Finding License for Dreamweaver 2004

[mark34666631fc5v]

I know the software is ancient, but it still does the basic things I need to do.  But I have a new PC now (Windows 11), and I can not recover the code from the application on my old PC (Windows 10). 

I've tried going to Help>Activation on my old PC

"Transfer license" doesn't work because it can't connect to the internet

"Online registration" same problem.

"Print Registration" doesn't do anything.

I have my original install disc, but not the package it came in (ARGH).   Is my license key stored somewhere in the Dreamweaker folders I have on my C: drive? 

I know, I know, I need to update.  Maybe later when I have more time to learn a new application.

[Jon Fritz]

Unfortunately, there is no way to install that version on new machines. Adobe no longer supports it in any way.

There was a time, years ago, when users were directed to an "offline activation" version of the program, but that ship has sailed. Adobe has removed all traces of it from their website.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but aside from installing a cracked version (illegal and likely infested with malware) about all you can do with the program now is use your old CDs as drink coasters.

[Nancy OShea]

Toss those 20 year old disks into your recycle bin or use them in craft projects.  The aged out Macromedia activation servers are long gone.

================
MODERN CODE EDITORS (free & paid):
-- Adobe Dreamweaver CC - https://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver.html
-- Codespaces (free, browser-based) - https://github.com/features/codespaces
-- Nova (Mac only, formerly called Coda) - https://nova.app/
-- Pinegrow (visual web designer) - https://pinegrow.com/
-- Sublime Text (text only)- http://www.sublimetext.com/
-- Visual Studio Code (free) - https://code.visualstudio.com/

+ Free Live Preview Extension - https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-vscode.live-server
-- Wappler ~ Visual Web App Builder - https://wappler.io/

Hope that helps.

[mark34666631fc5v]

Yeah, thanks. I was afraid of that, but wanted to check before I chucked them out. 

[Ben M]

I know the software is ancient, but it still does the basic things I need to do.  But I have a new PC now (Windows 11), and I can not recover the code from the application on my old PC (Windows 10). 

I've tried going to Help>Activation on my old PC

"Transfer license" doesn't work because it can't connect to the internet

"Online registration" same problem.

"Print Registration" doesn't do anything.

I have my original install disc, but not the package it came in (ARGH).   Is my license key stored somewhere in the Dreamweaker folders I have on my C: drive? 

I know, I know, I need to update.  Maybe later when I have more time to learn a new application.

By @mark34666631fc5v

You don't need to learn a new application. If you learn HTML/CSS basics, you can likely continue to edit your site in any text editor. And based on how old that version is, it's more likely that your site is in need of a larger update. If you can share a link to your page, it may be worth evaluating the best course of action to take for your site.

The biggest question that gets raised in scenarios like yours is whether the investment in time to learn code will be worth you investing in additional software to help your workflows, or whether you consider a move to a self-hosted CMS (ie: Wordpress), or a fully-hosted CMS with a page builder (ie: Wix/Webflow/etc).

[ann_5512]

Yeah, I'm old school and there isn't a darn thing wrong with OLD SCHOOL !!! I don't need no fancy website with all the bells and whistles, but I LOVE my old version of DREAMWEAVER!!! I started out with AOLPRESS (yeah, it was a thing and you had to know HTML... NO BELLS OR WHISTLES AT ALL... kids today would be lost! LOL) ... 

Just had to buy a new laptop and I do NOT like it... NO CD, only 2 USBs... but hey, it is what it is... I reckon'. I loved Dreamweaver when it was Macromedia... 

Time to pull out the OLD RELIC LAPTOPS ... I never get rid of any of them. Still have an old PC with Win98 on it for software NO LONGER revised! (And I love those OLD RELICS!)

One thing I am ticked about... not being able to use my REMOTE FILE TRANSFER... I hear it goes away next year. Guess I'll go back to OLD SCHOOL again with WS-FTP! 

Maybe companies should think that NOT ALL OLD FOLKS care to use newer versions. And I refuse to pay a monthly fee to use a program when I have a CD I PURCHASED! It's all about the money honey!!!

