Latest revision as of 22:03, 7 March 2025

Adobe Creative Suite Activation Server Shutdown[edit | edit source]

Adobe Creative Suite (CS) was a software collection released from 2003 to 2013, when Adobe replaced it with Creative Cloud (CC). The suite went through several major versions:

CS (2003)
CS2 (2005)
CS3 (2007)
CS4 (2008)
CS5 (2010)
CS5.5 (2011)
CS6 (2012)

The Activation System[edit | edit source]

When Adobe introduced the creative suite in 2003, Adobe implemented a new online activation system that wasn't present in Adobe's previous products. This system required users to connect to Adobe's servers to verify their serial number before the software could be used.

Server Shutdown and Impact[edit | edit source]

Technical Issue[edit | edit source]

When the installer is run from any source, the setup program will try to contact Adobe; either during the installation or post-install when the user tries to run the application for the first time. It will attempt to verify their serial number. The program will fail to contact Adobe, as the server it uses for serial number verification has been shut down. After trying for a few seconds or minutes the setup program will display an error, as it cannot contact the activation servers; and the applications will not be activated, rendering them in an inoperable state.

Non-existant solution:[edit | edit source]

Nancy OShea, a 'Community Expert' and Moderator on the Adobe forums, has made the following reference to a method to obtain a new CS3 installer that does not require activation:^[1]

The correct answer below describes how to obtain a new CS3 installer, a new serial number that does not require activation and the procedures necessary to make it work. Read them carefully.^[2] Re-activating CS3 (Updated)

However, the link she provided to "Re-activating CS3(Updated)" does not work as of February 17th, 2025.

Affected Versions[edit | edit source]

As of February 2025, Adobe has shut down the activation servers for:^[3]

CS1
CS2
CS3
CS4
CS5

Impact on License Owners of Adobe Creative Suite[edit | edit source]

The server shutdown creates serious issues for legitimate owners who purchased the software:

Unable to install or reinstall the software, even from original media
Cannot activate existing installations

Adobe's Response[edit | edit source]

Adobe has cited "aging activation servers" as the reason for the shutdown. While the company claims to have:

Sent notification emails to registered users
Provided modified installers that don't require activation

Many users report never receiving this communication, particularly those who didn't register their products when registration was optional. Without registration, adobe had no way of having the contact information of these customers who did not complete an optional registration.^[4]

Workaround for CS4[edit | edit source]

If you still have an prior, duly-activated installation :

Install desired components from CS4. Don't waste time trying to activate.
Copy the amtlib.dll files from each old install subdirectory to the respective subdirectories in the new install. Everything runs without the aggravation of useless reminders.

References[edit | edit source]

[1] ttps://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/td-p/9689902

[2] ttps://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/m-p/9689903#M136927

[3] ttps://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite.html

[4] ttps://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/activation-server-retirement/m-p/11491977

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Incomplete}}
+=Adobe Creative Suite Activation Server Shutdown=
-Adobe CS (Creative Suite) was a suite of applications that existed from 2003 until 2013 when Adobe replaced it with the new Adobe CC (Creative Cloud) suite of applications. CS had six major versions CS, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, & CS6. From CS2 onward, the user is required to enter a serial number to activate the software in order to use it. The software would connect to Adobe's servers to verify the serial number and unlock it for use. However, due to "aging activation servers", Adobe has shut down the activation servers for the entire CS2 though CS4 suite of applications rendering them useless. CS5 & CS6 are next in line and some users are already reporting issues activating CS5. The applications can no longer be installed or activated as the software cannot contact the now shut down activation servers. On this page, Adobe informs the status of these products: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html Users who purchased this rather expensive powerful software can no longer use what they purchased due to the company not wanting to maintain the older servers. In Adobe Forums, some users claim that Adobe sent them emails stating the shut down and provided modified installers for these applications that no longer required activation. However, many users state that they never were contacted. Back in the day, registering applications was an optional thing, so many users didn't bother registering these products. Only the users who registered the product and still had up-to-date contact information were contacted.
+[[File:Adobe Creative Suite support page mentioning the shut down of the activation servers for many of its older versions..png|thumb|The Adobe Creative Suite (CS) Support Page Stating The Shutdown of Activation Servers]]Adobe Creative Suite (CS) was a software collection released from 2003 to 2013, when Adobe replaced it with Creative Cloud (CC). The suite went through several major versions:
+*CS (2003)
+*CS2 (2005)
+*CS3 (2007)
+*CS4 (2008)
+*CS5 (2010)
+*CS5.5 (2011)
+*CS6 (2012)
+==The Activation System==
+When Adobe introduced the creative suite in 2003, Adobe implemented a new online activation system that wasn't present in Adobe's previous products. This system required users to connect to Adobe's servers to verify their serial number before the software could be used.
+==Server Shutdown and Impact==
+===Technical Issue===
+When the installer is run from any source, the setup program will try to contact Adobe; either during the installation or post-install when the user tries to run the application for the first time. It will attempt to verify their serial number. The program will fail to contact Adobe, as the server it uses for serial number verification has been shut down. After trying for a few seconds or minutes the setup program will display an error, as it cannot contact the activation servers; and the applications will not be activated, rendering them in an inoperable state.
+===Non-existant solution:===
+Nancy OShea, a 'Community Expert' and Moderator on the Adobe forums, has made the following reference to a method to obtain a new CS3 installer that does not require activation:<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/td-p/9689902</ref><blockquote>The correct answer below describes how to obtain a new CS3 installer, a new serial number that does not require activation and the procedures necessary to make it work.   Read them carefully.<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/m-p/9689903#M136927</ref>
+'''[https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1545413 Re-activating CS3 (Updated)]'''</blockquote>
+[[File:Nancy adobe activation servers.png|thumb|Nancy OShea on adobe forums linking to a method to install software after activation servers have been phased out, that does not work.]]
+However, the link she provided to ''"Re-activating CS3(Updated)"'' does not work as of February 17th, 2025.
+===Affected Versions===
+As of February 2025, Adobe has shut down the activation servers for:<ref>https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite.html</ref>
+*CS1
+*CS2
+*CS3
+*CS4
+*CS5
+===Impact on License Owners of Adobe Creative Suite===
+The server shutdown creates serious issues for legitimate owners who purchased the software:
+*Unable to install or reinstall the software, even from original media
+*Cannot activate existing installations
+===Adobe's Response===
+Adobe has cited "aging activation servers" as the reason for the shutdown. While the company claims to have:
+*Sent notification emails to registered users
+*Provided modified installers that don't require activation
+Many users report never receiving this communication, particularly those who didn't register their products when registration was optional. Without registration, adobe had no way of having the contact information of these customers who did not complete an optional registration.<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/activation-server-retirement/m-p/11491977</ref>
+=== '''Workaround for CS4''' ===
+If you still have an prior, duly-activated installation :
+* Install desired components from CS4. Don't waste time trying to activate.
+* Copy the amtlib.dll files from each old install subdirectory to the respective subdirectories in the new install. Everything runs without the aggravation of useless reminders.
+== References ==
+<references />