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RussJ12
New Participant
September 26, 2017
Answered

Locked CS2 activation code [CS2 is dead and gone]

  • September 26, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 26491 views

i got a new computer and now adobe is asking for an activation code?  help please.

    Correct answer John T Smith

    Adobe removed old links from public view https://theblog.adobe.com/changes-to-creative-cloud-download-availability

    -also read https://prodesigntools.com/adobe-limits-software-downloads.html

    CS2 is completely gone

    4 replies

    D
    dofaust@gmail.com
    New Participant
    January 14, 2020

    Yes, you repeat the party line quite eloquently, but ignoring the obvious issues of FAIRNESS and EQUITY. The fact remains that people should be able to use the software they purchased at their own risk. E.g., the tens of millions worldwide using XP, which continues to work FINE. That may be beside the point. Since Adobe has effectively prevented customers from using the software they purchased earlier on a new computer, I, like many, have concluded that Adobe doesn't want my business. Fine. I haven't bought anything from Adobe in at least a decade. There are obvious alternatives for badly-treated customers. (Gimp and other open-source software is very good, and often without Adobe's illogical UIs)

      S
      Sunny_rebel6C2B
      New Participant
      January 25, 2020

      You are correct -- Adobe is rich, greedy, arrogant, and does not want your business unless you are a well-to-do professional designer. I own both CS2 and CS4, and Adobe staff tell me that I can longer use either one after replacing the disk drive in my computer.. Either (or both) will run fine under Windows 10. I will not return as an Adobe customer. I can only hope that all their customers move elsewhere.

        Nancy OShea
        Nancy OShea
        Brainiac
        January 25, 2020

        15 million Creative Cloud subscribers don't agree with you.  But that's neither here nor there.

         

        "I own both CS2 and CS4, and Adobe staff tell me that I can longer use either one after replacing the disk drive in my computer."

         

        Unless there is something you're not telling us,  CS4 should work on Win10.  Do you have a valid individual serial number and the original CS4 installation media?   Given it's advanced age, it may not work perfectly but it should work reasonably well.  

         

        CS1, CS2, and CS3 are officially dead.

         

        ================

        Beware of fake Adobe reps offering to sell you software or take control of your computer.  It's a scam.  Run away!

        3 Easy Ways to Identify Genuine Adobe Staff

        https://tinyurl.com/10791730

         

        Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator
        F
        forrestj1234
        New Participant
        July 25, 2019

        Adobe Illustrator CS2 Authorization

        I had to change my motherboard in my computer and reinstalled Illustrator CS2. (My Photoshop, Acrobat, InDesign and Premiere Pro all reinstalled and authorized)  It is asking for a Authorization Code only for Illustrator CS2, where the online and phone authorizations do not work.  I read and went to the links described below and did not find any Special Downloads to obtain an Authorization Code.  My CS2 is a 'lifetime license, non-expiring.  It works fine using my new computer, but it is in the 30-day trial period.  Adobe Help only tells me I need to upgrade and pay a monthly fee.  If this is the case, this is THEFT.  Anyone have any answers?  The Staff's instructions are vague and don't appear to be correct.

        Nancy OShea
        Nancy OShea
        Brainiac
        July 25, 2019

        CS2 activation servers were permanently taken offline many years ago. 

        forrestj1234  wrote

        My CS2 is a 'lifetime license,

        No it's not.  There is no such thing as a  "lifetime license."  There never was.  According to the Terms of Service you agreed to, you had a perpetual license to use Adobe's CS2 software for as long as the software was supported.  CS2 came out in 2005 and support ended about 18 months later in 2007.   Beyond that you used the software at your own risk. 

        At one time, Adobe provided an activation-free installer and replacement serial number for those who had purchased it but that has since been revoked.  The download links are no longer available.  So there is no possible way to activate CS2 beyond the 30 day trial.   Sorry.

        You can join the Creative Cloud All Apps plan for US $53/month for 12 months which includes 20+ apps and services.  And all CC plans include free upgrades for as long as you remain a paid member.

        Creative Cloud pricing and membership plans | Adobe Creative Cloud

        See system requirements

        Adobe Creative Cloud system requirements

        Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator
        Nancy OShea
        Nancy OShea
        Brainiac
        September 27, 2019
        If you don't want to call it theft, that's fine, but what do you call it? We paid hundreds of dollars for this software. There is nothing that I can think of that compares to this in the software world. Certainly registration and serial numbers are important to prevent product theft and illegal use of the software, but what right does the manufacturer have to turn around, even 10 or 15 years later and tell us, sorry you can't use it any longer? What's the rationale other than they don't want to pay for the servers that dish out the activation code (a process i'm not clear why exists in the first place). Additionally, if Adobe did provide CS2 for free for awhile, then that further adds the question of what the big deal is to them that some people still use CS2. It seems to me they want to push people to the subscription service OR away from Adobe. The latter is going to be my choice.
        Software has an expected shelf-life of 3-5 years. CS2 was released in 2005 -- nearly 15 years ago. You had a good long run while it lasted. Most machines cannot support it anymore. That's why it has been pulled. Time to move on.....
        Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator
        S
        staley2001
        New Participant
        May 28, 2019

        I just chatted with Support and now all CS2, Audition 3, and Acrobat 7 installers are no longer available for download.

        Jon Fritz
        Jon Fritz
        Brainiac
        May 28, 2019

        Adobe changed their previous version policies. The only way to get old versions like that now is to contact Adobe Customer Care and, using a valid license that you already have on the older software, get direct links to download them.

        They're not available at the old locations anymore.

        S
        staley2001
        New Participant
        May 28, 2019

        Hi, I tried. But the Adobe rep told me that they aren't available at all. Should they be?

        Bani Verma
        Community Manager
        Bani VermaCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        September 26, 2017

        Hi Russj12,

        As you have mentioned you would like to install and activate your Adobe CS 2 on your new machine, i would recommend you to refer to the following help document: "Activation server unavailable" error in Adobe CS2, Acrobat 7, and Audition 3.

        Note: CS 2 is a very old software it is not compatible with latest operating systems.

        Let us know if this helps.

        R
        RussJ12Author
        New Participant
        September 26, 2017

        I HAVE IT INSTALLED NOW ON WINDOWS 10, WORKING GREAT BUT IS COUNTING DOWN TO ACTIVATION?

        Bani Verma
        Community Manager
        Bani VermaCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        September 26, 2017

        You may refer to the link provided in my post above to resolve the activation issue.

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