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[Locked] CS3 new serial number and installer [CS3 is dead]

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
September 25, 2017
9 replies
125349 views

I have CS3, and have had problems with activation failure. Got told that this would do the trick: Activation or connection error when starting CS3 or Acrobat 8

"Receive a new serial number and installer Get a new serial number and installer so you can reinstall CS3 or Acrobat 8 applications successfully. These special versions do not require activation."

I followed the instruction very carefully, yet everything is exactly the same as before, same message about activation failure.

What's the catch? Do I have to say a magic word or something?

I really need to get this working, please advice.

Correct answer Nancy OShea

It's now 2020. As an update, CS3 activation servers are gone. And Adobe ended access to activation-free installers and replacement serial numbers. Customer Care agents cannot help with this matter. CS3 is officially dead and gone.

P

paquinac3687251

Participant

I don't see why we can't do a law suite. If we rightfully paid for a product that was shut down to transition in a way to get more money out of customers through a subscription is just so wrong, and so unprofessionally business like. Why would you do something like that to your dedicated customers you have a good report with? Greed, greed, don't forget at some point even in business life you will reap what you sow.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

"I don't see why we can't do a law suite."

Go right ahead and file an unwinnable nuisance lawsuit. In the end you'll have gained nothing and have become $10K poorer in the process. Or you can spend $10/month for modern software. Your choice.

I'm locking this discussion now. There really is nothing more to say that hasn't been covered. CS1, CS2 and CS3 are dead. It's time to get over it and move on.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

K

Kostiiju

Participant

I just found out today about the deactivation of the CS3 server. I had Photoshop CS3 working fine on Windows 7. Now Microsoft forced us to move on to Windows 10 ( Free Upgrade by the way - thanks Microsoft ) and Photoshop is no longer activated. And I read now that there is no chance for me to download this special version that did not require activation... why ? As a legit customer this is not acceptable. And the "now you have to move on with modernity" excuse is not valid either. We paid for that software, not rented it. That was the deal. It was never written anywhere that my CS3 Production would expire at the beginning of January 2020. Microsoft did warn us and many of us upgraded or moved to another solution. But stopping a service to use a software without a proper warning is not acceptable.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Read your EULA. English starts on page 419.

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

Adobe owns the software. There's no such thing as a "forever license." Every product has an End of Life. CS3 was no exception.

https://helpx.adobe.com/support/programs/adobe-support-policies-supported-product-versions.html#Gold

Had you upgraded to CS4, CS5 or CS6 when you had the chance, you would still have working software for a while longer. But you didn't. And now that option is no longer available. Creative Suite is not legally sold by any vendor, retailer or country now.

OPTIONS:
Photoshop or Premier Elements 2020 (approx $100, no subscription needed)

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography Plan (approx $10/month for 1 year subscription)

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

Creative Cloud All Apps Plan (31 + apps & services)

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

============

Beware of fake Adobe reps offering to sell you software or take control of your computer. It's a scam. Run away!

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

K

Kostiiju

Participant

Hi Nancy. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

I understand that from a EULA perspective, there is a end of life. But I'm not a lawyer and I think that the majority of people do not read EULA. Simply put. But with the new Adobe rental system, it's crystal clear now that we don't own anything.

When I look at the page you were pointing for the end of support of CS3, I see the support for CS5 and CS6 is long gone since 2014. So even if I had upgraded, it wouldn't have changed anything right ? or is there some support extension of the activation server for these ? I see no info on shut down servers that are no longer allowing us to register a product after a specific date ( January 2020 for CS3 by exemple ).

Thanks for listing the alternative. I'm a bit bitter right now but when it will pass, I might consider these.

N

Nelsondad51

Participating Frequently

I have tried several times to reinstall CS3 with the same result, the system ask me for a serail number, Itype the one in the box and then receive this message:

"Retry activating the over the internet" nothing erlse.

I have been suggested to try "CS3 product downloads" and do not see CS3 any where. Is there any place where the CS3 Serial number can be recovered? As mentioned, I have the original Adobe Creative Suite 3 WEB Premium package with DVDs and correspomnding Serial Number.

Thanks,

D

DcmDon

Participating Frequently

(NelsonDad) Yes, I had the same thing happen recently. Adobe has finally "Killed" CS3. There used to be a link you could enter that would give you a code that never needed to be re-entered. That is now gone too, as of late December 2019. Even though we technically owned our copy of CS3, they took it away from us. I bought a copy of Elements 2020 with a serial number. I am hoping that I can have this for another 12 years. It is a nice upgrade to CS3. It took a few hours of playing with it, but now I like is better than my old favorite. It isn't a subscription plan, it is a one and done price. I found a copy on Amazon for under $75. (Adobe is selling it for $99) I just wanted to snub Adobe a little. Good luck, I'm sorry man. It is a hard pill to swallow but we got many good years out of CS3. Change sucks but sometimes we need a kick in the pants to step up to the modern times. 🙂

