My faithful copy of DW will not open, asking for reactivation but it won't work

[Lundy16B8]

I unplugged my computer back in Dec. and just now turned it back on to make IMPORTANT changes to my website but it is asking for re-activation, I have all my correct serial numbers, etc, but it says "cannot connect" ...but everything else on the computer is connecting just fine. What can I do, I am in a terrible time crunch. Please help. Should I post my activation numberts here ? 

BTW--I am not using this software on any othere computers. I am 70 yrs old and want to wind down my website and must do so right away. 

Thanks in advance.

[Lundy16B8]

Also I had no anticipation of this problem happening so I have not made recent export /import files (can't remember the correct name) so If have to reinstall the DW software...I am screwed ! Please help ! I can send all my registration numbers.

[Jon Fritz]

What version of the program are you trying to use?

DO NOT post your activation information. This is an open forum, not Adobe Customer Care.

Your website's files are not part of Dreamweaver, they are safely stored on your hard drive, not within the progam itself. DW just allows you to more easily work with those files. Even if you delete DW entirely, your site will be safe.

[Lundy16B8]

Thank you for your speedy reply. I have CS3 version, is that what you need ?

[Lundy16B8]

Version 9 build 3481

[Jon Fritz]

Unfortunately, CS3 is officially dead. 

Adobe officially stopped all support for it in 2019-2020. They decommissioned the activation servers entirely. There's no way to legally run the program any longer.

You could try a 7 day free trial of the latest Creative Cloud version from Adobe's website, or get a free editor like Visual Studio: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/?dv=win 

[osgood_]

Wind-down your website, to what degree, close it down? You could just download a free FTP programme and connect to your remote server assuming you have the user/pass details provided to you by your remote host and remove the files.

You could edited your files in a free html editor and upload the edited files to you remote server if you only want to make step by step winding-down ammendments.

As you have already been informed CS3 can no longer be activated, even though you legitimately paid for it you dont actually own it. I think the last activation servers closed down in Dec 2020.

[Lundy16B8]

Thank you both for useful information. I am heartbroken that Adobe treats legit customers of non-subscription products like this. And thank you for the links. 

[Nancy OShea]

Hi @Lundy16B8,

CS1, CS2 and CS3 are dead & gone. The aging activation servers failed and were taken offline years ago. Even if you find an installer, it's impossible to activate the software now.

CS4, CS5 and CS6 are on life support. But they can still be activated providing you have the following:
1. original media (disks or downloads) you received at purchase and a way to read them,
2. a legitimate serial number for that version, language and platform (Win/Mac),
3. an older operating system that can support legacy 32-bit apps.
--------------------------

Get a Creative Cloud plan free for 7 days.  On day 8, it will automatically convert to a paid 1 year subscription.  However, you may cancel Creative Cloud within 14 days and receive a full refund.  That should buy you enough time to do what you need to do.

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

If not, use free software: 

• Visual Studio Code (open source code editor)
• FileZilla (free FTP client) to download files from your server

Good luck!

=============
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!  Legacy Creative Suite software is not legally sold in any country. 
=============
3 Easy Ways to Identify Genuine Adobe Staff
https://tinyurl.com/10791730

[Carol Elkins]

Nancy O'Shea responds to questions of this type that are about efforts to install older versions of Dreamweaver by saying:

CS4, CS5 and CS6 are on life support. But they can still be activated providing you have the following:
1. original media (disks or downloads) you received at purchase and a way to read them,
2. a legitimate serial number for that version, language and platform (Win/Mac),
3. an older operating system that can support legacy 32-bit apps.

I have the original media disks, a legitimate serial number, and my Win10 can support legacy 32-bit apps (at least I think so; I had no trouble installing many of my other old applications). When I try to install that license, it asks me for the serial number for the product I upgraded from. That program was Dreamweaver MX and it is too old to be recognized. So in the past, I was told to get the Upgrade Code Entry challenge code, which I was able to do by pressing Shft+Ctrl+double-clicking anywhere in the window. The challenge code is 102055. I would like to be given a response code that would enable me to complete the activation. So that is what I'm hoping someone can give me. Adobe support was unhelpful.

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Hi @Carol Elkins,

Pre-CS4 activation servers were decomissioned years ago. It's impossible to activate those old versions now.

Which CS version are you trying to activate?

See below for details about DW MX 2004

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/macromedia-legacy-activation-error.html

[Carol Elkins]

Thank you, Nancy. Your solution worked perfectly, and my ancient Dreamweaver CS4 is functioning perfectly on my new Windows10 box. 

[Nancy OShea]

Great!  Glad to hear you're up & running again. 🙂

[B i r n o u]

did I understood correctly, you want to install Dreamweaver MX... woaw... it's a 19 years old soft... so for sure, if that is your goal... run a virtual machin to run windows XP and install MX over it.

[Nancy OShea]

Birnou,

MX was a qualifying product for a Creative Suite upgrade. 

[PS. To avoid confusion, I merged your reply with this one because the duplicate topic is now locked.]

[Carol Elkins]

Birnou, I am 67 years old and have absolutely no need for any newer version of Dreamweaver. The little work that I do on my ancient Web sites I can do just fine in Dreamweaver CS4. I paid over $1300 for that license back in 2004 (translate THAT to 2021 dollars!) and thought (correctly) that Adobe should be willing to help me activate it. So, woaw for sure dude, I am all set now.

[B i r n o u]

Thanks Nancy, when I saw MX, it took me back to the Macromedia era... I had to install Director recently. hence the confusion between MX and MX :)...

Carol, this may be due to language issues, but I thought I felt a twinge in the tone of your answer. I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, but that was not my intention.
It's just always a challenge to install an old version (MX with the confusion expressed by Nancy) on a contemporary operating system, sometimes it's a feat... hence my (friendly) advice to use a virtual machine which allows to put the program in its context.

[Nancy OShea]

I had to install Director recently. hence the confusion between MX and MX :)...

By @B i r n o u

==========

MX is still MX (outdated Macromedia stuff that nobody should be using anymore).  But installing it wasn't the question.  Installing a CS4 upgrade with MX as the qualifying product was the problem. Fortunately, everything worked out.