CS6 License Deactivation Notice

[Snow CS]

Yesterday I received a CS6 License Deactivation Notice on my screen. I have owned my Creative Masters collection CS6 for over 10 years. My laptop died about 8 years ago and I was able to successfully install my CS6 on my new Mac. Ever since all has been running smoothly on this computer. However, yesterday while I was creating something for my daughter for her school camp in Indesign, I received a chilling notice on my screen which had the Adobe logo saying that my license will be deactivated in 5 days due to misuse. It is very stressful and I’m very upset about this. I don’t know if it is some kind of glitch or scam but I wanted to resolve this if it is an official notice as my license has only ever been used by myself for myself on the one computer.  I have been a mum at home with my kids for the last 14 years using my CS6 software to keep up my skills while I am not in the workforce so I depend on my license staying active. I was wanting to resolve this issue with Adobe but I am unable to find a direct Adobe Help contact point, so I am posting my situation here. Thank you and I look forward to resolving this matter. Kind regards.

[kglad]

there's no adobe support, so an adobe contact won't be helpful, and the fact you posted that makes you a target for emails from scammers pretending to be from adobe.  just beware, and don't respond.

that said, have you already seen a warning message about x number of days left to use your apps?

you can also open an app, click help and see if activate/sign-in is clickable or whether deactivate/sign-out is clickable (but do NOT click).

[Illostraight]

Thank you, no, I won't respond. As soon as I plug in the etherned cable, the apps will disappear so I don't think that would work. The only browser on that machine that allows me to connect to Adobe, Inc is Firefox, the others all say Adobe says they're too outdated. So does that tell you anything about being able to do anything positive?

[kglad]

have you already seen a warning message about x number of days left to use your apps?

and what do you see if you click help:

activate/sign-in is clickable or deactivate/sign-out is clickable?

[Illostraight]

Yes. I got the warning about 10 days ago then I looked around for answers and saw many were having the issue, then I pulled the ethernet cord so they couldn't deactivate them as I needed the apps for a small job. I'm retired and rarely do anything with them anymore, so it's not worth it to me to repurchase or subscribe, but since I own them, it would be nice to have them back. That computer is off line unless I need it for an infrequent illustration. So not much in the way of a security breach there. I think it was offline for about 2 months before I opened it and that happened.

[kglad]

leave your computer disconnected, but i think that's going to fail.  actually, when you open the apps, are you seeing the number of days remaining decrease?

(and, if you open and minimize, but not close apps, i think you'll be able to avoid the deactivation.)

[Illostraight]

No, as long as it's off-line, they, so far, are not bothered in any way. Hmmmm, not sure what u mean by minimize them. How can you work if they are minimized? What if I dragged them out of the application folder? And when I was online when I first got the deactivate message, yes, I was able to sign in to adobe via firefox. I tried my old email I signed up with it with, and it says you have 'no account under that email'. So I don't know. I did change the computer sign in and apple ID to match my other devices. Don't know if that would have messed up anything.

[kglad]

copy and paste, in a reply here, a screenshot of an app's help menu.

instead of opening and closing apps, you would unminimize and minimize.

[Illostraight]

Which means I'd have to put the computer online and it might deactivate them? It's been well over 5 days and the deactivate message came up immediately when I clicked on the PS icon.

[kglad]

why do you have to go online?

and currently, you can't open any cs6 apps?

[Illostraight]

I can open all the CS6 apps if I don't go online and have them activated. I would like to go online so I can email and transfer sketches and in progress stages to the client without using a thumbdrive to go between my new computer and to avoid wearing out my old USB connections on my faithful, old desktop. One on the front is already dead.

[kglad]

you could add adobe.com to your hosts file and that might protect you.  adding a firewall block would help , too.

[Illostraight]

Thanks. Don't know how to do the host file, doesn't that involve the terminal? Not a clue with that unless I had the code. I can do the firewall, but not sure what in Adobe I'm looking to block except each individual app, or just turn off 'Don't allow incoming software connections'? Remember, you're talking to old school here.

[kglad]

you're trying to block all adobe.com contact.  whether that's sufficient, i don't know.

probably you should just keep that computer offline.

[Illostraight]

I found Adobe Updater in the library, took it out. Maybe if I put the apps in the trash and turn it on. I might get brave enough to put it back online. Thx for sticking with me.

[kglad]

keep us updated if anything changes.

[Illostraight]

I absolutelly will. Buillding up my courage. Thanks again! 

PS, don't close the thread if possible, might take me a while for that courage to show up.   😉

[kglad]

i'll make sure it stays unlocked.  if there's ever a problem with that, just private message me.

[Illostraight]

Thank you kglad! Have a good night.

[kglad]

thank you.

[Illostraight]

YAY! You did it! The firewall worked! I am so grateful as this took away the stress. Thanks again!

[kglad]

oh, good news.  congratulations!

[Chrisabyss]

They deactivated my CS6 Creative suite as well. They are making it so you can not reactivate it again. They want extort everyone into renting software. I wont be doing that. There are cheaper options that work better. I tried reactivating with a tech online. He said i have it installed and activated already on another machine. I checked my account. It says there are no activated machines. I really wish there was a class action, for all of us who spent bucket loads of money buying the software. I really hate the greed Adobe has shown. Their rental prices are ridiculous as well, for those of us who are hobbyists... 

[kglad]

@Chrisabyss 

everyone with a legal license can reactivate, if the have activations remaining.  everyone can deactivate (and restore available activations) IF they have an updated computer and updated default browser with a legal activation.

[Chrisabyss]

My account says I have no activated machines. But I get a message that it's reached its limit of machines. Which is not true. They said I have CS6 creative suite on 2 machines when I contacted them. I only have one iMac computer. So they are lying. 

[kglad]

in the last 10+ years, you've only installed your cs6 once?