Install older version of Adobe product

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

We are looking for help with licenses for Adobe products we have purchased in recent years. These are primarily different and older versions of Adobe Photoshop, Acrobat Standard, Acrobat Pro, or Adobe Photoshop Elements. During several reinstallations, we found that the product could no longer be activated due to the shutdown of the activation server by Adobe. We get into a situation where we have a legally purchased product, but we are not able to operate it. We fear that over time, this situation will occur with other product versions. I would like to ask for a solution on how to proceed and legally put older Adobe products into operation. These are licenses, for example, from the TLP program.

[Abambo]

All the programs continue to work as long as you do not touch to the installation. Currently, the activation servers for up to CS4 products have been retired due to their age. Furthermore, current operating systems may or may not run the software. There is nothing you can do about it.

You will need, over the time, to invest a minimum also in your software, not only in your hardware. So, yes, I fear too, that over time, more and more older products won't be able to be reinstalled.

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

Thanks for the answer, unfortunately it didn't help me much.

We acquired perpetual licenses without a time limit, and I don't think we can just limit the operation of the product by canceling the license server. We need to continue to use products on older OS. Yes, OS support is coming to an end and some have already ended. Adobe CS4 product support has expired.

But nowhere in the original license does it say that the product is only functional until the activation servers work.

[Abambo]

Yes, I understand your pain. But consider this:

As long as you do not change your system, any Adobe program installed continues to run. There is no limit to running the computer program. As soon as you change the parameters (i.e., a new computer, new installation) there is no guarantee that the program can be installed and activated.

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

I understand, but I don't see this sentence in the old TLP license agreement!

When I see Adobe's reluctance to help its good customers, I'm not happy about it. I even feel a little cheated. It is advertised everywhere that TLP is a perpetual license program, but nowhere do we learn about these ads that this only applies until the manufacturer says otherwise.

I am sad about this.

[Test Screen Name]

Adobe can't imagine anyone would want to run old software. I think they really can't. As well as being disappointed in users who refuse to contribute to their projected revenue. All current software is subscription based and has been for years, so it's really a non-issue to them. I remember seeing the first products with activation... I could see immediately this day would come, and wondered when. I don't like activation, but I know why they do it... many companies complained bitterly and publicly that it stopped them buying one license and installing throughout the company - 

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

You know the post is completely off topic and has nothing to do with my request.
1) These are not purchases, we just want to use what we bought, paid properly and in our opinion we can use according to the then license conditions.
2) Nobody is talking about shopping here, my thread is on a completely different topic.
3) Please do not offend anyone and do not make any assumptions about buying one license and installation throughout the company! I think you're breaking the rules of this platform. I consider your text to be extremely unprofessional, incorrect and offensive!
4) I am a SAM manager in our company. I know licensing development and trends, and I have been licensing for more than 20 years.

[alaurem3546522]

It's not always the same.

Sometimes it's working unexpectedly...

[LinSims]

If you had bought a perpetual license for, say, the Flying Toasters screen saver, would you be upset that Berkeley Systems* hadn't updated the program to run on Windows 11 on an Intel i7 CPU even though the last release was designed for Windows 95 running on a 386 and hasn't been sold in over 20 years†?

*Yes, I know Berkeley doesn't exist anymore, that's not the point.

†Yes, I know your programs aren't likely to be 20 years old. The problem is that no one can afford to spend the time and resources needed to keep updating old programs designed for old operating systems and computer specifications so that they'll run on new ones. At some point, you have to draw a line. 

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

If you would really read my post, please, you would understand that you are writing outside the question. We do not want to use old licenses on new operating systems. But old licenses on old OS. Continue to use existing licenses. We do not address the support or security of these software (PCs are off the internet).

[LinSims]

I'm sorry, but there's nothing anyone here can do: we're not Adobe employees, we're volunteers with varying levels of expertise in program use.

If you're talking about CS1 through CS4, there is nothing at all that can be done. As @Nancy OShea says, the activation servers have been shut down because they couldn't be kept running anymore. There is no offline activation available. Once you lose the machines CS1 through CS4 were running on,  you won't be able to use them anymore.

You can still activate CS5-CS6, but those servers are on life support and someday they'll be shut down, too. We don't know when.

