Adobe design std LICENSE ISSUE

[wiktoria_2239]

Hi, we have Adobe design std (licensed, certificated etc, we have all documents proving that it was bought legally) bought in 2012 (we could use it at that time and it worked normally). We have tried to log in there some time ago but there is an issue with the key and we can not log in there. We have tried to contact someone to help us to solve the issue but of course with no solution, they say that they do not know the source of the purchase..So how it is possible that we have certificate? ...   So we spent our money and can not even use it. Can someone competent help us here? Thank you.

[Derek Cross]

 A 12-year-old version of InDesign will not be compatible with recent operating systems.

(Or are you asking about Photoshop?)

[wiktoria_2239]

yes I know that it is little old but wanted to check if there is anything we can do to regain the acces, I mainly mean photoshop
Thank you for your help

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Do you still have the access to the computers on which the applications were installed in 2012 (or at whatever time when the activation servers were still available)? 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Which actual program versions are you talking about? CS4 or CS5 or …? 

Please read this (in particular the section titled "Supply pertinent information for more timely and effective answers”):
https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community/community-how-to-guide-tips-amp-best-practices/td...

As far as I know the activation servers have been taken offline, so one can continue using programs under perpetual licenses on the computers where one installed at the time, but a transfer to another computer is (practically) not possible. (And that is aside from the compatibility issue @Derek Cross mentioned.) 

Have you tried customer support? 

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[wiktoria_2239]

CS5 version

Yes, we have tried support but with no success unfortunately.

And we were just wondering what we can do :<

Thank you for your help

[AxelMatt]

For such a old versions of CS5 there's no more support anymore.

The akctivation servers are shutdown several years ago. 

I think it's time for a change to a CC subscription. Adobe Creative Cloud Plans, Pricing, and Membership

[D Fosse]

Actually, the servers for CS5 and 6 aren't shut down yet (but probably will be soon).

But Adobe will no longer reset activation counts, so if both were used and it was not deactivated on the old machine, it will not be possible to activate on the new machine.

[AxelMatt]

@D Fosse As far as I know only CS5.5 and CS6 aren't shutdown. CS5 and all other are shutdown. Or I'm wrong?

[davescm]

According to this (Sep 24) help page CS5 can still be downloaded and therefore should activate (provided activation count has not been exceeded)

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite.html?promoid=19SCDRQK

Dave

[AxelMatt]

@davescm Thanks for clarification.

[bob_3706]

Is there an expiration clause in the original license? How can you buy a perpetual license and one day the vendor decides to shut it down?

[AxelMatt]

Photoshop CSx  was never a 'forever license.' It was “perpetual” in terms of the “lifetime of the software” which was normally 3 to 5 years from its release date. 

CS5.5 was released in 2011.  The official support ended in 2014.

You were expected to upgrade to a supported product.  You chose to keep using CS5.5 at your own risk. All things considered, you got a lot of bang for your bucks, so nothing to complain about.

Forward to 2025 you can already deactivate/activate your CS5.5 installation if the activation limit isn't reach.

If you limit is reach and you don't have access to your older installations for deactivating you're out of luck.

[jane-e]

How can you buy a perpetual license and one day the vendor decides to shut it down?

By @bob_3706

If you still have one of your two activations available, then you can still activate CS5. 

Jane

[bob_3706]

Thank you for your comments.  Regretably, that is not true!  For some reason, Adobe thinks I have two activations when I have one activated unit.  I'm having trouble figuring out how to check my activations.  Any thoughts?

[bob_3706]

I have a similiar issue with CS5.5.  It stopped working and tells me I have exceeded my activation limit.  I have not changed anything on my desktop except occassional Microsoft update.  Adobe refuses to help.  There is a known issue.  They do not want to promote the resolution to force people to buy a subscription.  More specifically, I downloaded a software that was supposed to fix the issue, but it did not.