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CS3 Versions that don't require activation [LOCKED CS3 is dead]

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
December 20, 2019
7 replies
8784 views

Hello,

Last week, a user on another forum told informed me that I could swap my CS3 licenses/serial numbers for CS3 versions that don't require the activation servers which are long gone. Being busy with work at the time, I bookmarked the page so I could come back to it later. I have a number of CS3 apps so I needed time to look up all the serial numbers as well. Finally got the time today and now I cannot find the page. The bookmarked link just redirects to a generic help page.

Cannot seem to find a way to contact customer service either--all the links just redirect me to help pages that don't actually provide much in the way of help for anything other than Creative Cloud. Even the web chat options appear to be gone. No eMail contact addresses either. So, I guess my only option is to ask here.

Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Nancy OShea

Sorry to say you missed your chance to get it and now it's gone forever. CS3 and Acrobat 8 are officially dead. Customer Care cannot help you with 13 year old software. It's too old and way beyond its support date.

You can replace CS3 with a month-to-month or annual subscription to Creative Cloud. The good news is, CC software installs on modern Win or Mac operating systems and includes free upgrades for as long as you remain a subscriber.

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

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CharleneMarsh

Participant

I am trying to open PCD files on a CD. I am told that CS2 or CS3 can open it. After reading this thread, I am wondering how I will ever access my files? I tried an online conversion program but it reduced the size of the files so much that they are unusable for my purposes. I read that Corel PaintShop Pro can open a PCD file but not sure if I need a specific version.

I see some CS3 software for sale on eBay. I supose they must include the new serial number that does not need validating by Adobe?

BTW, I am still using Photoshop 5.5 that I paid $500 for that came out in 1999. It has lost some functionality since I upgraded to Windows 10 but it is still usable.

I am not sure I understand how wordpress.org is a substitute for CS3. I have two wordpress websites and prepare my images in Adope PS. Wordpress is not an image prep site.

John T Smith

Community Expert

>I see some CS3 software for sale on eBay. I supose they must include the new serial number that does not need validating by Adobe?

Not legal... the special version is ONLY for the original owner, not to be sold

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Calgarts

Participating Frequently

I'm so fortunate to install CS3 in my pc years ago. I use it no more than 5 times a year and if you are like me, we don't want to pay for monthly fee and new compatible Mac to run Adobe CC. You don't try to wake up the dead, CS3 server is gone. Any hacks to install CS3 you found online or youtube is the risk to open your data to hackers. Alternatively, if you are on low budget, Procreate is $15. Clip Studio is $50. But if you buy a new Wacom Intuos pen tablet for $50 at bestbuy, it includes free clip studio and Corel photo editing standard versions of both for good.

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patrickw49728650

Participant

IF ANYONE STAFFED BY ADOBE IS LISTENING:

Many of your faithful customers invested over $2,000 to buy CS3 expecting they'd be able to use the product, even if no longer supported. Microsoft products are still usable even after end-of-life support. Why are we not allowed to use the products that we invest so much money in? The availability of CS CLOUD should NOT take away our option of using our purchased product - as in if we have to reinstall due to uncontrollable reasons. This is a poor decision on Adobe's part; not to allow us to use that which we purchased.

It hurts immensely; financially, pyschologically, sentimentally! Please don't shut us out, Adobe!!!

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

I don't work for Adobe. I'm a forum volunteer and product user like you. Adobe staff are on holiday until after the new year. I understand how you feel but I don't think you should expect a reply to this because it's not up for debate. The EULA says it all. The English version begins on page 419.

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/legal/licenses-terms/pdf/CS3.pdf

Adobe owns the software. Your limited and non-exclusive license to use Creative Suite was entirely at Adobe's discretion. You got 12+ years of usage from it. Assuming you don't need to re-install, you could potentially get another 12 years of usage from it. Just don't ever upgrade your computer or OS again as re-installation is no longer possible.

Good luck and have a happy 2020!

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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dcrinnertAuthor

Participating Frequently

I apologize if my response the other day was too harsh or angry in tone. I was very upset at the time. Still am, actually. The cost of CS3 was no small amount of money for me. Even these many years later, it still remains a considerable investment. So losing permanent access to a tool I use regularly is not a pleasant prospect.

I recognize that Adobe must know the importance of these older products to people, else they would not have given the option of getting replacement serial numbers and downloading newer versions that did not require online activation. Where I am disappointed is in not being made aware of this. I am sure I am not alone in not coming by the forums regularly when I don't have a problem. Many of us I'm sure have no idea there are potential problems until we have a problem. As I mentioned before, I only learned about the option recently. Had some kind of deadline been indicated, I would have made sure to get my licenses together and swapped out in order to meet that deadline. Instead, the pages were there one day and gone less than two weeks later.

I disagree that CS3 is too outdated for use. There is more to CS3 than Dreamweaver. I get productive use out of the CS3 apps on an almost daily basis. And the software has been running flawlessly on my machine for years. I only wish I could continue to be assured of that.

I was optimistic yesterday when I got a private message from someone claiming to be from Adobe Support with an offer to help. Upon reading the message, I quickly suspected it to be a scam. Upon searching the forums, I found that this was a common occurrence and there was even a link to report the user ID so they could be banned. Unfortunately, even that link didn't work so I was unable to report them.

Anyway, I am sorry if I came off too harsh.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

I completely understand. It was a shock to all of us when Adobe took down the CS3 & Acrobat 8 installers. The ACPs were not warned of this either.

Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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obsoleteproduct

Participant

retiring support of a product is one thing, but disallowing use is completely different. Adobe is allowing the use of the product to some users and not others. This is a discriminitory practice and the users who are being denied use of their product should be offered a refund if adobe doesn't plan to offer an installation path.

I'm also dealing with a forced clean install of windows. CS3 is more than adequate for my uses. I should be able to install the product. Providing a loophole on page 419 of a user agreement is an abusive practice similar to the old use of binding arbitration which was found to be illegal. I was told repeatedly my customer service just now that there was a compatability issue that required that the product not be activated over the internet. This was clearly false. It is a practice on the part of adobe to drive sales.

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Calgarts

Participating Frequently

CS3 is not too old to use if you only use it occasionally at home and you are not professional.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

CS3 is too outdated for web development. It cannot understand HTML5 or CSS code much less modern PHP or JavaScript. Believe it or not, there is better freeware available now. CS3 really is a dinosaur.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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Nelsondad51

Participating Frequently

Would yu please indicate which better freeware are you saying?

Very dissapointed with ADOBE and do not want to give them my money again; yet, they may come later and indicate whatever I have bought is no longer usable.

Thanks,

Nancy OShea

Correct answer

Community Expert

Sorry to say you missed your chance to get it and now it's gone forever. CS3 and Acrobat 8 are officially dead. Customer Care cannot help you with 13 year old software. It's too old and way beyond its support date.

You can replace CS3 with a month-to-month or annual subscription to Creative Cloud. The good news is, CC software installs on modern Win or Mac operating systems and includes free upgrades for as long as you remain a subscriber.

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

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert