Keys and activation question at DVinfo.net

Peter Manojlovic · April 7th, 2009, 08:32 PM

I've been offered to buy the CS3 bundle for a "Too good to be true" price...
I'm assured that the product is legit, that i can download any patches, and I can even register it if i want...
The seller says he's moved on to CS4.

Question:
Since there was an obvious Serial Key, and activation required prior to my possible purchase, would it need to be deactivated at his end, or would i be left with a set of useless discs??

I'll check out the Adobe site next, but figured this would be a better place to start..

Thx...

Adam Gold · April 7th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Yes, it would need to be deactivated at his end.

Graham Hickling · April 7th, 2009, 08:46 PM

I've wondered about this too....

For example, if the seller used his ownership of CS3 to get a reduced price upgrade to CS4, then would Adobe agree to reauthorize that copy of CS3 again, even if he does deauthorize it? Do they allow both versions to keep running?

Peter Manojlovic · April 7th, 2009, 08:56 PM

Hey Graham.......That's what's killing me..

I had asked him the same question, (upgrading for a reduced cost for current users), but the reasoning was "I didn't keep the receipt"...Yeah right..

I'm starting to smell a flounder...

Alan Craven · April 8th, 2009, 01:52 AM

I have just upgraded from Premiere/Encore CS2 to the new CS4 combination package. I used the Encore CS2 serial number to activate the CS4 package, and this is OK. This means that my Premiere CS2 serial is effectively "free". Even so I am having doubts about disposing of it, just in case I subsequently find Adobe will no longer accept an Encore serial for activating a Premiere Pro upgrade package.

Peter Manojlovic · April 8th, 2009, 07:39 AM

Why and for what reason would you use the Encore CS2 serial number to activate CS4??
Just curious...

Also, did you uninstall the CS2 package, or can you simply install CS3/4 in addition to your old suite??

Pete Bauer · April 8th, 2009, 09:23 AM

For upgrades, you need a s/n from your prior version to confirm you are eligible for the upgrade. Officially, you should be able to install the new version with or without the earlier version -- although some of us have had problems when doing an upgrade on the same partition.

Graham Hickling · April 8th, 2009, 09:28 AM

So, Peter, does the old version remain able to be re-installed and re-authorised on a new machine, once the new version is up and running? Or only on the original machine? Or not at all?

Graham Hickling · April 8th, 2009, 06:45 PM

Cricket, cricket ...

All Peter (and I) want to know is whether an old version of CS3, that has used to get a qualify for a CS4 upgrade, remains functional and authorizable.

Dozens of you must have been in this situation ... is this some sort of Secret Squirrel Club thing?

Pete Bauer · April 8th, 2009, 08:47 PM

Hardly a secret squirrel thing. Took me no more than 10 seconds to go to yahoo.com and keyword "Adobe Licensing Agreement" and thereby find the Premire Pro Licensing Agreement. Here's the link (see especially para 4.6):

http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/...80623_1026.pdf

Short answer to selling the old version and keeping the upgrade: No.

Short answer to being able to use the old version yourself: Yes, it'll work. How long Adobe continues to honor old s/n and activation of outdated versions, I don't know...guessing probably at least a few years past upgrade time.

Peter Manojlovic · April 8th, 2009, 09:52 PM

Thanks for you time fellas....

But the seller showed up with a jewel case, and a single DVD that said "Adobe CS3 MASTER COLLECTION"....
I wasn't buying it, and couldn't be convinced that the Suite could fit on a single disk....

Of course it was too good to be true..

Alan Craven · April 9th, 2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Manojlovic

Why and for what reason would you use the Encore CS2 serial number to activate CS4??
Just curious...

Also, did you uninstall the CS2 package, or can you simply install CS3/4 in addition to your old suite??

The idea is that the old Premiere CS2 can still be used as its activation has been turned off. I have a Matrox RTX100 card which I no longer use, and I assume that I could sell it for far more with a valid copy of Premiere than selling just the card.

The problem is that I am nervous of Adobe's attitude, and worry that they may change the rules so that I can no longer use the Encore CS2 serial to activate the Premiere CS4 upgrade package. I always use the item on the Help Menu to turn off the activation before un-installing any Adobe item.

