sroter Loc: Montreal,Quebec. Canada

This is just a shot in the dark. If Adobe CS5 is installed on a computer that is connected to the internet. Disconnect your system from the internet when you open CS5 and using PS. When your finished using CS5, reconnect to the internet. This may stop the you from getting unauthorized programme` messages. Like I said a `shot in the dark`

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If you have an Adobe account (which you must, since you needed to register your copy of Photoshop for it to work)... you can look up serial numbers on that account.

I also found an app somewhere online that "searched" my computer and compiled a list of all the serial numbers and license keys. It's been some time since I used it and I don't recall the name or where I got it, but ISTR that it picked up on all the Adobe software without any problem (as well as much other software).

Google for an app that will do that. I bet you'll find it.

Once you get the info, create a simple txt file and make note of the serial #s and keys because chances are you'll need them again sometime in the future.

Bill P

Welcome to the internet.

Anhanga Brasil Loc: Cabo Frio - Brazil

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

Check out Recover Keys.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Google is your friend. If nothing else works you can (if you want to and have the knowledge of how to do it) look for instructions for pirated versions which will list entries you can make to your host file to block Adobe from verifying your copy.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Good Grief, subscribe to the latest Photoshop & Lightroom. For $10 a month you will not forget it. Remember $10 will barely get you two beers or maybe not one decent bourbon or scotch.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Oh, it's ok, I can defend my post with actual facts, unlike Mr. Rude.

Barndog Loc: Tacoma

I got a notice of unauthorized use of Lightroom which I did purchase from B&H. Had to send in the authorization number and all is ok now. For how long who knows maybe they will have another “glitch”.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I understand where Gene51 is coming from and he is correct however that doesn't mean that Adobe is doing ethically the right thing. If you buy something you should be able to resell it to someone else. And the same applies to the right to use. No the ethical way to do this is to have a simple mechanism where rights can be transferred. Like log into a web site and be able to transfer the license code to a new user. And if the license code is matched to a PC identity then the software goes with it. You cannot ethically write your way out of this. And to be really fair if you change your PC identity then there needs to be some mechanism to allow the software to continue running on the new identity as long as the owner hasn't changed. Now I don't know the best way to sort this mess but one way IS NOT to say nobody can reuse this software. You Yanks are good at trying to tie everything up for the SOLE BENEFIT of the supplier and in so doing ethically making all sorts of wrong decisions. Note here Gene51 that technically you are right but that doesn't mean that Adobe are morally right.
Adobes approach is like Gun control. If you register the owner rather than the product then a whole lot of things get better. Register both and get something even closer to a working solution. Not perfect but better. Perfect won't happen as long as there are a heap of assholes amongst us.
The Adobe comments that Gene51 refers to have ONE SOLE purpose - to make more money for Adobe by making it legally impossible to transfer copies and therefore to force more sales. And look at all those people with subscriptions to Adobe and MS. Probably making it easier to pay online with direct credits so you don't have to do anything. Better not stop it of course because otherwise you won't be able to access any of your photos or documents, neither you nor any relatives down the track (probably not quite true but I bet you it won't be easy - more on this later from me). What better way to make money than have a permanent trickle feed of funds coming in for the life of the customer and it won't stop until the trustees close the bank account. Do you think that doddery old customers will remember to close the trickle when they no longer care ? No way. Adobe and MS will have a dept whose sole purpose, like an insurance company, will be calculating long term income based on life expectancy of the old. I am only a little cynical and go through life trying to be a realist.

Jamers Loc: Michigan

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

JD750 Loc: SoCal

What is your point?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Yes Gene51 is correct.

Ethically: “in a way that relates to moral principles”. Opinion: Adobe is a big, but not evil, company. They are customer centric and have done good things for the Graphic and Photographic communities. In fact I would argue that the fact it took Adobe 8 years to detect the illegal copy, means they are definitely not an evil company.

Regardless of opinion, Companies have a right to say how their software can be used. It is called “contract law” and you agree to the contact when you buy the software. That TOC page that pops up? It is wise to read it before signing. Once you click OK you have legally signed. FYI - Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

The simple software model is like a book. You buy a book and read it. You can give it to someone else if you like. But you cannot legally copy it and give the copy to someone else. That is the issue here. Just because OP got the software on the purchased system does not mean he got the rights to use that software. The seller would have to transfer that right. Did he? Not likely. If the seller did not transfer the right to use the software then OP has been using an illegal copy of the software for 8 years. It’s time for OP to buy a legitimate license.