CS3 Extended activation error 194:8

[edo333]

So I bought a legit copy o photoshop

Albeit I bouhgt it from ebay, but it is definitely legit - not pirated , but a mfr sealed professionally produced copy of CS3 extended

I popped it open and found what I expected the documentation the DVD case with the training video and the serial number on the back.

I installed CS3 extended and plugged in my serial number and was greeted with a shiny green check mark (please note this is not just some generic photoshop liscence it is recognized by the software itself).

Then I began the activation nightmare that I am currently having.

I clicked activate

Activate now

Then I got an error telling me to pease try activating by calling customer care.

I did that I went through the automated system with m serial numberand activation key and then it said it was unable to process so I retried.  Still no luck, then I got a live person on the phone.

Here is what they told me:

You do not have a valid serial number...

Odd, I thought, since your software recognized it as a valid liscence.  I tried it in several other photoshop programs only to be greeted by a red x (liscence invalid) so the serial number I have is legit for photoshop CS3 extended, it just won't activate.

I tried to tell them that.  I asked them what proof they needed from me barcode copy of serial number scan of packaging anything.

They told me I needed the reciept from an authorized reseller.

I'm afraid I didn't see in the liscence agreement where the agreement between provider and end user was limited by their distributorship.

Thank you to me too for buyinga legitimate copy and not going with a free alternative (paint.net as been fine in the past thank you).

So I continued the discussion until I finally asked for a supervisor who was slightly more willing to talk about a way we could resolve the activation problem.

I am stuck getting the original reciept from the seller to prove to Adobe that their product was in fact original purchased from them.  You have to be kidding???!!!?!?!

It is unactivated so we aren't even talking about a liscence transfer this product is supposed to be registered to me.

And that still doesn't answer the question of how the serial number is recognized by the software and installation (meaning the serial to DVD matches) and the customer service people claim it is not valid.  I even asked them to tell me if it was a liscence used as a known pirated copy or something that should invalidate it, but all they can tell me is that it is not valid for the product.

If that is the case why print it on the label and affix it to the software?

On the other hand perhaps it is just a database error on their part.

What if I bought it from london drugs and lost the reciept how woul they handle that.

There has to be a way to fix it, or is it really that they are unwilling to do anything for a customer.

[Guest]

but it is definitely legit - not pirated

You seem to be the victim of a very well-known piracy scam.

It has been discussed endlessly on this forum. The fake copies are very realistic – just as you describe.

See: http://forums.adobe.com/click.jspa?searchID=475220&objectType=2&objectID=1934168

All you can do is try to get your money back.

[edo333]

O the PLOT THCKENS

I did buy two copies from the same seller.

Based on the number of items he has sold and his feedback dealing in adobe products he is getting legit copies from somewhere.

I cracked open the second copy and it activated without a problem.

I did notice a little difference between the two.

One box is embossed (actually endented or etched) with

Adobe Systems incorporated

All rights reserved

Printed in USA

90076069 2/07

This is he one that worked

The other says this:

Adobe Systems incorporated

All rights reserved

Printed in Singapore

90076069 7/07

I think perhaps the seller has some non legit copies mixed in with his volume liscence copies.

I will (as adobe support suggested) take it up with the ebay seller.

Are you suggesting that some pirated copies may work, or is the fact that it activated proof that that copy was legit.

If that is the case I will keep it and try to get the seller to send me another legit version.

[Guest]

Some pirated copies can be registered, even activated and appear to work fine.

Then something goes wrong.  

[Guest]

edo333 wrote:

The other says this:

Adobe Systems incorporated

All rights reserved

Printed in Singapore

90076069 7/07

I read a post over a year ago on another site that said some of the Adobe CS3 disks printed in Sinapore had problems (don't remember exactly but may have had something to do with licencing issues).  Adobe, after some insistance on the users part, would replace them.  Don't know firsthand if that is true, but interesting fact to go with your other points.  So perhaps it was not an intentional priated copy.

[Guest]

As I recall it, just about all the Singapore copies were fake, and Adobe's only advice was to try and get a refund from the reseller.

