Troubleshoot activation problems | Adobe Creative Suite 4.0 | Mac OS X

Product activation is a technical measure that helps protect Adobe against unauthorized use and copying of its software. Activation runs in the background and occurs whenever the application detects an Internet connection.



During installation, this product and your computer create an activation number. This number, along with the product serial number, is provided to Adobe during the activation process.



This product can tolerate changes to your computer's configuration. Minor reconfiguration of your hardware after the activation doesn't require an additional activation. If you replace or overhaul your hard drive, or if you remove this product from one licensed computer and install it on another, reactivate this product.

1. Verify Internet connectivity. 

If you choose to activate using the Internet, make sure that your Internet connection is established. To verify Internet connectivity,  navigate to www.adobe.com/ in Safari. If you can't connect to the Adobe website, then contact your Internet Service Provider for assistance restoring your Internet Connection.



2. Troubleshoot proxy problems.

During the activation process, Adobe Creative Suite 4.0 uses a port to connect to the activation site at http://activate.adobe.com. It connects to the activation site to confirm that the maximum number of activations have not been reached.



To verify any potential proxy problems, do one or more of the following:

PING practivate.adobe.com (192.150.14.67) with 56 bytes of data.



If either of these tests fail, then configure proxy settings for Internet access in Network System Preferences. If you need assistance with this step, then contact your Internet Service Provider or IT Administrator.



3. Troubleshoot firewall problems.

Retail copies of Adobe Creative Suite 4.0 use TCP port 443 to activate. You sometimes have to add this information to software or hardware-based firewalls for the activation process to complete. Contact the software or hardware firewall manufacturer for configuration information or contact your IT Administrator.



4. Deactivate Adobe Creative Suite on another computer.

To run the Adobe Creative Suite 4 on a computer other than the one it was originally installed on, deactivate the software.



To deactivate, launch one of the Suite applications and choose Help > Deactivate, then click the Deactivate button.



Deactivation affects all suite components on the computer. You can't to run any components on the computer unless you reactivate. Deactivation requires an Internet connection and cannot be canceled once started.



If you do not deactivate the software and try to activate the software on multiple computers concurrently, then you see the following message:



"Too Many Activations. The maximum number of activations allowed for this copy of [product] has been reached. Do one of the following:

• Deactivate. You can deactivate your copy of [product] that has been previously installed on another computer and reactivate it on this computer. To deactivate, launch [product] on the other computer and choose Help > Deactivate, so it can be activated on this one.
• Buy another license. Click Buy Online to be redirected to the Adobe store. Or, click the Enter Serial Number button if you have a new serial number to enter."