[Nancy OShea]

I did read your post.  And you still haven't told us WHICH versions you're trying to install and activate.  So this is all rhetorical.   Also you cannot activate ANY software without Internet access.

[LinSims]

Good point. We've been assuming he's taking about a Creative Suites bundle, but he might not be. Or he may be trying to install a single program and not a CS or CC application(s).

[akmartinez1]

I am having the same issue and I'm attempting to activate my legally purchase license of CS6.

[Nancy OShea]

Deactivation from your app's Help menu disconnects the app from your computer, allowing you to activate it on another computer.

An individual license allows you to activate on up to 2 devices at the same time.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activate-deactivate-products.html

Owing to the advanced age of legacy Creative Suite products, activation may not be possible anymore. That's the risk you take with using unsupported software.

MODERN OPTIONS:
==============
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 (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 Bundles & Single App Plans for mobile, web & desktops
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Good luck.

[kglad]

@akmartinez1 

before deactivating make sure your computer is ready.  https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscri...

[Nancy OShea]

Adobe owns the software.  Perpetual licenses were never "forever" licenses. 

Activation servers for legacy CS1, CS2, CS3, and CS4 are dead. Therefore those products cannot be reinstalled.

Which version of Acrobat, Photoshop and Elements do you have?

[kstunte]

I support Vlad's frustrations. I had purchased CS4 for over $500 and it worked fine until my laptop died and I needed to purchase a new one. I have no interest in paying $20 every month when I wish to use the programs I paid for :/. Can any amount or discount be applied to creative cloud?

[Abambo]

I understand your pain.

With whom did you complain that your old computer died? As I said, as long as the program stays installed, it works fine.

IMHO professionals have a strong advantage to use the subscription-based model. If you are a hobbyist, it's more complicated.

[Nancy OShea]

If you had upgraded to CS6 at a discount when you still had the chance (pre 2017), you would have a product that can be activated on a supported operating system like Win 10 or Mac Mojave.  But that ship has sailed.   Creative Suite is long gone now.

MODERN OPTIONS:
Photoshop Elements or Premier Elements (approx $100, 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
- Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
- Lightroom Classic
- Portfolio website + hosting
- Bridge
- 20 GB cloud storage (upgradable to 1 TB).
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud All Apps (51 + apps & services) and Single Apps Plans
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Eligible Students and Teachers enjoy a substantial discount for the CC ALL Apps Plan.

[Nancy OShea]

Beware of fake Adobe reps who may contact you privately offering to sell you software or take control of your computer. It's a scam, run away! Real Adobe employees will never reach out via Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail or Skype.
=============
3 Easy Ways to Identify Genuine Adobe Staff
https://tinyurl.com/10791730

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

Post completely off topic.

[LinSims · Accepted solution]

My understanding is this: The problem isn't whether you have the equipment/OS that will allow Creative Suites 1-4 to run. The problem is that Adobe couldn't keep the activation servers for those softwares running anymore and the activation software doesn't run on the newer hardware/OSs. That means that in addition to not being able to activate the software over the Internet, Adobe can no longer supply an offline activation code because generating that also required the activation servers to be running.

Whatever you may think the perpetual license guarantees you, the fact remains that there is no way, none, at all, to reactivate any of the Creative Suites 1-4 products. If you want to continue using Adobe products, you will have to subscribe to a Creative Cloud plan that provides you with the products you need.

If you want to complain about this, you can contact Adobe directly using the following information. There's nothing we can do to help you, because we are not Adobe employees. There's nothing the customer service people at Adobe can do to help you, either, because they have no control over this decision or the machinery.

Adobe
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, CA 95110-2704
USA Tel: 408-536-6000
USA Fax: 408-537-6000

[LinSims]

She's warning you that unscrupulous people may try to sell you cracked versions of CS1-4 that don't require the activation servers. Unfortunately, this software is illegal and has a high probability that it will introduce malware of all sorts into your computer systems. That is very much on topic.

[Vladimír Chalupa 72]

You are completely off topic. I don't want to buy anything! Read my first post carefully. We want to reactivate legally acquired licenses in the TLP licensing program !!!

You keep talking about some nonsense like buying old versions! I don't want anything like that.

Thank you all for the help we already communicate directly with Adobe support.