Uhh… keep in mind I’m not an OSX guy, so I have no clue if any of this works, let alone makes any sense ;) And the fact that they’re from keygen tutorials and what not…

Anyhew, what little I could find pointed to two or three possible solutions:

1)

FOR reactivation issue: Go to %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\FLEXnet (c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FLEXnet\) and rename the adobe_*_tsf.data file (Adobe apps must not be running) After that, when You start an Adobe app You will then see a registration window where You could enter Your new legit registration data.

2) Similar to the first solution:

Navigate to the Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher/FLEXnet folder Delete everything inside, empty the trash.

3) Install “AppZapper” or “AppTrap” and see if they’ll do a full uninstall for you, then try to reactivate/reinstall.

Hope one of those works for ya :/

crapitude? :)

Neal -

Thank you — #1 worked! I actually found that solution last night, but I was bleary-eyed and must have navigated to the “PreferencePanes” folder instead and didn’t see the FLEXnet stuff (in Terminal, I typed “Pref” and then TAB, and it probably matched wrong).

Adobe escalated support hasn’t gotten back to me yet, so it’s a good thing your comment encouraged me to try the solution again.

However, I should probably try to find a crack to bring with me on my next long trip. I will be without real communication for months, and if this happens on the road, I will be screwed.

Awesome! Glad something worked :)

I’m right there with you regarding how activation processes/DRM/etc actually reinforce the use of pirated software. Seems pretty counter-intuitive that you basically punish legit users of your software by burdening them with more hoops to jump through than someone who isn’t going to purchase your software anyway. You’d think that you would want to reward them for purchasing your software by making it easier for them to use, not the other way around.

Ah well. /soapbox (and viva la torrents!)

in this case, keygen > crack.

plus it’s more safe. while your at it, check out cs4.

thanks a bunch for the tip – I had battered my head bloody trying to get CS3 to “repair” the activation…suggestion #2 worked like a charm…

I detest Adobe’s activation process. I had the demo version of CS3 on my Mac. Uninstalled it and bought the suite. Tried to install it, but the installer said certain programs were still installed, so wouldn’t install them. Of course the “installed” programs I’d deleted wouldn’t run either. Off to tech support to get a heavy duty uninstaller. Ran that a few times. Re-installed. Everything installed BUT I had apparently used my two activations while trying to get the software to run. Off to Adobe support hell. The guys who had helped me uninstall it couldn’t help me with activation problems. It was off to India (by phone) where I was accused of installing it on more than one machine (I had only one Mac that would run it) and in essence called me a thief and a liar.

Adobe has a rather odd view of customer support where you assume your customers are liars and thieves and treat them as such. Great way to build customer loyalty.

It doesn’t end there, however, I bought a new Mac. To activate CS3 on my new computer I had to deactivate it on the old one. Deactivation failed. Better yet. Yesterday the software on my old computer that I couldn’t deactivate wouldn’t run because Adobe had blocked its licence. Of course I still couldn’t activate it on my new computer. After half an hour of chasing around Adobe support, I finally ended up in the Philippines where I got my new activation code.

I’m beginning to understand why so much of Adobe’s support is overseas. It prevents livid customers from arriving with a gun and shooting someone.

Congratulations Adobe — I’m sure business schools around the world are recommending companies emulate your plan for building customer loyalty.

Thank you guys, I was having the same problem..

In this folder /Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher/FLEXnet/ is the adobe_*_tsf.data file stored. The only thing I had to do was rename it, I’ve added .backup on it and I was able to activate Photoshop the normal way!

Thank you :-)

Thanks for the help,

Suggestion #2 worked…

Saved IT from re-installing CS3

Thanks!

Thanks ! #1 worked !

Good…

OMG, I'm going through this now. The frustration level is unbearable… and of course the tech support office is not open now.

this is why I’m still using cs1 on mac, I had used photoshop since 1.0, I have no hope on it now, i will keep using cs1 untill there is no more mac can work with it, then i will switch o other job type