Participant

Answered

Photoshop CS3 Activation [CS3 is dead]

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
September 2, 2016
12 replies
65550 views

I purchased Photoshop CS3 several years ago, but have lost the installation disc along with the activation key. I never registered the product on adobe's website. I do have 2 machines that I have activated the software on previously. In addition, I have a backed up copy of my photoshop folder from "Program Files" in Windows. Is there any way to retrieve the activation key from my backed up folder? Or can Adobe check based on my MAC address and find the key based on the 2 computers that have successfully activated previously?

Download and install

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.

If you never upgrade your computer or OS, you could potentially keep using CS3 for another 12+ years. But I'm sorry to say that re-installation is no longer an option.

M

micanichi64

Participant

If you have been backing up to an external disk with an app like Carbon Copy Cloner, it's possible to boot up from that disk to an older OS that contains a functioning, activated version of the CS you purchased (the $1800 Design Premium in my case). Though situated in the past, this works very well and is still useful if you say, run into issues when printing from Ps 2020 to an older Epson that you didn't have with your old Ps version.

That said, after visiting every [CS3 is dead] thread, I invested in a newer iMac and am subscribed to many of the latest Adobe apps via Creative Cloud. They work very well, just as my old Adobe CS did/does.

davescm

Community Expert

Hi

I don't understand your point on a $2000 investment two months ago. A full all applications CC subscription does not cost that and gives you the ability to update to Catalina compatible CC application versions. What exactly did you invest your $2000 in?

Dave

M

micanichi64

Participant

I have a working iMac with CS3 that after a crash required reactivation. I could not reactivate the software so in order to have working Adobe software again, I needed to buy a new computer which is what I did (the $2,000).

The tenor of the CS3 is dead threads is that you need the latest OS and hardware to run Adobe applications. That is understandable and costly.

ps The original Adobe software cost $1800, I think it should function as long as the computer on which was orginally installed remains in operation (it does and sits next to the new computer). There was no outward indication that CS3 would stop working at a certain point.

JJMack

Community Expert

Adobe stole nothing they own Photoshop. You purchased a licence to use CS3 which you you did for years. When Abobe declared CS3 life was ending Adobe provide their Old CS3 Customers a web URL they could use to downloads a new CS3 Installer to installs a CS3 version that does not need to be activated in case they wanted to install CS3 in the future for support was ending. All old CS3 users needed to do was use the URL. Sign into their Adobe Account and Provide their CS3 Serial number. The Web applet would then give them access to the new Installer download and a new serial number they needed to use to install their download. Adobe has reciently taken down that Web applet. Adobe offically has stoped all support for CS3. You failed to get a copy you can use. Even If you get a copy of that download you can not install it for you did not obtain a serial number to install it. You old CS3 serial number is not valid for the new installer. You failed to renew your CS3 licence and it can no longer be renewed. I had no problem installing CS3 on my Windows 10 workstation for I downloaded the new installer and obtained a new serial number for CS3 like I did for CS2.

Both CS2 and CS3 are dead old 32bit software applications that are no longer available for purchase or download and there is no support for them at all. Even when installed they can not take advantage of some of your OS features and some of of your machine hardware. CS3 was developed for older OS versions and older hardware. Adobe and other developers have newer image editing application for a reasonable prices that will work much better than CS3.

You will be better of with a newer 64bit image editor application that are developed for current OS versions and current hardware. You probably should stay away from Creative Cloud Photoshop. Adobe support is very poor every update installs more and more bugs. You need to keep several version od Photoshop installed so you will have a version the will work till Adobe fixes the next round of bugs. Photoshop Element 2020 is under $100 and is not subscription software and it should work better than CS3 for you.

Adobes policy is normal Products have a life span support ends.

JJMack

micheller28009829

Participating Frequently

I did get the new installer and a new serial number for my desktop that is Windows 10 and I am still using it now! So you are saying if I ever have to reinstall on this same computer I will be able to??? We just cannot install it on new or additional??

micheller28009829

Participating Frequently

I agree! It is very stupid and regardless if they "own" the software or not we should not have to buy something new if what we have works fine for us! I don't need updates/upgrades( I never did them anyway). I spent a lot of money on it when I bought it and never even used all the bells and whistles for my photography business. Makes me crazy to even have to spend $100 for elements when what I have works for me just fine!

davescm

Community Expert

That is the point. If it is working "just fine" on a PC now it will continue to work. It is only when you change something e.g. upgrade your hardware, operating system etc that you require a new install and at that point CS3 will not activate.

