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Caleb64bit
Participant
June 23, 2023
Question

Acrobat X Standard - "Activation Servers Retired"

  • June 23, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 4460 views

I found this article:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-activation-limit-reached-sign.html

 

At the bottom it states:

"Our aging activation servers for earlier versions of Acrobat and Creative Suite (CS) applications had to be retired. Without the activation servers, these applications display an activation or connection error when trying to verify a license. 

Affected applications include Creative Suite 2, 3, and 4, Audition 3, Acrobat 7, 8, and 9 (Standard and Professional), Acrobat X, Acrobat XI, and Acrobat 3D Version 8."

 

How am I supposed to continue to use Acrobat X, a product I paid for as a stand-alone program if Adobe still requires me to activate it but does not allow me to activate it. I found other threads here that state I should contact Adobe to reset my activation count, but Adobe support just told me to post here. So here I am, an unsatisfied customer.

 

The program works great for what I need, even after 10+ years. But how can I trust a company that does not honor it's old commitments? This is a bad, short sighted policy that needs to be addressed.

 

Solutions would be appreciated to restore my faith in humanity.

    1 reply

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 1, 2023
    quote

    How am I supposed to continue to use Acrobat X, a product I paid for as a stand-alone program if Adobe still requires me to activate it but does not allow me to activate it.


    By @Caleb64bit

    The program will continue to work as it did 10 years ago, but as soon as the activation servers have been retired, you can't (re)activate the program any more. That will mean that when your computer is end of life or needs a reinstallation, you will not be able to activate the software again. If all works well on your computer, you will not need to reactivate.

    quote

    The program works great for what I need, even after 10+ years. But how can I trust a company that does not honor it's old commitments? This is a bad, short sighted policy that needs to be addressed.


    By @Caleb64bit

    The problem is that the activation servers are also ageing, and that they are no more supported by the company, where Adobe acquired the activation software. After 10+ years, you can't say that this is short-sighted.

     

    Even that I feel your pain, I have tons of software that I can't use any more. Because my OS does not support it, or because activation is no more possible, or because the product support has been retired, or because the software requires a system with a connected floppy disk.

     

    Use your Acrobat as long as it still runs. If it does not work any more, look for a replacement software.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    C
    Caleb64bitAuthor
    Participant
    July 2, 2023

    I've been priced out of Adobe software. If they offered a comparably priced standalone, or even a subscription that wasn't rediculously high for what I am using it for, I would buy it. But they don't, so I will have to look to other companies.

     

    A better practice would be to find a solution. The software works perfectly well on new OSs. I just finished a new computer build, so I need to switch the software from my old computer to my new one.

     

    Adobe clearly doesn't want the business of someone like me. They could find a solution to this issue, but they don't think it will make them any money, so they won't.

     

    Doing the right thing brings a reward, doing the wrong things also brings a reward. At least part of the reward for this choice is that if I have enough money in the future to purchase an Adobe product, I will intentionally go elsewhere. I will go out of my way to avoid a company that screws over the little guy. I'm not gunna pay $15/month for a dang Adobe Acrobat subscription. That's ridiculous for someone that doesn't need ot use it all that often.

     

    If they don't think the software is worth upkeeping, just update it such that it doesn't require activation. Afraid of pirating? Well if it is pirated, I guess they were wrong about it being worthless. What they are saying is that I am worthless to them. Well fine. Good riddens.

      T
      ted_0468
      Participant
      April 8, 2025

      It wold be waaaay too simple to continue to run the old activation servers on a virtual platform.  No additional hardware required.  Same boat.

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