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

[-------ab]

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 · Accepted solution]

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

[JazzPlayer]

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?

[kglad]

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

[suezew]

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.

[Steve G-HI]

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.

[try67]

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.

[robm35585302]

Has anyone found a solution to this yet? I too have lost use of my Acrobat 8 installation as I cannot reactivate it following migration to new hardware. I've spent hours online in the forum and Adobe Chat trying to restore use of this product. I cannot get through to Adobe UK on their listed phone numbers and they do not return my call.

To me this seems unacceptable, how can the market leader in PDF software treat their loyal customers so badly?

[try67]

There is no solution. Acrobat 8 can no longer be activated.

I agree this is not OK, but it's out of our hands...

[Test Screen Name]

It might be that Adobe don't number among their loyal customers people who haven't upgraded in more than 10 years. No I don't agree they should turn it off, but if they are allowed to I can see why they would.

[IcusRey]

You purchase a product that is supposed to be "YOURS". It serves your purposes. Why would you spend more money for upgrades when you don't need them? Does loyalty amount to $$$ in your eyes? Changing versions every few years is just a way to get more money from their customers.

Servers are expired, WTF is that supposed to mean? That's just an excuse to avoid saying "we took your money, even though your a legitimate owner, we are refusing to make a few clicks to allow you to use your rightfully expected products. Spend more money, so that we can do it to you again in the future".

Planned obsolecense, designed to force consumers to keep purchasing products endlessly. Good for their revenue, terrible for their customers. So, HOW LOYAL SHOULD THE CUSTOMER BE????

[Test Screen Name]

I can't speak for Adobe, they aren't here, but clearly the answer to "Does loyalty amount to $$$ in your eyes? " is YES.

The only loyal customer is the one who subscribes or pays for upgrades.

Someone who shopped at Walmart in 2007 is probably not a Loyal Customer in Walmart's eyes.

I don't say this is a good thing, but there appear to be no checks or balances on this. A software company can indeed deliberately close down its old versions. 

[try67]

there appear to be no checks or balances on this. A software company can indeed deliberately close down its old versions. 

By @Test Screen Name

Not quite true. Planned obsolescence is illegal in France, for example, and hopefully soon in the entire EU.

Maybe that will force companies not to sell products they plan on making impossible to use in the future.

[IcusRey]

The question still remains, where is Adobe loyalty to consumers who invested in their products? Loyalty should not diminish with time. Some of these products cost a fortune when purchased. Not everyone can afford to repurchase newer versions or upgrades. The system could in fact be set up to re-activate older products as well as current ones. A retail version should activate with only a serial without need of a server. The only associated cost to Adobe would be for migrating the data to current servers. Then a simple match to the consumers account email address would do it for the consumer. Nope, they want you to buy more product, then be kicked to the curb again in a few years or pay recurring subscriptions.

[IcusRey]

I am not contesting ending of support for an old product. I would however contest ending the customers ability to reinstall and activate it. There is no support effort or cost involved in that on the part of Adobe.

You should be able to reactivate any product you invested in, as long as it is still functional on the hardware you own. People asking for activation are not asking for a support specialist to spend time with them, just be allowed to activate a product they bought and paid for.

Wal-Mart has never stopped me from using anything I purchased there, nor have they caused a fully functional product to cease functioning due to the age of it. That argument is mute.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[kglad]

i'm not disputing anything you posted.

my understanding is that the hardware used for acrobat 8, and other old programs, activation broke down and were too old to be repaired/replaced.

[try67]

That's a cop-out. Adobe is a multi-billion dollar company. If they wanted to maintain these servers they would have been able to do it without any problems. Also, for a while there was an installer available for Acrobat 8 that didn't require activation at all. Why not continue to offer it to those people who bought a legitimate so-called "perpetual" license?

[kglad]

i don't know.  and you may think you know, but you don't know.  

[rbrown3012]

It's always, always about the money. Many software vendors have or are moving away from sale of their software to renting it via a monthly or annual fee. This generates way more money than a one unit outright sale.

[Robert30401664aloz]

I also had the same issue - indicates "Trial Perioed has expired" after migrating to new hardware and unable to re-activate.

After much searching and requesting...gave up on Adobe...Pro version 8.1 was great and will not pay for an annual subscription as my use of the product is limited anyway. Downloaded Foxit PDF Editor (small cost) and has been working great and will continue to use.

[kglad]

for others, do not migrate adobe products.  that's usually going to fail.

properly install using the installation file(s).

[defaultia5yvilj0ez4]

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.

[Test Screen Name]

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.

[rbrown3012]

All of us that are computer tech savy know that keeping the "Activation Server" on line cost Adobe almost nothing other than the electricity and occasional maintenance. I do not know if the serial numbers were purely progressive alpha numerical numbers or a structured nuber than can be verified by mathmatical calculation of a check digit. Obviously if each serial is unique then it would require storing millions of them on the server to verify as opposed to a check digit system where you only need the mathmatical formula to say yes or no as to a serials legitamacy.

However, I suspect it's more about pushing everyone to the "Cloud" formula where they can charge a monthly or annual fee. Constant cash flow is much better and smoother than the ups and down cash flow of periodic new product releases and sales.

I don't like it for me but I do understand the business model.

[kglad]

none of us have first hand knowledge of what's going on with the activation servers. and, almost certainly, anyone that has first hand knowledge or inside info is subject to an nda. but as an observer, i can say:

first the cs2 activation servers stopped working or were otherwise shut-down.  adobe then made publically available, without even needing to show or claim you owned cs2, cs2 downloads that needed no activation and their serial numbers.  you were supposed to be a ligit owner, but it was the honor system and you didn't have to sign or agree to anything to download and use the public serial numbers.

then the cs3 and cs4 servers went dark and about the same time (as best i can remember), the public cs2 links and serial numbers were removed. 

cs5, cs5.5, cs6 can still be activated, for now.  but it's obvious that will not last.