Photoshop CS4 Activation

Old Timer 56 · 06-30-2009, 03:32 PM

I just upgraded from CS2 to CS4. Previously, upon completion of the installation of CS and CS2, a window appeared asking me to activate the software. However, when I finished installing CS4, no such window appeared. I was connected to the Internet during installation so maybe activation was automatic. Anybody know?

Richard

Niki · 06-30-2009, 04:02 PM

hmmm...good question, Richard.
I also have cs2 and am about to upgrade to cs3 or cs4 (they are both sitting here...Im just deciding).

so cs4 is up and running without the activation?

*photolady* · 06-30-2009, 04:07 PM

I think you're going to find that some software when upgrading doesn't not require a second activation. This may be true for your upgrade from Adobe.

Niki · 06-30-2009, 04:09 PM

I think photolady is right, perhaps since you are using the honest to goodness, physical Adobe software you don't need the activation like you would if you downloaded the program from the website.
(assuming that's what you did, of course =)

Old Timer 56 · 06-30-2009, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by Niki

I think photolady is right, perhaps since you are using the honest to goodness, physical Adobe software you don't need the activation like you would if you downloaded the program from the website.
(assuming that's what you did, of course =)

I installed it from a disk I bought from B&H via a link on the NAPP website. No shipping charge.

While I installed it I also registered it. I think the registration page came up very early in the process. However, Adobe's website says registration and activation are two separate things so I don't think it was activated simply because I registered it

While installing, my computer informed me that the software was seeking access to Adobe (my McAfee AV has this feature). Once was after I registered and once again later. Perhaps the second time was an automatic activation.

One other thing. When I opened CS4 and clicked on Help, one of the options in the drop-down menu had the word Deactivate. That suggests to me that the program was indeed activated.

Richard

*photolady* · 06-30-2009, 05:45 PM

"originally posted by Niki.
perhaps since you are using the honest to goodness, physical Adobe software you don't need the activation like you would if you downloaded the program from the website.

That was not what I meant. I was saying if the software old timer bought was indeed an upgrade and not full retail version of CS4, the Adobe would see this as an upgrade which the original already being activated, the upgrade wouldn't need to be activated again.

This is like upgrading an operating system that requires activation. Those don't need to be reactivated either if you're only doing an upgrade because it uses the same key code as the original software.

Old Timer 56 · 06-30-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by photolady

That was not what I meant. I was saying if the software old timer bought was indeed an upgrade and not full retail version of CS4, the Adobe would see this as an upgrade which the original already being activated, the upgrade wouldn't need to be activated again.....

Perhaps. But previously when I upgraded from PS7 to CS, then from CS to CS2, I got the activation window during installation. Those were upgrade disks. And my computer was connected to the Internet each time.

I suspect that Adobe changed the activation process with CS4 (and maybe CS3). Who knows.

Richard

*xs400* · 06-30-2009, 06:01 PM

Activation of Adobe Photoshop CS4 adds a line of text to the "hosts" file found in the folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc. If the same line of text was added to the hosts file by another adobe product, activation may not be needed for further installations of Adobe products.

One other thing. When I opened CS4 and clicked on Help, one of the options in the drop-down menu had the word Deactivate. That suggests to me that the program was indeed activated.

If you decide to uninstall CS4, you need to Deactivate the program before doing the uninstall. If you fail to deactivate CS4 before running the uninstall, you will not be able to reinstall CS4 on the same computer.

Old Timer 56 · 06-30-2009, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by xs400

Activation of Adobe Photoshop CS4 adds a line of text to the "hosts" file found in the folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc. If the same line of text was added to the hosts file by another adobe product, activation may not be needed for further installations of Adobe products.

If you decide to uninstall CS4, you need to Deactivate the program before doing the uninstall. If you fail to deactivate CS4 before running the uninstall, you will not be able to reinstall CS4 on the same computer.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep it in mind.

Richard

photog · 07-05-2009, 03:47 AM

Hi OldTimer 56
Your computer is directed to the Adobe site where the activation process takes place. If the copy you have installed in bogus you will soon know. it will shut the installation down untillyou buy a valid number (eg a legal copy af the software.
I just upgraded from CS2 to CS4. Previously, upon completion of the installation of CS and CS2, a window appeared asking me to activate the software. However, when I finished installing CS4, no such window appeared. I was connected to the Internet during installation so maybe activation was automatic. Anybody know?
Ron McDermott

*Wheatfield* · 07-05-2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by xs400

If you decide to uninstall CS4, you need to Deactivate the program before doing the uninstall. If you fail to deactivate CS4 before running the uninstall, you will not be able to reinstall CS4 on the same computer.

It's a bit worse than that, actually. Failure to deactivate the software prior to uninstalling it causes you to lose the license for that software. I had a bugger of a time with CS-3. I had put a legitimate copy of it on my workstation at the studio. One of the photographers came in with a hacked copy of CS-4 which they installed, and then they uninstalled my CS-3 without deactivating it and bam! I'm down to one license, and Adobe can't seem to do anything about it. I had to take my home machine into the shop, and for some reason CS-3 couldn't deactivate from my machine and bam! all of a sudden I have no active licenses for CS-3, so when I want to install it, I have to call Adobe and go through a beg and plead song and dance to get it working.
My CS-4 upgrade went smoothly, you put in the serial number very early on in the process and then it installs. Activation takes place immediately upon the completion of the install.

Denis · 07-05-2009, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Wheatfield

It's a bit worse than that, actually. Failure to deactivate the software prior to uninstalling it causes you to lose the license for that software. I had a bugger of a time with CS-3. I had put a legitimate copy of it on my workstation at the studio. One of the photographers came in with a hacked copy of CS-4 which they installed, and then they uninstalled my CS-3 without deactivating it and bam! I'm down to one license, and Adobe can't seem to do anything about it. I had to take my home machine into the shop, and for some reason CS-3 couldn't deactivate from my machine and bam! all of a sudden I have no active licenses for CS-3, so when I want to install it, I have to call Adobe and go through a beg and plead song and dance to get it working.
My CS-4 upgrade went smoothly, you put in the serial number very early on in the process and then it installs. Activation takes place immediately upon the completion of the install.

This why I image my hardrive regularly or prior and after any major installations. You could have "restore" which would or may have solved the problem. Ideally, imaging your drive with incremental regular updates is the the best solution. I pay $60 for the software which is used to image 2 PCs and 3 laptops.