[edo333]

So really what you're saying is there is no way to verify a copy of the software is legitimate (despite the activation process that is supposed to protect legitimate copies) unless you purchase directly from adobe or their dealers, even if you verify the serial number with the company ahead of time.

I checked out the seller a little more in depth too and no one else has had problems activating or verifying their software.  It still seems too legitimate to be a pirated copy, but there is still the slight chance.

I'll keep pushing the seller to produce the reciept.  IF he really is a volume liscence purchaser as claimed he'll be able to prove it.

[Guest]

edo333 wrote:

even if you verify the serial number with the company ahead of time.

If you call Adobe with the serial number they can tell you if it is legit or not.  But unclear how you would know the s/n before you bought it.

[edo333]

Typically you ask the seller to open the box and provide you the serial number for verification, you can also make that a condition of purchase.  If you're careful.  Only problem is I am that careful and it still seems I may be the victim of a VERY good pirate.

All in all the seller is also a lot more forthcoming with information than a pirate would be at least as far as I can tell.

I've been on the wrong end of pirates before and this is nothing like it.

[Guest]

edo333 wrote:

Typically you ask the seller to open the box and provide you the serial number for verification, you can also make that a condition of purchase.  If you're careful.  Only problem is I am that careful and it still seems I may be the victim of a VERY good pirate.

All in all the seller is also a lot more forthcoming with information than a pirate would be at least as far as I can tell.

I've been on the wrong end of pirates before and this is nothing like it.

The reseller is not necessarily a pirate.

He may have acquired the software from a source that was providing pirated copies and be selling them in good faith.

If you have time, read the whole 163 posts in the thread http://forums.adobe.com/message/1636890#1636890

[edo333]

To quote from that particular forum:

29. Mar 29, 2008 9:59 AM in response to: Bob Levine

Re: Thinking of buying from eBay?

Some of the pirated versions have a hacked activation and registration system that makes it look like it is being activated or registered with Adobe when it isn't. If you use the Adobe registration system, you will get a confirmation screen that says there will be a followup email with a free bonus (font or training video) -- although the email sometimes comes months later. Do you remember getting that screen and the email offer?

At least one f the two copies got that far, so what I am guessing is that one copy is a fake and one is legit, or there is a problem with legit copies printed in singapore due to piracy and or a mfr defect.

It still baffles me that accepting the liscence agreement activating the product and registering it do not gaurantee that it is in fact legitmate.  I think after all those hoops the ownes once again should lie with Adobe I did everything in good faith to ensure I have a legitimate copy.   (Sans buying from adobe or the local london drugs.)

Perhaps the seller will replace my "defective copy" or whatever you want to call it, or maybe in his batch of legitimate copies he did inadvertantly end up with a well produced pirated copy.

Still reading that forum.  I am very interested

And yes I did send an email to adob piracy containing as much info about the suspected "illegal" copy as possible.

I'm prepared to cover the bses and worst case scenario I file a dispute with paypal and then purchase a second copy directly from Adobe I am in any event entitled to educational liscenced products which save me a bundle as is.

[edo333]

The seller sent me a list of serial numbers and I contacted adobe turns out they are all fake - either keygen or pirated to look legit and work with the DVD activation.

The registration that I thought was successful did not show up on my registered products list - surprise.

I have opened a dispute with the seller so we'll see if he can produce that legitimate reciept or not.

Thank goodness for paypal and these support forums.

Now to make sure this guy never sells *pirated* (this is a very important word that I left out, sorry [I don't care if he sells software, just not the pirated kind]) software again.

;(

[kasart85]

Let me tell you how this works.

I worked for adobe and Microsoft, A duplet ion technician  makes copy’s of these CDs, They puts labels on this, some time they put the wrong labels on.

I got in to the certificate; it is written and is correct. This Error 194:8 is with adobe it’s self. It is EZ to say it is someone else when you fail to fix your own errors. It doe’s not help that when you call to activate the product on the phone that the poorly run company will not answer the phone, I been waiting for two days now. I am not someone to take thing like this, ether adobe will get a class action suite, or they will send a new copy! End of demand!