Photoshop CS3: Reactivation not working

Simar, my IT department at my job figured it out!!!  

The problem is that the old serial number remains on the PC in a common file even after removing CS3.

Here is what worked for us:

1. Go to Adobe support page, key in CS3 activation. It will bring up the page on Activation or Connection error.

2. Sign in with Adobe login or create one.

3. It will ask for your CS3 serial number.  Key it in.  The page will respond with a new CS3 serial number.

4. Note the links further down this page for installing the new CS3.

5. Close out of CS3 and out of any browsers.

6. Go to control panel and un-install CS3 completely.

7. When this is finished, use File Explorer to find the AdobePCD folder in the c:Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Adobe folder. Delete this AdobePCD folder. This is the one that has the old serial number that is preventing the new activation and it is not deleted by de-installing CS3.

8. Now click on each of the two file links  (file 1 of 2 and file 2 of 2) (noted above on the CS3 install page. These will spawn a loader program which you must accept and will take quite a quite a while to load. In the middle of the first load, a box will open noting a missing AdobePDF.dll file. Use the browse button and find the file at c:Windows/sysWow64/ Once you have chosen this path, click okay.  The first file load will complete, then click on file 2 of 2 and let it load.

9. Once the loads complete, open CS3. This time it will ask for the new serial number obtained from the Adobe website above. Key it in as noted.

10. Open CS3 again.  It will bring up a box to register. Click on "Never Register." Now you are done.

sorry to hear that.
would suggest to contact contact Customer service. For contact support options, you can see this: https://helpx.adobe.com/contact/what-contact-options.html

I thank you for your suggestion, but that is the exact link where there is nothing but a dead end, no human contact, chat, phone number, email...exists. I've exhausted that page to no avail. :(

what option are you selecting post log-in to support page?  contact Customer service
Please remember that chat support is only available if you are facing: Serial Numbers & Activation OR  Account & Payment issues.
You might need to select correct option to land up for chat support.

HTH

Please look at this: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suit...

and here: https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/temporary-activation-expired.html

yes! please sign in to this and post your entitlement check, you will get info to download the product and key.
use that info and this should help you

Sorry Simar, I know you are trying to help, but all of these actions have been taken- none of them work. All of the links you provide are dead ends, obsolete.

can we please know:

• what  is the actual issue?
• what product are you installing OR is it install / activation issue?
• any way you can share the error screen-shot?

I have spent 3 weeks with technical support on the issue of reactivating Cs3.  I finally got a supervisor today who basically said that CS3 could not be reinstalled with the Windows10 system.  I tried to explain that it has been working for at least 2 years with Windows10 and only quit when they sent their reactivation notice.  Is there any workaround for this problem?  it certainly makes me never want to purchase another Adobe program!

We apologize for such an experience. Checked your cases detail and will ask relevant team to make a reach out.

@lisa: i apologize for any inconvenience and have a  question for you: we are not able to locate your records in our internal system via the email address you have Is there another one that defines your entitlement with Adobe OR case numbers for your issue that were created while assisting you? Please let us know

Lisa, I tried your solution from your IT guys and still no luck.  I had a couple of differences.  There is a CS3 entry in my control panel that will not delete.  THere were 2 and one deleted.  I do not think it is the CS3 program, but some help program.  Still won't go away.  

There is only one file showing for my download for CS3 for Windows in English.

I never get the message that Adobe PCD is  missing.

My program installs under my user file.

When running setup, I always get an error message "You can only install one Adobe product at a time.  Please complete the other installation before attempting to install Adobe Photoshop CS3".  No other program is installing.

I did have one instance out of about 20 where CS3 actually installed and said my activation was out of date, or something to that effect.  And then directed me to Adobe's website, which we all know doesn't work!

cannot uninstall. cannot run repair. cannot reinstall. cannot use program i paid good money for, when it was working perfectly prior to all this nonsense. That's just not cool. Don't care if you don't want to support 10 year old program, just don't cut us off from being able to keep using it when it works perfectly fine!

In my case my old serial is not recognized at all! I had a chat with Jyoti, and he or she could not explain to me how I have a working, activated version of CS3 running which proves that the serial is valid, but still when I want to convert it to a new serial I get the message that it is invalid. Now I have to provide an invoice from almost 10 years ago. What to do now?

This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled Downloaded a newer Version of CS-3 and now it wont work. Thanks a lot Adobe.....7....

Should I go get another Photoshop Program from another vender? Adobe appears not to be concerned with my issues with Adobe CS-3.