I have Freehand MX from the Studio MX2004 suite I bought a few years back.
Since then I've upgraded to Studio 8, and now again to CS 3 (which is awesome).

I don't normally use freehand, and I used to use it on my PC, but I've moved
across to Mac (Studio 8 and MX2004 worked on both). Now I can install the
Freehand software, but when I try activate it with the serial number I get told
"Too Many Activations", and a number to call at Macromedia. This number goes
through to an Adobe automated system, but there seems to be no way to talk to a
human about this problem?

Very frustrated, especially since I have paid for this software and I should
be allowed to use it.

Did you ever De-Activate it on any previously installed computers,
including the Windows systems?

Rich

goop wrote:
> I have Freehand MX from the Studio MX2004 suite I bought a few years back.
> Since then I've upgraded to Studio 8, and now again to CS 3 (which is awesome).
>
> I don't normally use freehand, and I used to use it on my PC, but I've moved
> across to Mac (Studio 8 and MX2004 worked on both). Now I can install the
> Freehand software, but when I try activate it with the serial number I get told
> "Too Many Activations", and a number to call at Macromedia. This number goes
> through to an Adobe automated system, but there seems to be no way to talk to a
> human about this problem?
>
> Very frustrated, especially since I have paid for this software and I should
> be allowed to use it.
>

Hi there

I never de-activated specifically. I did uninstall the software on the PC, doesn't that de-activate it?

Regards
Billy

Sorry for the late response, was on vacation.

No it does not deactivate it. Just like Windows XP and Vista and Adobe
Photoshop and Illustrator you literally have to notify Microsoft/Adobe
not only that you did buy and install it but what computer you installed
it on and what the specs of that computer are. If you are online then
all of this happens pretty much without your knowing it, but it still
happens. From then on unless you specifically tell them that you are
removing it (de-activating it) then you will not be able to re-install
somewhere else. The de-activation is done through a menu command, I
believe in the Help menu. If you no longer have access to the older
computers then you need to call them and plead your case.

Rich

goop wrote:
> Hi there
>
> I never de-activated specifically. I did uninstall the software on the PC, doesn't that de-activate it?
>
> Regards
> Billy

> Very frustrated, especially since I have paid for this software and I
> should
> be allowed to use it.

Since you purchased it already, just google for a crack. It's a lot easier.

-Darrel

Thanks Rich,

What you said makes sense. Possibly why there was no glitch in re-installing
Freehand on the PC. To be honest, I'm just going to leave it there for the time
being. I don't use it frequently enough to warrant moving it over, I just
needed it somewhere. Also, it's not a Universal Binary, so it would run slowly
on my Intel mac.

Thanks again for your help in resolving this.
Regards
Billy

No thanks Darrel,

Just now some Freehand process reports my serial number to Adobe in a random
verification or something, and I get flagged as using cracked software. Also,
it's a principle thing, if I've shelled out cash for software, I should be able
to use it.

Regards
Billy

> Just now some Freehand process reports my serial number to Adobe in a
> random
> verification or something, and I get flagged as using cracked software.
> Also,
> it's a principle thing, if I've shelled out cash for software, I should be
> able
> to use it.

That's exactly my point. You do own the software. At this point, you should
be able to do whatever is easiest to get the damn thing to run. I had this
very problem the other day. I had FH installed on my own (non-working)
powerbook and wanted to finally get it on my new MacBook. Couldn't find the
serial number anywhere, and had no ambition to figure out how to get the old
PowerBook up and running again. So, I did what was easiest. I paid for the
damn thing. ;o)

Software activation is one of the more idiotic things corporate software
companies have done. Yea, let's do nothing to actually prevent copying of
software...the thing we want to prevent...and instead let's just make this a
realy pain in the ass for our honest, paying customers. Brilliant!

-Darrel