Where to find old CS Master Collection downloads?

[xteal]

Looking for the CS Master collections (CS3,4,5,5.5, and 6) download links and I can't find them, web.archive.org isn't of much help either, I could only get CS2 and CS1. 

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

CS1, CS2 and CS3 are officially dead and gone.  Even if you could find old installers, you can never activate them because the servers for that are gone.

CS4, CS5 and CS6 are on life support.  Adobe Customer Care agents can't give you links to installers unless you have legitimate serial numbers purchased directly from Adobe.

For student/teacher & volume licensed editions, you must use your original disks provided to you at time of purchase.

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

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.  Creative Suite is not legally sold by any retailer, vendor or country.

[desisn.com]

CS1, CS2 and CS3 are officially dead and gone.  Even if you could find old installers, you can never activate them because the servers for that are gone.

CS4, CS5 and CS6 are on life support.  Adobe Customer Care agents can't give you links to installers unless you have legitimate serial numbers purchased directly from Adobe.

For student/teacher & volume licensed editions, you must use your original disks provided to you at time of purchase.

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

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.  Creative Suite is not legally sold by any retailer, vendor or country.

By @Nancy OShea

This is actually not true. Adobe offered CS3 versions for download together with a new serial when they switched off the servers. People like me who bought CS3 can still install it using that version and it works.

[kglad]

@desisn.com 

that was cs2.

[Peru Bob]

@kglad

Actually, CS3 users were provided a new serial number that didn't require activation if they contacted Adobe support.

The CS2 version that didn't require activation was available to everybody on the honor system.

[desisn.com]

Exactly. There was an online option to switch the old version into a new one with a new serial. I got this downloaded on my computer together with the serial and several update patchers for Photoshop CS3 etc. It also shows up in my Adobe profile.

[kglad]

@desisn.com 

can you still install that cs3 version?

[desisn.com]

Yes, I can. And I beg to differ. This is a professional toolset that still works perfectly fine, just as a professional 2000+ $ software should. I can still play games that were released 30 years ago. This has nothing to do with a 15 year old frozen pizza which costs 2$.

[desisn.com]

Just for your information. On windows I heard it even runs on Windows 11. On Mac it runs up to Mojave (Indesign CS3 only runs till High Sierra I think). I mostly use Photoshop CS3 which runs fine. But on Mac you can not run it on the newer OS versions...

[kglad]

@desisn.com 

thanks for that info.  and yes, some pre cc versions of adobe apps will run on 64 bit only os'es but they all have 32 bit installers so need os'es that support both to install and run.

[Nancy OShea]

This is actually not true. Adobe offered CS3 versions for download together with a new serial when they switched off the servers. People like me who bought CS3 can still install it using that version and it works.

By @desisn.com

=========

Actually the exchange program for an activation-free version ended long gone.  For everyone else who missed out, it's a moot point now. 

CS3 works the way a 15 year old frozen pizza works -- it may resemble pizza but it's not something anyone would want to consume. 😝

Photoshop improvements

https://www.aela.io/blog/all/photoshop-2024-8-new-features-you-need-to-know

[John T Smith · Accepted solution]

First, CS3 and earlier are completely DEAD and gone... there is no activation server, so you will not be able to use them

For the rest, Adobe has removed ALL public download links

According to HOW LONG IS MY DOWNLOAD AVAILABLE at the next link the time is 3 years
-https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/adobe-stores-online-order-payment-faq.html

For CS6 and earlier you may download ONLY if you bought direct from Adobe via download
-Log-in to your account and click this link https://account.adobe.com/products
--IF there is a download button with your product you will be able to download
--as always, write the serial number in a text file AND copy that text file and the
---download file(s) to an external drive (or two) to be sure you have what you need
-if you did not buy direct from Adobe via download you must find your original install
--if you have an Education or volume license you MUST use your original media
--the link for an Education or volume license download is not available at all
-if you bought a disc and don't have a drive you will need to buy an external USB drive
-if you bought a download from a 3rd party vendor you will need to contact that vendor