Acrobat X Standard - Cannot activate.

[WhatATechGuy]

I have a serial number that is listed in my Adobe Profile, yet when I try to use the serial number the software says: "This serial number is not valid for this product." I on my account page under "My Product" and it says I have Acrobat 10 registered with the serial number I am to use. I used the download button that is right next to the serial number. What gives? Why do they give me a download that rejects my serial number? The attached is the error I am getting, I removed the serial number for obvious reasons. 

 

[AnandSri · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I hope this message finds you well.

Please note that Acrobat X has reached its End of Life and is no longer supported. For more details, you can refer to this article: End of Support for Acrobat X and Reader X.
End of Support means that Adobe no longer provides technical support or distributes runtimes for this product.

While you can attempt to uninstall and reinstall the application and activate it using your serial number, please be aware that these steps may not work. For additional information, you may find the following resources helpful:

• Activation and Deactivation Help
• Troubleshooting Activation Issues

Thank you,
Anand Sri.

[WhatATechGuy]

Anand,

A couple things about your post. One, is it Adobe's position that software that was purchased can be disabled by Adobe at any time? Two, why can I still download the software from your website that is sitting next to my serial number if it is invalid? I have a serial number that Adobe now says is not valid, so it’s not a matter of tech support it’s a matter of Adobe invalidating my software. When a computer crashes and cannot be recovered does the Adobe license that was on it get obliterated? Why do you not have a mechanism for the software purchaser to reset all licensed software so that a license can be recovered? I am a consultant and have a need for using every piece of software I have purchased even if it is end of life. If I cannot get a purchased software to work, I will not be inclined to recommend your software to others or be very interested in purchasing Adobe software going forward. There was no time frame disclosed on how long the software would work when it was purchased and do not accept end of life as a reason to shut off access to purchased software. I would expect that your company could reset my serial number but will not expecting me to buy a newer product. That is not a good sales tactic or what I expect from customer support.

Good day to you sir.

Preston

[peter_4794]

Exactly... not like this was cheap software.

[Johnny9187]

This what Abobe replied to me:

We purchased over $2,000 worth of lifetime Acrobat (10 copies). Now they determine that my lifetime is over because they are retiring the activation servers!! I'm still living and the Acrobat X was working until reinstall of windows or forgot to deactivate old computers.

They say now because of end of life there is no support to help.... refund some of my money then! 
I'll go purchase Microsoft PDF Extra Lifetime for $79.

[peter_4794]

Yup… and it’s not like licenses were cheap!!!!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

From a purely technical viewpoint, the software isn't disabled--it's the activation servers that have been shut down. Here is a link with more details:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/acrobat-x-standard-quot-activation-servers-retire...

[peter_4794]

Post again when you have something useful on this issue.

[timokramer]

Hello...

I have the same issue... I had to replace my old machine... I deactivated the software successfully... Installed it on the new machine... and: 'Activation limit reached'.... 

This is NOT a 'support' issue... that is a legal issue.... 

It's not that we are asking Adobe to fix something or change something... We PAID for the software and their activation process is keeping us from using our software....

In the support chat I was told several times 'this product falls outside our current scope of support'... I do not care... that is an Adobe internal problem... If they are keeping us from using our software that is, sorry to repeat myself, a legal issue. (sorry, I am frustrated)

PLEASE PLEASE... if someone knows a 'trick' to activate the software... please let us know...

[kent_8125]

I have this issue, too. I need to use the product, but I can not use it after my computer was repaired. Can you trick it into working even if you can not register it? I do own my copy.  

[markus_2079]

I have this issue, too. My old PC was returned how can i activate it now? 

[peter_4794]

You can't.  They are trying to scam/force everyone into a subscription.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

They do have a "non-subscription" version that costs $324 US and lasts for [only] three years.

https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pricing/compare-versions.html

Scroll down to find the link.

[peter_4794]

Thanks bro, I’ve already paid for a perpetual license..that isn’t so perpetual when you turn activation servers off.

[WhatATechGuy]

Hello,

Something I learned is that when you do not deactivate a license, and
sometimes you cannot.
The license is lost. There are only 2 active licenses allowed for each key
and the activation does not reset over time. If a computer is disposed of
before reclaiming the key, that particular activation is gone!

Sorry about the news.

[Personal information removed]