Unable to reinstall CS6 Photoshop

[paulkinz]

My old system is gone, moved to a new system and now I get the error:

"The serial number [xxxx] is already in use by the
maximum allowed computers. You need to deactivate another computer within 25
days to use this product."

Elsewhere I saw an answer that said if I don't deactivate the license on the old system (can't do this, nor can somebody with a crashed hard drive), I can't install CS6 on the new system. Is that true? What kind of crap policy is this? Isn't Adobe a repoutable company that supports its products?

Doesn't Adobe have a database that's checked to see if there are multiple computers running the same license? Why can't that be updated to forget the old system?

Is there any solution for this? I've got a valid license that Adobe will not allow me to run.

And I absolutely loath subscription software.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Paul, thanks for posting your question about managing your remaining Creative Suite 6 activations in 2025. You are correct, you will need to deactivate on a previous installation, to free up an activation for a new computer. You can find more information on the process at https://adobe.ly/3KWk86i.

It is no longer possible to remotely deactivate computers or increase the activation count. We have made updates to allow people to continue to activate their older software titles in 2025. You can find more information on the updated sign-in process at https://adobe.ly/4nuLG0p.

If you cannot deactivate Creative Suite 6 on a previous computer, then you will need to find a new solution for your creative needs. ^JW

[Nancy OShea]

Did you deactivate Creative Suite 6 from your previously installed devices first?
That's critically important because your individual license has a strict 2 time activation limit. Remote deactivation of Creative Suite is not possible.
- https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activate-deactivate-products.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

If the old devices are dead or no longer in your possession, you're stuck. You won't be allowed to activate CS6 on another device.

MODERN OPTIONS:

==============
Photoshop Elements (3 year license, no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Annual Photography plan. Includes the following:
- Photoshop CC and Photoshop on iPad
- Camera Raw
- Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
- Lightroom Classic
- Portfolio website + hosting
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

[paulkinz]

No, I didn't deactivate it. We lost the hard drive. How can I deactivate when I can't boot up the system? Am I the first person to have faced this problem? I bet not, but you guys have no ability to address this. That is customer hostile.

I'm angry because I paid for a tool that should work when I move it to another system. It doesn't work apparently because a database with Adobe seems to think the license is on two systems. Are you going to attempt to tell me that you have no ability to go into YOUR database and poke it to let it know that my other system is gone? I spent 30 years in the computer industry and so I will laugh at you.

A reputable software company that cared about their customers would not leave their customer high and dry just because they don't feel like changing something in their own database which would be trivial to do, but you refuse to do this.  That's not how you delight customers.

Now do you understand why I'm pissed?

[kglad]

yes, it's true.

[paulkinz]

Which part is true? The part about adobe not caring about its customers? 🙂

[Nancy OShea]

The support window for CS6 ended 3 years after your purchase. You've been using unsupported software for about 10 years. That's nothing to be bitter about. 

[paulkinz]

Yes, I can be pissed. It was working on an old system which died. I should be able to install my software that I own on another computer and expect it to work if it were from a reputable company that cared about its customers.

And to use the excuse that you (Adobe) are unable or unwilling to go poke a bit in your database to provide a customer a service that they paid for is just stupid.

[Nancy OShea]

Yes, I can be pissed. It was working on an old system which died.

By @paulkinz

==========

I'm sorry for your loss, but I neither work for Adobe nor make the software. I'm just an unpaid forum volunteer and long-time product user like you. 

The path from darkness starts with a flick of the light switch. 

When you see all that modern Photoshop can do, you'll kick yourself for not trying it sooner.

Try Photoshop free for a 7-day no risk trial. Cancel before the trial ends and owe nothing.

Good luck.

[paulkinz]

Thank you for your attention, I understand you don't work for adobe so I"m not pissed at you. And it's my wife that's using it, she just hates dealing with disreputable companies so I do the dirty work. We will be looking for an alternative. I hate dealing with companies like Adobe has become. I gave up on Quicken for pretty much the same reason, now using Gnucash.

[John T Smith]

1 - most of the people who post here do not work for Adobe

2 - the few Adobe employees who post here are support, not policy makers

Sorry, but writing here isn't going to reach anyone with the authority to make changes to policy

PS - Adobe is not the only company with changed and/or restrictive policies

A very long time ago I had a version of Microsoft Office that did everything I needed... then Microsoft made a MAJOR change to Windows, and I had to buy a new version of MS Office

I'm sure there are other companies that have done similar things

[paulkinz]

I asked the support guy who the CEO was and what his address was several times and he wouldn't answer. I have actually gotten responses sometimes from people when I write to the CEO. A CEO who doesn't get any information other than his stovepipe is a useless CEO.

[Nancy OShea]

Do a Google Search. Adobe's a global company. The CEO is public record.  

[John T Smith]

People who work in a support center for ANY company deal with the instructions they are given... not with company policy... Do what Nancy said if you want to find the CEO

[kglad]

Elsewhere I saw an answer that said if I don't deactivate the license on the old system (can't do this, nor can somebody with a crashed hard drive), I can't install CS6 on the new system. Is that true?

this is true