Can't reactivate my Illustrator CS3 - same problem others have experienced, still no solution?

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
December 17, 2017
4 replies
2560 views

Hi!
I have now lost all access to my Adobe Illustrator CS3, which I bought (as a private person, i.e. not a business), before Creative Cloud was an option.
It was an expensive product, and despite being quite an old version, still meets my hobby/design needs, so it's very disappointing that it is now obsolete.

According to all forum info, and everything else I've researched and tried (including speaking to support several times), I should have been able to install a version which doesn't need activating. As instructed, I uninstalled everything on my PC that was Adobe-related, got the new serial number, and tried installing several times - but still no joy.
Support ended up saying that they couldn't help, so is that it?? I have no option but to pay monthly for something I use a couple of times a year?
Regards, HMA

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Correct answer HMA2618

Thanks.

I've really tried everything, wiping all traces of Adobe from my computer, and nothing helped. End of story.

However, I've just tried installing the replacement CS3 on my husband's laptop, and it worked! He still has XP, so this definitely seems to be a Windows 10 issue. (Perhaps this should be mentioned more clearly on the support pages, so that others don't use so much time and energy on a solution that was doomed failure from the start).

Thank you all for your time, and have a great Xmas!

D

donnakelsch

Participant

So glad I found your post as I am encountering the exact same issue with Illustrator CS3. I can do the work but I can't save the file. I know its a few years since your original post but can you enlighten me with which solution worked to fix this or If you are having new issues. I am also on Windows 10.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

The activation servers have been shut down in the meantime. It's not possible anymore to install that version.

H

HMA2618Author

Inspiring

Frustrating.
Has anyone managed to download and use the replacement CS3 with Windows 10, without activating?? I can't be the only person in the world with this issue ...
As long as the program worked, I saw no need to upgrade. The new version is presumably better, but CS3 suited me fine, now that I no longer work with graphics on a daily basis - that being the main reason for not wanting to pay for a subscription (which I already do for Photoshop, due to wierd behaviour with Windows 10).

Support were polite, but always gave me the same answer when nothing worked - i.e. that Chat/support can't fix my issue, if the self-help link doesn't work. Solution: Talk to sales for getting a new subscription.

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

You are not alone. I have the same problem with my CS3 ( I have a CS2 which still normally works on my Window 10 computer - and I have my CS3 which not any longer works since a few days ) Both versions I only need for old files and sometimes for solve questions in forum.

But I have also InDesign CS5 and CC from company for home working installed. And that's the problem why my CS3 is lost for me. I do NOT uninstall all Adobe software from this computer and clean and reinstall and so on … in a very time consuming process for PERHAPS getting a working CS3. Perhaps than, if this computer is faulty or I need a new installation of Windows anyway or on a new computer - who knows …

Wish you the best - and good luck

H

HMA2618AuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Thanks.

I've really tried everything, wiping all traces of Adobe from my computer, and nothing helped. End of story.

However, I've just tried installing the replacement CS3 on my husband's laptop, and it worked! He still has XP, so this definitely seems to be a Windows 10 issue. (Perhaps this should be mentioned more clearly on the support pages, so that others don't use so much time and energy on a solution that was doomed failure from the start).

Thank you all for your time, and have a great Xmas!

H

HMA2618Author

Inspiring

Could the problem have something to do with not having deactivated my own CS3 before trying to install the version that supposedly doesn't need activating?? (I would presume not, given that I have downloaded the replacement version, and would be entering in a new serial number (if I ever got that far).
Also, I'd assume that the Cleaner Tool would wipe away all info related to the original program.
Just a thought anyway.

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

What operating system are you using? CS3 is not supported on a Mac from El Capitan and above and is also not supported on the latest upgrades to Windows 10. It could be a problem caused by an incompatible OS.