How to reactivate CS5.5 license on computer that is no longer working

[VolgaGrad]

My old computer died. I have installed CS5 on my new computer, but keep receiving a message that my activation limit for CS5.5 is reached. The instructions direct me to deactivate it on the previous computer that no longer exist. Cans sumbody please help me with this issue? 

[kglad]

your only two options are to

1. use the computers (if they exist and still run) with the activations and open an app > click help > deactivate

2. if you purchased from or registered with adobe AND recall the user id used when purchasing/registering, go to your account (https://account.adobe.com) and click plans and payment > activated devices > deactivate from there.

[VolgaGrad]

Thank you for your response.  I purchased from Adobe and see my order on my account, so I have followed your second advice. However, when I opened that page, I see the following message "You have no activated devices".  What do I do now? Do you know if there is a phone number that I can call for support? Thanks again.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

there's no adobe support for what you want.  ie, contacting adobe support won't help you.

in addition, you said you wanted to install cs 5.5 and that's what needs an activation count reset.

[VolgaGrad]

Sorry to hear that there is no support for my issue. Yes, I used to have CS5.5 installed on my old computer that died. I have downloaded the program from my Adobe account and installed it to my new computer. However, it keeps showing me messages that I need to deactivate it on my previous dead computer, which is impossible. On my Adobe online account no devices are listed under "Activated Devices" page. That means that I cannot deactivate the old computer on my Adobe account as you originally advised. I appreciate you answering my questions and trying to help me.

[kglad]

are you sure your cs5.5 online listing is for the same product as the cs5.5. one you're trying to install?

[Nancy OShea]

@VolgaGrad,

If you can't deactivate from a device that CS5x was previously installed on, you're stuck. Sorry. There's nothing Adobe or this user-to-user community can do when your 2 activation limit is used up. 

On the bright side, you got a lot of use from 14+ year old software.  Now it's time to replace it.

MODERN OPTIONS:

===============
FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment & print PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

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

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

Creative Cloud Photography Plan (approx $10/month for 12 months). Includes the following:

• Photoshop CC and Photoshop on iPad
• Camera Raw
• Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
• Lightroom Classic
• Portfolio website + hosting
• Adobe Express (free starter plan)
• Bridge
• 20 GB cloud storage (upgradable to 1 TB).

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Premium Adobe Express ($10/month). Mobile & web-based graphics & video apps for social media content creators.
https://helpx.adobe.com/express/using/express-overview.html

Creative Cloud Subscription (Single or Bundled apps & services for mobile, web & desktop)
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Hope that helps.

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from using the community bugs">

[VolgaGrad]

My old computer died. I have installed CS5.5 on my new computer, but keep receiving a message that my activation limit for CS5.5 is reached. The instructions direct me to deactivate it on the previous computer that no longer exist.

I purchased CS5.5 from Adobe and see my order on my Adobe account. When I go to my account (https://account.adobe.com) and click plans and payment > activated devices, I see the following message "You have no activated devices". 

Can somebody please help me with this issue? Is there a number that I can call? Thank you.

[kglad]

again, there's no adobe support and you're posting inconsistent information.

[VolgaGrad]

Thank you for your response. Can you please kindly clarify what information that I provided appears inconsistent to you? I will gladly correct it.

[kglad]

your other post thread mentions a cs 5 excess activation count.

[VolgaGrad]

Sorry, I don't know what you mean by excess activation. I am just transerring licence from one computer to another because the first one is no longer operational.

[kglad]

you're seeing an excess activation count message when you try to activate, correct?

[VolgaGrad]

The message that I see has a title "Activation"

"Activation limit reached for CS5.5 Master Collection.

This serial number has already been activated on 2 computers. You must correct the problem to continue.

To correct and successfully activate this product you must deactivate one of the other activated copies. 

How to Deactivate. Launch one of the other copies of CS5.5 Master Collection, click on the Help menu and select Deactivate, then launch this copy again. If you already deactivated, try again."

I already deactivated it on the first computer. The second computer has died. When I click on button Continue for Retry Reactivation, it shows me the warning again. I am struglling with it 2nd day. It tells me I have only 1 more day left to figure it out. On my online Adobe account, it shows none activated deviced. Hopefully, this information explains my problem better. Thank you for trying to help.

[Rob_Cullen]

TBMK- Only Adobe Support Staff can reset your Activations to allow your install of CS5 to work.

Contact adobe support by clicking here, https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen
In the chat field (lower right of screen), Typing “Agent” into the chat text field will bypass the initial chatbot.
Say you "DO NOT WANT SUPPORT", only ask for "ACTIVATION RESET".

[kglad]

@Rob_Cullen 

that information is outdated no longer valid.

[kglad]

@VolgaGrad 

yes, that's the excess activation count message which is been thoroughly addressed and again:

your only two options are to

1. use the computers (if they exist and still run) with the activations and open an app > click help > deactivate

2. if you purchased from or registered with adobe AND recall the user id used when purchasing/registering, go to your account (https://account.adobe.com) and click plans and payment > activated devices > deactivate from there.

[kailas37845113v3hg]

just sayu we are out of luck stop going in cricles 

[kglad]

some of you are out of luck.

[x7z9]

I NEVER had issues with Adobe Acrobat Pro, it always worked. Only in the past 6 months did it start crying that I exceeded my computer limit. Telling people it's time to upgrade or buy Adobe's subscription ($20/mo???) for Pro is foolishness.

Now, no matter that I deactivated the software on all other computers, it still tells me that I need to deactivate the other computers to continue to use the software; I paid for the CS5 suite when I was going to college. I paid off my SUV as well, and it still works (it doesn't ask me for more money, or to deactivate my other car).

Adobe's business model is shameful, that's why I stopped paying the subscription for Lightroom and Photoshop (oh, and I can't use Photoshop CS5 as well now). No different than the pest control guy charging $50 a month for spraying your yard, but they only spray the weeds twice a year. And no motivation to improve or upgrade their services since they get paid for doing nothing every month. Where's Adobe's incentive to improve their products when they're guaranteed a continuous stream of money?

And if you didn't know, Adobe trains their AI models on your private content (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoM3nUD-1Ro). Is that not a good reason to leave this dumpster fire?

If this AI fiasco and their licensing issues for older software isn't enough to make you leave, then nothing will. I've had enough. I guess it's time to learn other software, too bad I wasted so many years learning Photoshop, and now I can't even use MY copy that I PAID FOR!!! Maybe I'll learn GIMP, at least it's open source and it will ALWAYS work!

Are you listening ADOBE? You NEED to.

[kglad]

@x7z9 

these are user forums.

to make suggestisons to adobe, https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Is the app installed on too many computers?

With a Single License, you can install the app on up to two computers concurrently. However, you can use the app on only one computer at a time. To install the app on a third computer, you MUST deactivate the app from one of the first two computers. 

Activation and deactivation troubleshooting

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

Hope that helps.