I removed the CS2 package (Premiere, Encore, Photoshop, and Audition) and used a reg cleaner and manual clean up of remaining folders. I then installed the CS4 package, followed by my new Matrox RTX2 card. Premiere called for a valid serial number (either Premiere or Encore) during the installation. I then re-installed audition and Photoshop CS2. I now have both versions of Bridge, but I had to install the Photoshop help files manually. This was done mainly to ensure that the Matrox drivers would install cleanly, rather than because I was worried about problems with the Adobe software.

I have always removed old versions of Premiere, etc, before installing the new. You are asked for a valid serial number for a full copy of an earlier version once you enter the serial for the upgrade copy. The only exception to this of which I am aware is Encore CS2 upgraded from Encore 1.5 - in this case Encore 1.5 has to be installed on the system, and activated, for the upgrade serial to be accepted. You can remove the 1.5 version once the upgrade is up and running.

April 7th, 2009, 08:32 PM	#1
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Keys and activation question I've been offered to buy the CS3 bundle for a "Too good to be true" price... I'm assured that the product is legit, that i can download any patches, and I can even register it if i want... The seller says he's moved on to CS4. Question: Since there was an obvious Serial Key, and activation required prior to my possible purchase, would it need to be deactivated at his end, or would i be left with a set of useless discs?? I'll check out the Adobe site next, but figured this would be a better place to start.. Thx...

April 8th, 2009, 09:23 AM	#7
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	For upgrades, you need a s/n from your prior version to confirm you are eligible for the upgrade. Officially, you should be able to install the new version with or without the earlier version -- although some of us have had problems when doing an upgrade on the same partition. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

April 8th, 2009, 08:47 PM	#10
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Hardly a secret squirrel thing. Took me no more than 10 seconds to go to yahoo.com and keyword "Adobe Licensing Agreement" and thereby find the Premire Pro Licensing Agreement. Here's the link (see especially para 4.6): http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/...80623_1026.pdf Short answer to selling the old version and keeping the upgrade: No. Short answer to being able to use the old version yourself: Yes, it'll work. How long Adobe continues to honor old s/n and activation of outdated versions, I don't know...guessing probably at least a few years past upgrade time. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

April 7th, 2009, 08:34 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Yes, it would need to be deactivated at his end.

April 7th, 2009, 08:46 PM	#3
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	I've wondered about this too.... For example, if the seller used his ownership of CS3 to get a reduced price upgrade to CS4, then would Adobe agree to reauthorize that copy of CS3 again, even if he does deauthorize it? Do they allow both versions to keep running?

April 7th, 2009, 08:56 PM	#4
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Hey Graham.......That's what's killing me.. I had asked him the same question, (upgrading for a reduced cost for current users), but the reasoning was "I didn't keep the receipt"...Yeah right.. I'm starting to smell a flounder...

April 8th, 2009, 01:52 AM	#5
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	I have just upgraded from Premiere/Encore CS2 to the new CS4 combination package. I used the Encore CS2 serial number to activate the CS4 package, and this is OK. This means that my Premiere CS2 serial is effectively "free". Even so I am having doubts about disposing of it, just in case I subsequently find Adobe will no longer accept an Encore serial for activating a Premiere Pro upgrade package.

April 8th, 2009, 07:39 AM	#6
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Why and for what reason would you use the Encore CS2 serial number to activate CS4?? Just curious... Also, did you uninstall the CS2 package, or can you simply install CS3/4 in addition to your old suite??

April 8th, 2009, 09:28 AM	#8
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	So, Peter, does the old version remain able to be re-installed and re-authorised on a new machine, once the new version is up and running? Or only on the original machine? Or not at all?

April 8th, 2009, 06:45 PM	#9
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Cricket, cricket ... All Peter (and I) want to know is whether an old version of CS3, that has used to get a qualify for a CS4 upgrade, remains functional and authorizable. Dozens of you must have been in this situation ... is this some sort of Secret Squirrel Club thing?

April 8th, 2009, 09:52 PM	#11
Peter Manojlovic Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hamilton Ontario Posts: 769	Thanks for you time fellas.... But the seller showed up with a jewel case, and a single DVD that said "Adobe CS3 MASTER COLLECTION".... I wasn't buying it, and couldn't be convinced that the Suite could fit on a single disk.... Of course it was too good to be true..