Participant

Question

Photoshop CS3 can't be activated [CS3 IS DEAD]

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
April 14, 2022
2 replies
1489 views

Hi,

my issue is that I want to activate my old software CS3 extended but that doesn't work.

I understand the software is old and the activation server is down. There is no running Adobe service existing anymore. So far so nice and acceptable. But that's not important for me. Why? The installation runs well and the software is running without problems during the 30 days testing period so I can expect or take the risk to try out that / what (it) will happen in the same way after the 30 days.

-> as I bought this software nobody can forbid me to use it on my own risk (without Adobe service) as long as I want. If you drive a 15 years old car no automaker will collect your key and say, you either have to walk now or buy a new one.

So, I would be happy if anybody has a tip how to activate the software offline (wo the not existing activation server) before I start writing books of correspondence with Adobe about who is the owner of what ...

Thanks a lot for your experience.

Cheers,

Christian

Activation

This topic has been closed for replies.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

CS3 is dead. After the 30 day trial ends, it will stop working.

If you can't or won't pay for new software, nobody can force you. There are free and low cost options available. However they fall short of what modern Photoshop can do.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

Peru Bob

Community Expert

Shortly after the activation server was shut down, a non activation version was available for licensed users.

The window for that has long passed.

C

Christian24042597wccrAuthor

Participant

Cool, but I was a licenced user with another laptop and another (but still existing) mail adress - I got no information about that, so had no chance to get this software (if it was for free, otherwise it would make no sense).

If possible. for sure I am interested in taking that version (as there surely will be one on your archive servers). Alternatively I am sure that there is a solution to unlock mine within a file of the installation package I already have as that is what the activation server would also have done. I only need an instruction and maybe a requested code.

Do you think that's feasible?

C

Christian24042597wccrAuthor

Participant

(as there surely will be one on your archive servers).

By @Christian24042597wccr

I'm sorry, but I'm not an Adobe employee.

You may want to consider the Photography Plan if your computer meets the specs:

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html?ef_id=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz55PKZGJN3S_ofU2sxGMc80y0snE6H_VGAXyBMv65_mSEWmpVJcJPoaAhIDEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3085!3!271656765088!!!g!!!1413573331!55719868215&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjN-SBhCkARIsACsrBz55PKZGJN3S_ofU2sxGMc80y0snE6H_VGAXyBMv65_mSEWmpVJcJPoaAhIDEALw_wcB

Ah, sorry, your first comment sounded for me like this. 😉

Thanks for the plan but I am not a professional photoshop user, so a monthly payment for something I use seldom is not a business case for me (you cannot know that). But I would like to reactivate my hobby, that's why I installed my good old CS3. And who knows, perhaps the hobby will take more and more time and the photography plan will be of interest.

But first of all I need to find a way to get it activated. You helped me a lot - as there was a "free" version offered to licenced users after activation server shut down, this proves at least that my right to use a bought software is not limited by existing activation possibilities. Thanks for that.

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