disabling / deauthorizing Photoshop on to-be-sold Mac

[deuxcent]

I'm replacing my current iMac with a 27-inch i7 8Gb model. The old one will go to a good home -- a friend of mine. I intend to first use Migration Assistant to transfer my data and the look and feel of the old Mac to my new one; then I want to wipe the internal hard drive of the outgoing machine clean and do a clean install of Snow Leopard.

Do I need to first de-authorize the old machine for my copies of Photoshop and Lightroom? What's the policy and the procedure for this?

I think I also need to deauthorize my old Mac to exclude it from my iTunes account, correct? Any other apps?

Thanks!

dc

 

[Johanfoto]

I'm replacing my current iMac with a 27-inch i7 8Gb model. The old one will go to a good home -- a friend of mine. I intend to first use Migration Assistant to transfer my data and the look and feel of the old Mac to my new one; then I want to wipe the internal hard drive of the outgoing machine clean and do a clean install of Snow Leopard.

Do I need to first de-authorize the old machine for my copies of Photoshop and Lightroom? What's the policy and the procedure for this?

Lightroom doesn't have any activation, so you don't need to deactivate it. Photoshop does indeed need to be deactivated, otherwise you can't activate it again on your new computer. It's a straightforward process, under the Help menu.

I think I also need to deauthorize my old Mac to exclude it from my iTunes account, correct? Any other apps?

Yes, it's better to do so. You can have five computers registered to one account, so it's less important, but it's better to do it anyway. Again, that's a rather straightforward process. Go to 'Store - Deauthorize Computer...'.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[digicaman2]

Slightly different question on PSCS4

Hypothetical:

Lets say I had a HD crash on an iMac. So, I bring the iMac into an Applestore and they stick in a new HD and give the iMac back to me.....

Can I restore PSCS4 from a Time Machine backup or is some other "authorization" activation/deactivation needed????

Note: lets say that PSCS4 is already on two machines (the hypothetical iMac above and a hypothetical Macbook pro).

 

[Johanfoto]

Difficult to tell. I don't know for sure about a restore from a Time Machine backup, but I do know that a restore via a 'clone' utility like Synchronize Pro will indeed also restore the activation info, if you restore to the same disk . You don't have to reactivate in that case. However, if you restore to a new disk it may be different.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[digicaman2]

Anyone know the answer to my question two posts above (i.e. iMac hard drive crash, Time Machine backup, and PSCS4.....)

Can PSCS4 be restored from Time Machine to a NEW harddisk (installed by Apple) without having to activate/deactivate the PSCS4 software?

 

[Johanfoto]

Out of curiosity: Why is it important to know this in advance? There is nothing you can do about it anyway, because you don't know if and when your hard disk will crash. You can only deal with it if and when it occurs.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[digicaman2]

Simple:

In one case I would like to know if Time Machine gives you a RESTORABLE software backup or is it only good for "data" files. If it does provide a restorable software backup, I don't need to change my current backup protocol.

Also, if it were to happen, I want to be able to MINIMIZE downtime. Lets say that I have to call adobe can get some kind of "waiver" to reinstall the software again. That information would be very helpful to have now. Why? To minimize downtime. If I have that info now, I will know to call adobe while the machine is still in the shop. When it comes back, I will have everything I need without any surprises......

Out of curiosity: Why is it important to know this in advance? There is nothing you can do about it anyway, because you don't know if and when your hard disk will crash. You can only deal with it if and when it occurs.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[noirdesir]

Simple:

In one case I would like to know if Time Machine gives you a RESTORABLE software backup or is it only good for "data" files. If it does provide a restorable software backup, I don't need to change my current backup protocol.

Just restore from your TM backup to an empty disk and see whether if booted from that you still de-authorize PS.

 

[Johanfoto]

Simple:

In one case I would like to know if Time Machine gives you a RESTORABLE software backup or is it only good for "data" files. If it does provide a restorable software backup, I don't need to change my current backup protocol.

Also, if it were to happen, I want to be able to MINIMIZE downtime. Lets say that I have to call adobe can get some kind of "waiver" to reinstall the software again. That information would be very helpful to have now. Why? To minimize downtime. If I have that info now, I will know to call adobe while the machine is still in the shop. When it comes back, I will have everything I need without any surprises......

Unfortunately, I don't think that is how it works. AFAIK, if you call Adobe, they will ask you for a number that Photoshop displays. That number is generated based on the system Photoshop is running on. That means you can only call Adobe when the machine is back in your hands and Photoshop is running (and is asking for reactivation).

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[digicaman2]

Interesting....

Can anyone confirm this???

Unfortunately, I don't think that is how it works. AFAIK, if you call Adobe, they will ask you for a number that Photoshop displays. That number is generated based on the system Photoshop is running on. That means you can only call Adobe when the machine is back in your hands and Photoshop is running (and is asking for reactivation).

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[Johanfoto]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_serial_number_and_authorization_code_for_all_Adobe_software

"For phone activation: there will be a phone number that is toll-free you must call, provide your serial number and the activation code in the box on your screen . You will then receive the activation key that you need to enter into the next box."

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[deuxcent]

Here's what I still don't quite get. I will use Migration Assistant to copy all my data and apps from my old machine to the new one. This is not always a painless process and people have reported serial crashes with their new Macs -- especially with Adobe CS programs. The bulk of these occurred when Snow Leopard was introduced a few months ago, but the problems persist for some...

I want to make sure I'm up and running on the new Mac with no problems before I de-install or de-authorize Photoshop and Lightroom on the old one -- I have a lot of critical work to do in the next three weeks and cannot afford (much) downtime.