R

romantic_judge16B8

Participating Frequently

I'm trying to activate my boxed version of CS3 on my Powermac G5 running OSX 10.5.8. I began an Adobe support case in November and was told all is fine and a replacement/updated serial number is something Adobe readily supplies via a link. When we tried the wizbang adobe link it was not openable by 10.5.8's internet browser's (we tried Safari, Chrome and Firefox). I've been on the hunt for a solution ever since and today found it, being the Tenforfox browser. Yippee (celebartion short lived). I immediately went back to the support case officer to have the serial number link activated BUT appatently its not working now) WHY ??? . I REALLY NEED this version of CS3 up and running asap. Can anyone please offer a solution to a workable serial number so I can load my CS3. THANK YOU

D

DcmDon

Participating Frequently

Hello, If you see my comment to "NelsonDad" Adobe has finally killed CS3. There is no way to re-activate it on a new or any computer. I bought a copy of Elements 2020, it is under $100 and you do not have to pay a subscription fee. We had many good years with CS3 and I would have had many more, but the new program is just as good and I would say, a little better. Like everyone else I HATE change, Especially when you know your old program. I think with a few hours of 'messing' with it, you will see that Elements 2020 is better. There are elements of it, especially if you work in the "Expert" mode, that work the same and are a nice upgrade to CS3. Good luck, I know how much this stinks, I am going through it myself. I think if you buy 2020 you will like it.

R

romantic_judge16B8

Participating Frequently

Thank DcmDom. I've replied in post below. Unfortunately my computers architecture doesnt allow for newer versiosn of PS so the options you suggested are now not workable for me :((

Nancy OShea

Correct answer

Community Expert

It's now 2020. As an update, CS3 activation servers are gone. And Adobe ended access to activation-free installers and replacement serial numbers. Customer Care agents cannot help with this matter. CS3 is officially dead and gone.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

D

Dynamic_calmness157F

Participant

Well that's a great start to a new decade. 😞 Just upgraded to Win 10 to ensure my Oculus Rift would continue working, and I've now lost the Creative Suite I paid all that money for.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

12 year old software is of no interest to anyone anymore. It's time to modernize.

A Photography Plan costs only $10/month.

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

Or get Photoshop Elements 2020. No subscription needed.

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements/whats-new.html

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I did ask a question, please answer it so we can give advice: "can you let us know ALL of the files you see in that folder? A screen shot would be fine but you CANNOT email it, or a list of what you see."

momofj5

Participant

So sorry! Because I already executed, I no longer see what I was supposed to click on, so I can't screenshot it for you. However, the screen shot looks exactly like the shot posted in response to an August 11, 2017, post by gunterr called: Reactivating CS3 (Updated). If you go to page 2 of that discussion, you'll find someone named dkmangum70 posed on October 11, 2017 the screenshot that you are looking for. The trouble I had was that this screenshot highlighted (in blue) the file called WinBootstrapper1.cab. However, that was NOT the file I needed to click on. Rather the file called "Setup.exe" was the file that made my CS3 magically work! I hope this is helpful. I am not a computer expert at all.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Thanks! I guess that would be this:

This looks good. You'd run the SETUP.EXE file and let it do the rest. However, I don't see the "Goodies" or "Documentation" folders you referred to.

J

jasonl59932699

Participant

Now I got it to install but it's back at the Activation - No Connection screen again. It never asked for the new serial number. *sigh. This shouldn't be this hard.

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Try this about deleting the cache.db

Resolve "temporary activation expired" error for CS3 and Acrobat 8

J

jasonl59932699

Participant

VICTORY! Thanks so much! Deleting that Cache file did the trick!

J

jasonl59932699

Participant

I've tried that like ten times. I download the file, it opens the Exe, I push the next button, it has an install bar. I open the file. There are only documents and images. There are no programs anywhere to be found or an installer for the program.

seleya

Participant

Where did you find the installer? All I can find are documentation and fonts, etc. No .exe file. What am I missing??

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Go here to get the non activation cs3.

You need your original serial number.

Download Adobe Creative Suite 3 products

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Hopefully deleting the cache.db file as described in the following adobe kb will work:

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/temporary-activation-expired.html

pcraw707

Participant

Although the above idea got me past the roadblock of having an old serial number, when I installed the "new" CS3 and entered my replacement serial number, the program tries to register the new serial number but says that it cannot connect. This is the ONLY app on my machine that claims it cannot connect.

Suggestions?

Jeff Arola

Community Expert

Yes, registration is optional, not required and no lomger connects to adobe, so just click on Never Register.

If your on windows vista, 7 8/8,1 or 19 then run cs3 as an administrator first to make the Never Register setting stick so the dialog doesn't reappear.

Right click on the cs3 shortcut, then click Run as Administrator or More>Run as Administrator and you only havet o this once to get rid of the registration dialog, Then run cs3 normally afterwards,

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