old Acrobat Pro 2020 installation does not show in "activated devices"

[martin_8133]

I have a desktop and a laptop computer, each running Acrobat Pro 2020 (single user, edu, if that matters). I forgot to deactivate my license on my laptop computer before wiping and selling it. The computer does not show under "activated devices" in my account (neither does my desktop computer). And yes, I am signed in to the correct account and it shows my license in the account (same email address as this community account).

Support for Acro 2020 Pro doesn't end until late this year, so that shouldn't be the problem. The activation and deactivation help pages don't give any hints on what to do. Please help.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

there's nothing you can do without that sold computer. ie, that activation cannot be reversed without that computer.

[martin_8133]

Thanks for your quick reply. But how is that? The licenses used to show up on my activated devices list and I understand the support pages as if they should do so until eol.
But taking it one step further: IF I get hold of the computer again, would I actually be able to reinstall (and then deactivate) Acrobat on it even though it has a completely new OS on it (but unchanged hardware) or would I also have to find an old backup with Acrobat installed and activated?

[kglad]

the activated devices list isn't significant anymore.  previously you could deactivate using that list, but not anymore.

and yes, with that sold computer, IF you could install the older acrobat with the updated os, the activation should be recognized as identical to the activation with the older os.  as you appear to know, it's the computer's hardware, not software, that adobe uses to id the computer.

[martin_8133]

Wow, simply wow.

First things first: I sold the computer to a friend and was able to remotely re-install and activate/deactivate the installation - and subsequently activating it on the new computer.

But: What kind of policy is that by Adobe? Removing this option for perpetual licenses for no obvious reason and seemingly without notice? Not giving any kind of option to contact support because of this?

I will probably upgrade my pdf editor soon because I need better scanning and OCR features. The new piece of software will not be from Adobe - for the first time in twenty-something years.

[kglad]

adobe's reason for recent changes are because of security changes at adobe.  but congrats on getting that done.  it's no small accomplishment.

[martin_8133]

Thank you for your quick and helpful support!

[kglad]

you're welcome.