Adobe CS3 deactivation limits

Question

I am quoting a very interesting article from Macfixit. May be of use to quite a few CS3 users
Adobe CS3 deactivation limits
Adobe's Creative Suite 3 imposes a limit of 20 deactivations per license. This is causing problems for users of cloned backups. MacFixIt reader Dee Dee Martin writes:
"I always try to remember to deactivate Adobe CS3 before cloning a backup, but yesterday (along with numerous other times) I forgot so I booted up from my clone, ran Photoshop and tried to deactivate. I got a big dialog box saying "Deactivation Failed" error code 194:14, call Adobe tech support.
"I was told there is a limit (21 times) that I could deactivate CS3 and I had reached that limit. Adobe made a 'one time exception' and restored my activation count (yes Adobe tracks this stuff), but I would have to completely erase CS3 (using level 3 of their CS3Clean script) obliterating all prefs, settings, tools, printer profiles etc."
There doesn't seem to be a workable solution for this issue at present.

Answer 1

Actually I did use the phone number on the program's notice screen. The auto system of coarse would not work as I had 2 activations going on the software. (One of which was on the old hard drive from broken system. So, there was no way to de-activate that instance without hours of fun with hardware.)
My "error" was not realizing that the installed CS3 products are essentially tied the the hard drive on which they are installed. Actually a combination of the hard drive and motherboard, etc.
I had cloned the old hard drive's partitions to my new hard drive. All attached to the new motherboard. So it was all effectively the same OS system. Even the XP system did not require reactivation. (Though this was probably because about 2 weeks earlier XP had prompted for reactivation when I moved my boot hard drive to IDE channel 2 as IDE channel 1 had failed on the old motherboard.)
I suppose I could have dug the case out from under my desk. Detached the new hard drive, re-attach the old drive and booted. Then spend an hour loading drivers and updates to XP in order to connect to the internet and deactivate Photoshop and Illustrator on the old hard drive. Turns out that might have been faster than my call to Adobe turned out to be.
Of coarse this fun all started over the weekend when I had time to do the hardware changes. I had effectively been nursing the half dead motherboard for 2 weeks before I had a free weekend to do the hardware swap in the first place. Hadn't occurred to me that the CS3 installs would need reactivation as it was the same OS license and installation just moved to new hard drive and motherboard, or I would would have deactivated first.
Adobe's activation screen/notice required action within 6 or 7 days, not 30. I of coarse could have just fired up my laptop and de-activated it. But, then I would still have an instance that could not be de-activated from my end. Adobe had to do the de-activation on their end.
My thoughts on a better activation system. Tie it to the OS instance, not to hardware. Does that mean a savvy user could bypass. Sure. But, users of pirated software are bypassing already with less trouble.
Activation limits: they violate the basic Adobe user license agreement. The way that agreement reads, there should be no reason a user could not swap their second installed instance between a home computer and laptop multiple times a week.
Such a scenario is not that far fetched. An independent graphic artist could easily have an office, and home computer. But, occasionally need to work on the road with a laptop. Should he have to have 2 licenses to switch between his occasional use of his home computer and laptop? Adobe's activation limits say yes, although the the license effectively says no, one license covers that usage. Section 2.4 of license does not say "personal use" it says "exclusive use".
From Photoshop CS3 license:
"2.4 Portable or Home Computer Use. Subject to the important restrictions set forth in Section 2.5 below, the primary user of the Computer on which the Software is installed (“Primary User”) may install a second copy of the Software for his or her exclusive use on either a portable Computer or a Computer located at his or her home, provided that the Software on the portable or home Computer is not used at the same time as the Software on the primary Computer. You may be required to contact Adobe in order to make a second copy."
Frankly I have done just that over the years with earlier versions (AI8, PS 6). Had a primary workstation at the office. Had one at home that I used occasionally for business "midnight calls" and for practice/trying new features, etc. But, also as the same primary user I had the software on a laptop so that I could work remotely on my occasional road trips, vacations, etc. There was never anyone using the software other than myself. But, it was on all 3 computers.
I don't see where that violates the words or spirit of section 2.4 of the license agreement (CS3).
Earlier license for Photoshop 6, effectively stated the same:
"2.4. Home Use. You, as the primary user of the computer on which the Software is installed, may also install the Software on one of your home computers. However, the Software may not be used on your home computer at the same time the Software on the primary computer is being used."
Not using concurrently is understood.
Enough said for now.