Photoshop cs5 can't activate

[hannes_6466]

I have a version of Photoshop Extended CS5 which i'm trying to install. Somehow the serial number won't work to activate it. What can i do?

[Ged_Traynor]

@hannes_6466 are you getting an error message or something else

Did you purchase it directly from Adobe, was it previously installed on other systems, and you have used up your 2 activation counts

https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/x-productkb/global/invalid-revoked-serial-numbers.html

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@hannes_6466 if you had not deactivated your previous installs, the current activation serial number will no longer work. Adobe no longer supports CS5 and will not reset or deactivate installs. 

[avid_friends2198]

This is so upsetting, I have the same issue. I only have ever used this on one PC I wipped my old drive and rebuilt my PC with a clean install. I paid nearly $400 for this software and Adobie can't stand behind it. I have a physical box/serial in hand. It's just ironic that they don't support fixing activation issues even though they still track and inforce them. If the "server is shut down" then where is it communicating to that has stored my activation information. It's feels like just all a scam to get you on a subscription model. I just can't wrap my brain around how unethical this is. I was a long time Adobie photoshop user and feel burned. If they can't reset my activation count I will never touch another Adobie product. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@avid_friends2198 to be frank, you paid $400 over 13 years ago. They can and do still track and enforce CS5 and up. And that tracking and enforcement tells them that there is still an activated license on your old computer that was not deactivated before you wiped it. 

What they wont do is clear activation counts or extend, to prevent piracy. Not saying you are doing that but that is a valid reason not to support after so long. 

Would you expect Microsoft to still support Windows 98? No. Same situation. 

[avid_friends2198]

Windows 98 came out 27 years ago I purchased the copy is 2021, 4 years ago.
I'm not asking for support just the ability to install software I already
own. If I had old enough hardware I could still Install windows 98. So not
exactly the same scenario.The copy was whipped with the hard drive. Maybe
if they tied the copy to a motherboard like Microsoft does it would be
obvious that there is only one install.

[stormboysdad]

you have to understand you never actually own the software, check the small print, I own CS6 and the authentification server was shut down so now I cant use it although it cost 1500 dollars back in the day. This new payment model stinks, no wonder theres so much abuse.

[D Fosse]

@avid_friends2198 

If you purchased a copy of CS5 (or even CS6) as late as 2021, then you've been scammed, with 100% certainty.

Legal copies of any Creative Suite application haven't been available anywhere since 2017 or 2018. All original serial numbers issued by Adobe were long gone by this time and dealers' shelves quickly cleared out.

Since then, pirated CS copies has been a thriving industry on the internet. This is partly why subscription was introduced; it pulls the bottom out from the piracy market because the prohibitive entrance threshold has been removed.

I suspect Adobe made more profit per user with perpetual licenses. But since subscription was introduced the user base has exploded 2x or 3x - and virtually no more piracy.