Error: "Activation Server Unavailable" | CS2, Acrobat 7, Audition 3

                     Issue: "Activation server unavailable: Activation was unsuccessful..." error 

When you launch a CS2 application, do you get an "Activation server unavailable" error message? Due to a technical issue, Adobe has disabled the activation server for CS2 applications, including Acrobat 7 and Audition 3. (For a complete list of affected applications, please see this forum discussion.)

Solution

CS2 applications require activation to run. To run a CS2 application, uninstall your existing CS2 application and install a special version that does not require activation. You cannot reinstall from your original discs.

Note:

Adobe no longer supports CS2 applications, which were released in 2005. Adobe strongly advises against running unsupported and outdated software.

How to install

Follow these steps to download and install versions of CS2, CS2 applications, Acrobat 7, or Audition 3 that do not require activation.

1. Uninstall existing CS2 applications.

2. Download and install CS2 applications.

You can use the serial numbers provided as a part of the download only if you legitimately purchased CS2, CS2 applications, Acrobat 7, or Audition 3.

Make sure that your computer meets these requirements:

• Mac OS X v.10.2.8–v.10.3.8. PowerPC® G4 or G5 processor
• Microsoft® Windows® 2000/Windows XP. Intel® Pentium® III or 4 processor
  
Select the language in which you bought the application:
English | French | German | Japanese | Spanish | Italian | Dutch | Brazilian Portuguese | Swedish | Danish | Finnish| Norwegian | Chinese Traditional | Chinese Simplified | Korean

Sign in using your Adobe ID (usually your email address) and password. If you don't have an Adobe ID, click Get an Adobe ID.

Need help with your Adobe ID? See the Adobe ID, sign-in, and account help.


Read the Read before you download a CS2 product section carefully.

Locate the language and application you want to install and note its serial number (located to the right of the download links). The serial number is required during installation.

Note:
The serial numbers included with your original CS2 applications do not work with these CS2 application versions.



Click the download link for the application or applications you want to install.



Extract or double-click the downloaded file and follow the onscreen prompts to install the application.

Click CS2_install_Win.pdf (Windows) or CS2_install_Mac.pdf (Mac OS) on the CS2 Downloads page for installation instructions for Creative Suite 2 Premium and Standard.