How can I transfer CS3 to new computer if license wasn't deactivated on old computer prior to being sold

Report · Jun 12, 2014

CS3 Premium Production - Too Many Activations message is displayed when the software has been installed to new computer. Adobe have said that it's not possible to deactive. Any suggestions?! Thanks.

Report · Jun 12, 2014

You need to contact Adobe Support either by chat or via phone when you have serial number and activation issues. They should be able to deactivate a lost, stolen, sold installation... if they told you they cannot that is the first I've heard of that.

Here is a link to a page with options to help make contact:

http://www.adobe.com/support/download-install/supportinfo/

An alternative for you would be to contact whoever you sold the machine to and request that they perform the deactivation (in any application of the suite choose Help -> Deactivate)

Report · Jun 12, 2014

Hi Ned - Thanks for the quick reply. I spoke to Adobe on support chat and provided my serial and they said they can't deactivate and have sent me this forum.

Prior to selling the computer it was completely wiped so the software is no longer on that computer even if I did still have access to it - which I don't.

Will perhaps try and call Adobe, but on the chat I was told that an Adobe engineer would respond to the question feed.

Report · Jun 12, 2014

Whoever you talked to in chat appears to be handing out incorrect information - maybe they are new at their job though it could be one of the less helpful people that refuse to help with anything other than current products. I would try chat again and cross your fingers that you get someone different. Don't mention your previous chat.

Sending you to these forums is not putting you in contact with Adobe engineers... these are user-to-user forums wherein for this particular forum a healthy number of Adobe employees do join in to help when they can. Otherwise, most people that help here are users just like yourself.

Report · Jun 12, 2014

Bethmcd05 I have confirmed the findings of the support agent, you spoke with in case 213165422, that you are installing with a volume license serial number for Production Premium CS3. This means that the activation technology is not included with the volume license. Please make sure that you are installing the software on the new computer and have not copied over the applications from one computer to another.

If you need a fresh copy of the volume license installer it will be available at https://licensing.adobe.com/.

The reason which you were referred to the forums is it appears this is more of an installation issue than a problem with activation. My best guess is that you transferred licensing files when you copied over your files and those licensing files are likely now causing you to be prompted to activate when it is not possible to activate.