So, if you have an old laptop, stick with it! I love my OLD RELICS! Good Luck!

Now to go online and find me a device to attach to this new laptop so I can upload my software!!! What a pain in the .... to go with the one I did for 3.5 discs when that went away. Have so many of those LOL!!!! Thank Heavens my old PC can still handle the 5" Floppies! Yeah, I am very OLD SCHOOL! Have a nice day! And good luck. 

[BenPleysier]

I love Benton Harbour Basic for which I paid a lot of money for the disks.

My computer back then:

A Zenith Z-89 with a Z80 8-bit processor running 64K of RAM of which only 56K was available to the CP/M operating system. One internal and two external floppy disk drives - double-sided and double-density. Still have it all, including disks for Microsoft Basic.

The problem I have now, I cannot run Benton Harbour Basic on my current Windows 11 machine. As said, I paid a lot of money for these disks and being very old school, I demand that I be able to use the software on my current machine.

[ann_5512]

WOW... now that is OLD SCHOOL! You got me beat! I remember when we just had DOS! Looking back at these machines, they look so alien LOL! Then Win3.1 came out... I did like that and learning FREELANCE GRAPHICS and HARVARD GRAPHICS (the only graphics the Navy used at the time)... then Win95 and Win98 pretty good... then came VISTA... I think I am missing one before or after VISTA??? Then you had the 7, 8, 9, and even 10. I do NOT like 11!! But yeah, just because you upgrade, is no reason to remove older verisons! We should at the least be able to use software from at least Wins 7!!! I love my old relics!!! Heck, even have an old manual typewriter I still use... ;)... zip BING!

[ann_5512]

Looked at Wappler.... nope, refuse to pay a MONTHLY fee.... but it does have a similar look of Dreamweaver.... I'll just use my old laptops... 

[Nancy OShea]

Yeah, I'm old school and there isn't a darn thing wrong with OLD SCHOOL !!!  I'll just use my old laptops... 

By @ann_5512

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

Old programming software is about as useful as a 20 year old frozen pizza -- it may look like pizza but falls way short of what humans should actually consume. 😝

This is NOT the last century anymore. The Internet is rife with bad actors aided by AI-driven tools who have no qualms about exploiting soft targets. They thrive on vulnerabilities and take advantage of unsuspecting victims. That's not just hyperbole.  It's how things really are. 

There are plenty of low to no-cost alternatives you can use that will keep pace with modern coding demands.

CODE TUTORIALS:
- https://www.w3schools.com/html/
- https://www.w3schools.com/css/
- https://www.w3schools.com/js/

- https://www.w3schools.com/bootstrap/
================
CODE EDITORS:
-- Adobe Dreamweaver CC - https://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver.html
-- Codespaces (free, browser-based) - https://github.com/features/codespaces
-- Notepad++ (free) - https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
-- Nova (Mac only, formerly called Coda) - https://nova.app/
-- Pinegrow - https://pinegrow.com/
-- Sublime Text - http://www.sublimetext.com/
-- Visual Studio Code (free) - https://code.visualstudio.com/

   + Live Preview Extension
============
ONLINE SITE BUILDERS:
-- Squarespace - https://www.squarespace.com/
-- Webflow - https://webflow.com
-- Wix - https://www.wix.com/
-- WordPress (open source) - https://wordpress.org/

If you won't use modern tools, you should find another hobby that poses less risks to yourself and others.  What you don't know really can hurt you.  See my recent post about Website Lawsuits.

Good luck.

[ann_5512]

Haha... thanks for the insight! At 68 I am good with OLD SCHOOL. You do you and I will do me! And that website, W3... I've been using it since the early 2000 along with the HTML one when I was learning to use AOLPress. That software had NO bells and whistles, then DREAMWEAVER came along... LOVE that program! HOWEVER, I refuse to pay a monthly fee for something I paid a lot of money for back in the early 2000s and the program has NOT failed me once. Last upgrade was 2019 and I am very happy with that!!!  I still don't use what bells and whistles they have.

As a graphic designer by trade, I am picky about what I like and what I use. Buying a brand new laptop to find out (because I just ASSUMED it came with a CD)... and finding out NO CD player ... I was upset because how was I going to install my software. That is what I GET for NOT paying ATTENTION TO DETAIL when purchasing! I'll still use it for minor things, but pulled up my old pc with WIN98... and an old laptop with Win7 (which has an old version of Dreamweaver) and was able to use it. If I have to use several to get done what I need, I shall do so! And after 30+ years of paying for Ancestry... I am finally giving up genealogy which I've been doing since 1972. So, hobbies, I have plenty! But right now, it is focused on research of my former military base and my website is looking awesome!

Have a FINE NAVY DAY! And good luck to you as well.

PS: AI... forget it... not impressed. I personally can do without it! But I know everyone wants someone or something to do the work for them!

[Nancy OShea]

No modern computers come with built-in CD/DVD drives anymore.  It's industry-wide because software is distributed by digital downloads now. 

The extra cost to custom order an optical reader is not worth the expense when you can pick-up an external one on Amazon for $25.  It connects via your USB 2 or 3 port and stores discretely in a desk drawer when you're not using it (which is most of the time). 

Do what you will but like it or not, time stands still for no one. The web is not the same place it was 20 years ago. Server security protocols are more advanced & hosting providers are making it harder to do business as usual.  When your relic software can't connect to your server because it's too out-of-date, you'll realize why clinging to old technology is not an option.  

Get FileZilla or some other modern S/FTP client to transfer files. Both free & pro versions are regularly updated with latest security patches. Hit the Green Download button below for the free version.

https://filezilla-project.org/download.php

[ann_5512]

My old laptops serve their purposes. (i.e., 3 of them are setup for 3 different scanners ONLY... internet disabled. One I removed the file for the internet. I set it up that way so more than one person can assist with scanning.) Not an issue. They work just fine! 🙂 I am okay with software download ... I am NOT ok with paying a monthly fee to use a program. I use to use WS-FTP... until I found out I could upload right from Dreamweaver to my host server. It is HEAVEN ON EARTH! One of the best features of Dreamweaver!! But last I heard, next year it goes away. 😞 So, I'll take advantage of this amazing tool until I can't any longer. Guess I'll go back to using WS-FTP.  But remember one thing, NEW is not always better!

[Nancy OShea]

This isn't an existential discussion about NEW vs OLD.  It's a practical discussion about what works and doesn't work.

FileZilla is not NEW!  I've used it for more than a decade without issues.  It's the S/FTP client most recommended by web hosts because it's reliable, secure and updated regularly.

Ws_ftp Pro by Ipswitch isn't free.  A single user license will set you back $55 or more...

https://www.ipswitchworks.com/WS-FTP-Professional.asp

Nobody from Adobe has said Dreamweaver is going away -- not sure where you heard that rumor.  That said, Dreamweaver CC is only minimally maintained.  It's safe to use for some things but not others (PHP).

However, legacy Dreamweaver versions are zombies. They haven't seen an update since they came out. Use at your own risk of failures.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Creative_Suite

[BenPleysier]

At 68 I am good with OLD SCHOOL.

By @ann_5512

At 82, I still produce web applications and even produce tutorials.

Have a look at 

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUjqTJN3byC8-qBFItSeBYuXolTng41pN

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUjqTJN3byC_14StBaQyXdhl_K29n5coI

[ann_5512]

Awesome! I have seen some of your videos! 🙂

[mark34666631fc5v]

Thank you for all the comments.  The warnings about security holes are especially appreciated.  My Windows 10 machine is now entirely a stand-alone storage device and I will check out the free (or inexpensive) webpage editors to see what I can safely use on my Windows 11 desktop.  Well, I can't say I did not get my money's worth from Dreamweaver.

Now, about these 3.5 inch discs with Zork and Microleague Baseball on them from my old Apple IIE  🙂