Any way around Acrobat 8.1 Standard e-licensing grace period, when valid serial # can't be entered?

[Time To Bake the Donuts]

I have used 8.1 Standard for years, on an XP machine and then when I got a Win 10 machine in early 2020.  At some point under XP, I had to obtain a new serial # from Adobe for e-licensing.  I have both the original and additional serial numbers, which apparently are useless now for new installs.  About a month ago, I installed Acrobat DC Reader along side my 8.1 Standard.  After a few weeks, my 8.1 Standard totally disappeared as an App.  Gone.  I did not do this manually.  Not realizing my precarious situation, I reinstalled 8.1.  This triggered the e-license 30-day grace period warning.

I have no idea how I was able to install 8.1 Standard on the Woin 10 machine last year without incident.  I don't know if I entered the original serial # or one I obtained later from Adobe, but it worked fine with no warnings.  I have tried unistalling 8.1, running AcroCleaner, reinstalling, but the grace period counter does not reset.  If I can't enter the serial number somehow (again, I am confused why I was able to in 2020), is there no way to remove every trace of 8.1 and limp along with reinstalling monthly?  This is insideous, as of course my CD of 8.1 is legal in every way.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Unless you were one of the lucky few who got from Adobe the non-activation version of Acrobat 8, you can no longer use it, since Adobe retired the activation servers for it.

[Time To Bake the Donuts]

Thank you for the response.  This is so objectionable.  By deactivating the servers, Adobe has essentially end-of-lifed the product for many users.  Adobe makes awesome products - Acrobat 8 does everything I have neeeded or need today, just like Photoshop 5.5.  I am still using Office 2003, which also does everything I need.  Maybe this is the way of the world - changing to subscription based services to generate a steady and endless stream of income, but I find this most objectionable.  I just rebuilt one of my XP systems from scratch, and I can't reinstall Acrobat 8 because of something Adobe did!  There is no way I should have to buy new software, and paying $70-100 a year for each piece of software I use, that just isn't going to be happening.  I would have to go back to work just to support my software.   I just heard that Toyota beginning in 2018 started a subscription service for key FOBS for their cars, where owners have to pay a monthly fee for full use of the key FOB.   It seems like greed has taken over.