ian_lyons

Mick,

You could ask the question of Adobe (formally) at the following page:

<http://www.adobe.com/activation/feedback.html>

You could also read any one of the dozens of threads already discussing the subject many of which answer your specific questions.

or example, what hardware changes are allowed?


Pretty much anything except the hard drive.

mick_murphy

Dear Adobe

Please can we (your legitimate and loyal customers) have some properly useful information about what we can and can't do to our computers to avoid running into problems with activation. The Activation FAQ is far too vague and answers few of the questions and problems that have been raised over the past week or two on this forum. There are all sorts of rumours floating about and the only place to learn appears to be from trawling through the numerous threads here. Am I missing some documentation somewhere?

For example, what hardware changes are allowed? The FAQ just says minor hardware changes. In my case, I have sporadic hardware problems on a brand new computer which may mean changing the motherboard but in the meantime I will be probably swapping memory in and out. How far can I go before reactivation is required? Will it interpret a new motherboard as a new computer thereby using the second computer slot as on the EULA. FOr this reason I have held back from installing on my laptop.

It would be really helpful to have something along the lines of the documentation which Microsoft produced rather than keeping us in the dark.

id._awe

I would think that changing the motherboard would require a re-activation, it would be the basis of the activation hash. It is not a big deal apparently, just phone and explain the circumstances.

I think Scott stated that they just use the Hard drive to create the Hash. So as long as you dont change that you should be fine.

yrbkmgr

For example, what hardware changes are allowed?


They could tell you, but then they have to kill you. I'm kidding, I couldn't resist.

yrbkmgr

I'm not sure you CAN change pretty much anything but the hard drive - I think the machine hash is a number generated by reading three to five components that are not often changed: Hard drive, MoBo, Vid Card. My understanding is that these devices are queried and report either s/n iformation or some other unique identifier for the mfr, and then it goes to an algorithm that creates the numeric hash specific for that machine.

Sure, the HD is where the info is stored, but I think if it were replacing the HD only, it would be too easy to defeat the activation process.

ian_lyons

Tony,

I don't want to get into another long winded BS debate. The following is the current answer shown in the FAQ.

Adobe recognizes that software license activation systems can create a
few more steps for the user and has worked hard to minimize customer inconvenience.
The Adobe activation process supports installation on a primary and secondary
computer as well as most system upgrades (for example, operating system,
motherboard, memory, or processor). In most cases, customers can change
computing environments without needing to contact Adobe Customer Care
or needing to reactivate any installed Adobe software.


Also, given that I've been using it for the this past 6 months means that I have a better idea of how it works than those (like you) who haven't.

yrbkmgr

I don't know why you respond like that Ian. There's absolutely no reason for your ascerbic remarks except for an impolite and cantankerous posture. Maybe try a little lemon to sweeten your disposition.

You may not appreciate my contributions but some do, and if you'd like, I will be happy to simply stop participating.

mick_murphy

Oh no. What have I set off.

I must admit I read that bit of the FAQ a while back but missed it when I reread it earlier looking for that type of info. So that's my fault. The main info I sought was already there and I missed it. Apologies Adobe.

What has gotten me concerned is reading all of the stuff in the threads here but presumably these are the exceptions. An updated FAQ with a but more detail wouldn't do any harm though, especially in the light of real-world user problems.

ian_lyons

Tony,

You're free to contribute as much as you like and in any way you like. However, I would suggest you stick with what you know rather than you think you know. That way folk like me won't have any basis for contradicting you.

So far as your contribution to this thread on what constitutes allowable hardware changes - well that contradicts the info provided by Adobe and my own experience.

There are folk with genuine TECHNICAL concerns over activation and when these have been aired Adobe have endeavored to address them. They've even updated the FAQ. Other folk have experienced real TECHNICAL issues and Adobe have endeavored to address them as well. The number of REAL problems with activation is VERY small but given the amount of noise surrounding them it gets pretty darned difficult to weed out genuine issues from the rants.

From the very first day CS was released you haven't missed an opportunity to express your views on activation. Your name is against dozens if not hundreds of posts on activation. I think you can take it as read that we ALL know you don't like it and why. If you and others like you genuinely want to help Adobe sort out the technical issues then do them a favour and leave your opinions on the rights and wrongs of activation at the door - they've got the message! If you've got real world experience of the problem or similar then by all means get involved.

There's absolutely no reason for your ascerbic remarks except for an impolite
and cantankerous posture. Maybe try a little lemon to sweeten your disposition.


You'll need to realign your antenna because you just tuned into the wrong channel! You've have no idea how impolite and cantankerous I can get and you don't want to know ;-)