Can that be done? Can I try my current Adobe apps and my other software (such as plugins) out on the new Mac BEFORE I burn the only bridge back to a system that I KNOW works OK (if a little slowly). I'm happy to wipe Photoshop off the old machine after (let's say) 72 hours, if I'm satisfied that the new Mac is performing without major glitches.

Thanks again,

dc

I'm replacing my current iMac with a 27-inch i7 8Gb model. The old one will go to a good home -- a friend of mine. I intend to first use Migration Assistant to transfer my data and the look and feel of the old Mac to my new one; then I want to wipe the internal hard drive of the outgoing machine clean and do a clean install of Snow Leopard.

Do I need to first de-authorize the old machine for my copies of Photoshop and Lightroom? What's the policy and the procedure for this?

 

[Johanfoto]

What you describe is no problem at all, because you still have both machines in working order. Just de-activate Photoshop on the old machine, but don't wipe it from the disk. If you have problems with Photoshop on the new machine for whatever reasons, you can simply activate Photoshop on the old machine again and keep working on that machine until you have the chance to solve the problem. BTW, you do know that you can activate Photoshop on two machines, don't you? If you haven't installed it on another machine (for example your laptop) too, you can simply keep it activated on the old machine and activate it on the new one too. And you can also run Photoshop in trial mode without activation for a month.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[mottjr]

Why not simply install the 30 day trial of PS on your new system and then switch out your activations at the end of the trial period? The only problem might be if you have already installed and run PS on the new system using Migration Assistant.

 

[deuxcent]

Johan:

Thank you. Yes, I have two installs of Photoshop already -- on my desktop machine and on my MacBook Pro.

Doesn't your solution fall short a bit because I will still have two active desktop Macs under your scenario? If PS doesn't work correctly on the new Mac, for instance because it begins crashing constantly, I might not get the chance to deactivate it, and the PS on my old Mac will have been deactivated and presumably cannot be REactivated without the newer machine having been removed from the Adobe license. See my point?

Thanks,

dc

What you describe is no problem at all, because you still have both machines in working order. Just de-activate Photoshop on the old machine, but don't wipe it from the disk. If you have problems with Photoshop on the new machine for whatever reasons, you can simply activate Photoshop on the old machine again and keep working on that machine until you have the chance to solve the problem. BTW, you do know that you can activate Photoshop on two machines, don't you? If you haven't installed it on another machine (for example your laptop) too, you can simply keep it activated on the old machine and activate it on the new one too. And you can also run Photoshop in trial mode without activation for a month.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.com

 

[noirdesir]

Johan:

Thank you. Yes, I have two installs of Photoshop already -- on my desktop machine and on my MacBook Pro.

Doesn't your solution fall short a bit because I will still have two active desktop Macs under your scenario? If PS doesn't work correctly on the new Mac, for instance because it begins crashing constantly, I might not get the chance to deactivate it, and the PS on my old Mac will have been deactivated and presumably cannot be REactivated without the newer machine having been removed from the Adobe license. See my point?

Yes, but if for one reason or another you cannot deactivate your license of PS anymore there must a way for Adobe to deactivate it for you. How is not your problem, it is Adobe's.

Works the same way for iTunes, if you cannot deactivate a computer anymore (because you may have sold it, happened to me a couple of times), Apple will reset all activations for you and you can start again with five fresh 'licenses'.

 

[deuxcent]

Thanks noirdesir. I called Adobe, and after initially getting the rote response of "one license, two computers, no exceptions," the customer service rep turned a little more helpful and actually looked at my account. She asked for the CS4 serial number and subsequently claimed that I have "two installations remaining." Doesn't make much sense to me but if true, that's good news. I'll just bite the bullet and do the migration tonight, and will hope for the best once PS CS4 is installed and activated on both the new and the old Mac.

dc

Johan:

Thank you. Yes, I have two installs of Photoshop already -- on my desktop machine and on my MacBook Pro.

Doesn't your solution fall short a bit because I will still have two active desktop Macs under your scenario? If PS doesn't work correctly on the new Mac, for instance because it begins crashing constantly, I might not get the chance to deactivate it, and the PS on my old Mac will have been deactivated and presumably cannot be REactivated without the newer machine having been removed from the Adobe license. See my point?

Yes, but if for one reason or another you cannot deactivate your license of PS anymore there must a way for Adobe to deactivate it for you. How is not your problem, it is Adobe's.

Works the same way for iTunes, if you cannot deactivate a computer anymore (because you may have sold it, happened to me a couple of times), Apple will reset all activations for you and you can start again with five fresh 'licenses'.

 

[randy jk]

I have CS4 running on both a laptop and Powermac G5. I am replacing the Powermac with an I5 imac. I opened up PS4 and there is a deinstall drop down. I deactivated the serial number but the software is still there. If I try to use it, it prompts me for the serial number or asks if I want to do a 30 day trial. Meanwhile, I am loading up CS4 on my new system.

So you can deactivate/activate at will without deleting any installs.

 

[deuxcent]

Excellent, Randy, thanks.

dc

I have CS4 running on both a laptop and Powermac G5. I am replacing the Powermac with an I5 imac. I opened up PS4 and there is a deinstall drop down. I deactivated the serial number but the software is still there. If I try to use it, it prompts me for the serial number or asks if I want to do a 30 day trial. Meanwhile, I am loading up CS4 on my new system.

So you can deactivate/activate at will without deleting any installs.

 

[randy jk]

No problem. CS4 on the I5 is working fine. Took forever to load though.

Randy