Cannot deactivate CS5 on Windows 7

[john-6653-uk]

I wish to move my CS5 apps to a new laptop but the old CS5 will not deactivate because CS5 cannot connect to the internet. I cannot log in to my AdobeID from CS5 for the same reason.  The message I see is "Please connect to the internet, then press continue" See screen shot.

Other apps see the internet connection fine. I have tried several internet connections, home broadband as well as phone hotspot. I am not using a VPN or internet proxy.

There's nothing in the hosts file mentioning adobe.

The new installation works with my perpetual serial number but cannot activate because the old installation requires deactivation.

There is no apparently option to reset the activations counter on the Adobe side as support for CS5 has ceased.

Adobe support have no further suggestions and have closed my case on this.

Further suggestions welcome - thanks in advance.

[kglad]

and adobe employees can no longer help with activation or deactivation.

[john-6653-uk]

It seems that part of the problem with deactivation is that Adobe have limited or switched off the process or servers that host that function on the Adobe side.

I am told by collegues that when a similar commercial decision was made for CS3 and CS4 the existing and "orphaned" users were issued with new serial numbers which enabled CS3 and CS4 to contiue operating.

Could you investigate whether such a workaround process available for my CS5 installation?

[kglad]

the cs5, cs5.5 and cs6 activation and deactivation servers are still functioning as of this date.

cs2, cs3 and cs4 servers are not.

cs2 servers were the first to go offline. at that time, compensation by adobe was made (for cs2 legitimate owners) via an installation file and matching serial number that did not need activation. unfortunately, that file and serial number were used by non-cs2 owners who gloated that if adobe was stupid enough to make it available they were going to use it.

it's not clear if that ruined it for everyone else, but that cs2 file and it's serial number were removed for everyone. subsequently no compensation was offered for cs3/cs4 owners.

[john-6653-uk]

So it would be possible to issue a replacement serial number for my CS5 as a workaround for the deactivation malfunction. In this case please go ahead and advise a replacement serial number, presumably by private message

[kglad]

there's no such policy.

[John T Smith]

That number replacement was ONLY for CS2 and it was later cancelled as described

[Nancy OShea]

As heads-up, you might want to leave CS5 installed on your old machine and dedicate that device to older legacy apps. I say this because there's no guarantee that 15-year-old CS5 will install, much less activate, on new equipment that it was never designed for. 

You would be much better off getting supported software that's compatible with your new machine. 

CS5 REPLACEMENTS:
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FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, print & sign PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (3 year license, no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography Plan 
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud Bundles & Single Apps for mobile, web & desktops
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Most Adobe apps work on these systems, no more than 2 versions back:

• Windows 11 (64-bit) versions 24H2, 23H2; Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2;
• MacOS 15 (Sequoia), 14.7 (Sonoma), 13.6.7 (Ventura).

- https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

NOTE: MS is discontinuing Win10 support next month. Apple is releasing Tahoe later this year.

Hope that helps. 

[john-6653-uk]

Thnak you Nancy O'Shea. Very valid point.

[john-6653-uk]

Valid point but as I have all the features I need in CS5 for what I do but hardware (old laptop) needs replacement. CS5 software is fine for me and learning a ne version would be unproductive, especially in the short term.

[Nancy OShea]

CS5 software is fine for me and learning a ne version would be unproductive...

By @john-6653-uk

========

OK. Well, then keep using it on your old machine for as long as you can.

Hopefully, you'll get 6 or more months of use from it.