There are three parts to a system. Hardware (PC/Cameras etc), operating system, applications. If you choose to freeze any in time then freeze all three and make sure your system is fully backed up so you don't need to re-install. Upgrading any of those three runs the risk of incompatibity or the inability to re-install. None of that is new, it's just the nature of a system.

Dave

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Intellectual property (software) is completely different from tangible property like cars and cameras. As such, different rules apply. Adobe owns the software. Read the EULA below.

https://labs.adobe.com/technologies/eula/photoshopcs3.html

Every product has an End of Life date and CS1, CS2 and CS3 [EDIT and CS4] were no exception. All are officially dead now.

Photoshop Elements 2020 is a one-time purchase. And PSE 2020 is a major step up from CS3. But it pales in comparison to Photoshop CC 2020 which you can only get by subscription.

Photoshop 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 (50 + apps & services)

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

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

davescm

Community Expert

Nothing was disabled in existing installations. Just new installs can no longer be activated.

Dave

maryama6409632

Participant

Dear, trying to move the license from Win7 to Win10, but getting issue

please confirm if can do the above.

D

DcmDon

Participating Frequently

Hi Maryama, If you are trying to move your cs3 license to a windows 10 you cannot. It has been killed. We all thought we owned our copies of CS3, however Adobe disagreed. They have made it impossible to renew or even use your copy of CS3. If you can leave it on your computer and not upgrade or update it you can still use it. Any change or try to move and it will not be able to be used. It just runs a loop that states you have to license your copy. There is no recovery for that. I bought a copy of Photoshop [Elements] 2020, it is nice. I would recommend it. It is a stupid situation, I'm sorry for our loss. I loved my CS3 and would not have changed anything.

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.

If you never upgrade your computer or OS, you could potentially keep using CS3 for another 12+ years. But I'm sorry to say that re-installation is no longer an option.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

D

DcmDon

Participating Frequently

Hello, If you purchase a copy of 2020 Elements it is inexpensive and a pretty good substitute. There is no subscrition fee as well. My old CS3 cost a fotrune when it came out, compared to Elements 2020 which is under $100. There are some new elements on 2020 that I like better than my CS3. I was angry when I could not transfer CS3 to my new computer, but my anger was diminished when I began playing with the new program. Give it a try. Once you do, you will begrudgingly agree that it is better.

micheller28009829

Participating Frequently

will I still be able to open all of the files I created and saved in CS3?

A

Anonymous

Good evening,

I want to thank Gener7 with this answer and his shortcut.

I bought an old camera (canon 1D mIII) and could not open the RAW files with my CS version.

I found via http://www.imagemaven.com/camera-raw/ the right plug-in but had also to find an old CS3 version.

To day i Bought it in Holland for $ 30,00 and had ofcourse an problem with the activation.

With the link from Gener7 i get an new activationcode and an program from Adobe to install CS3.

After putting in de new code everything is working fine.

Thanks

Greetings

Dirk Rotterdam Netherlands

gener7

Community Expert

I'm glad it worked for you. A reminder that CS3 was designed for the OS that was current when it was released years ago. It's a 32 bit program and the new MacOS 10.15 will not allow 32 bit programs to run. Windows is usually more generous, but they may follow suit.

Y

yvettersss

Participant

Honestly, I think Adobe is running a scam on all us. We had older versions that worked perfectly fine. They disabled those versions to force us to subscribe. I've "chatted" with help numerous times to solve the problem,,and nothing. My latest error after downloading their install folder "Photoshop CS3 can't be installed because of a conflict with Photoshop CS3".

I run Windows 10 and had no issue. Been running my Photoshop for about a 1 1/2 years, no problem. I use Photoshop infrequently, so paying $20 a month to make them richer is useless to me.

Goodluck to others. We're being held hostage through cyber terrorism.

gener7

Community Expert

No, they just closed the activation servers so your old disc and serial number will not work.

You can get a new serial number and non-activation installer here:

Activation or connection error when starting CS3 or Acrobat 8

Of course be very sure your old CS3 is uninstalled and check the "Remove Serial number" option when you do.

D

defaulth1wn4gxe7jkl

Participant

I have CS3 and i still have my serial number. My problem is my hard disc crash and i do not have the chance to uninstall my CS3, now i just want to start my CS3 with my new hard disk. Could you answer me what i have to do at coeurdepomme@cgocable.ca