an activation code.  Why can't Adobe just give us a generic activation code?  When I clicked on the links it took me to the Adobe Community Support.  I don't know where to go from there.  It won't let me copy and paste the link.  I'm with ab.  I have several Adobe products, but I'm ready to chuck them if Adobe is going to let me pay lots of money and then abandon me.  I just want to get my Adobe Acrobat Pro 8 activated.  Please tell Adobe it can't be that difficult to set up an activation code for us.

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      Steve G-HI
      Participant
      Jan 29, 2020 9:34 PM UTC

      I have the same problem. One Windows/10 update and now I'm looking at no way to re-activate, etc. It's mistifying why it says I can't go to the internet to re-activate. I'd gladly skip the "First Reply badge" to get some answers.

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        try67
        Community Expert
        try67Community Expert
        Community Expert
        Jan 29, 2020 11:47 PM UTC

        Acrobat 8 can no longer be activated and Adobe recently removed access to the non-activation installer it offered in the past. Contact them directly to complain about it. We can't do anything to help you with this situation.

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        kglad
        Community Expert
        kgladCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        Dec 2, 2017 6:25 PM UTC

        because you have an acrobat 8 version that's installed, you must do more than follow the above links:

        after securing your serial number, uninstall acrobat 8 (using the uninstaller)

        clean per Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs

        remove the cache.db file from Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Adobe/Adobe PCD/cache/

        restart your computer

        then follow the steps above.

        if that fails read this, https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2385900

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        John T Smith
        Community Expert
        John T SmithCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        Dec 2, 2017 4:05 PM UTC

        CS3 and Acrobat 8 activation server is retired see reply #1 https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2372929

        -you MUST use the special serial number AND the special installer, not your originals

        -above includes a link to get the special version AND links to help with activation problems

        -more information on activation problems with the new version https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2385900

        Translate
        JazzPlayer
        Participant
        Mar 23, 2020 5:59 PM UTC

        It appears that https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2372929 is no longer availabe, any chance you can send the special serial number and special version in this thread?

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