I fired up Photoshop today and was greeted by this message:
Same thing when I started Flash. Awesome… Keep in mind my Mac has been on for days and hasn’t had any other problems. I really hadn’t done anything strange to break something. And I’m sure I’d used an Adobe product yesterday.
Rebooting, of course, didn’t fix anything.
Looking for help on Adobe’s forum didn’t help.
But Google did.
I found a page that basically explained how to hack around Adobe’s activation. I didn’t need to go that far, since I actually have a legal license. But part of the “how to steal CS4″ post did help. All I had to do was get Adobe’s Licensing Repair tool here.
I ran that and it worked immediately. No reboot needed. I’m thinking I got lucky.
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I just noticed that this process dumped a folder named “AdobeLicensingFilesBackup” into my Home folder. So, be aware of that.
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UPDATE: Saturday, August 1, 2009
I see that this simply isn’t working for some people, but it looks like it still works for others. I don’t have an explanation for this. All I know is that it worked for me so I thought I’d share it with the world.
I know that a fair number of people are landing on this page every day and would love to hear from those who it does work for, so I know that this tip is still useful.
UPDATE: Monday, August 31, 2009
One of the replies below, from Simon, pointed out that you might need to delete the following folder for things to work again:
/Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher
That’s worked for a few people out there, so give it a shot before you throw in the towel.
UPDATE: Wednesday, September 9, 2009
From Rob B. in the comments below:
The Flexnet Publisher folder must be deleted. Not JUST the flexnet folder inside. ALONG WITH THIS the Adobe PCD.cache file must be deleted also. It is located in library/application support/adobe/adobe PCD/ cache/ cache.db
123 Comments
Erik,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
David
The Internet is a wonderful thing sometimes, isn’t it? :)
I had this exact same problem, googled it and this was one of the first hits. Got the tool and ran it, works perfectly now! Thanks for making it so easy to find, hope this helps everyone else with the problem
WOW!!!!! Thank you!!!!!
Thank you so much Erik:)
Worked like a charm. You just saved me hours of frustration and lost productivity. Thanks a million!
Thank you for this post. Hoping it works!
Erik,
I’m a HK graphics designer doing all work on my own. I found 150:30 on my imac yesterday. It really kill my happy life from last weekend. Man! you save me. I start again my wonderful life again on screen. Wish you luck & joy all the creative time !
Andy
Am I the only dork who cannot get this to work ? It would let me enter a password . Help!
I had the same problem. Maybe its out of date or are wise to the way some people might be using it.
Randy
either way I’m stuck
don’t works more! enter password…
Thanks a million! You are performing a vital public service! Got this error tonight when trying to launch InDesign at about 10 minutes after closing time for Adobe Technical Support. I’ve never used Terminal before, but miraculously ran this script and didn’t break my computer! I’m back in business!
Same problem for me, I downloaded the Adobe Licensing Repair tool and it wouldn’t let me enter a password. Is there something else I can do to get this working? I’m a graphic designer and I’m on a tight deadline. Help!!
One more THANK YOU very, very much for your post and saving us time and hours of frustration. I ran the app and luckily it worked.
I have a MAC SOLUTION !!!!!
first I tried and thought damn, but then i read about “FLEXnet Publisher” thats making problems under windows. you just have to delete the folder and everything goes on (adobe will create a new not-corrupt folder) under mac you can reach the folder under /Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher.
Thanks for the info, Simon. Hopefully that will help out someone else who lands on this page via Google.
Erik
Thank you Erik, and then special thanks goes to you Simon! This 150:30 really annoyed me, U2 saved me a lot of time. Internet rules…
Removing folder under /Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher worked for me! Thx Simon.
Thanks for confirming that things still seem to work :)
Wow! Thanks! You save me! :-)
Wow, you really save me! i upgrade to snowleopard lastnite and my CS4 stop working with the magic 150:30 error. I tried everything, i do a reinstall and the the damn pop up appeared time after time. But erasing the FLEXnet Publisher put things back in its place.
Thanxs again
I try all above methods, still not working!! nothing happen after i enter the password when i run the repair tools, it just show” MBP:~ username$ ” in the terminal. And i do not have a file named “FLEXnet Publisher” under Library/ preference
please help !
Thank you great! it really helped me and finally you can enjoy your favorite program :-) All creative success!
It did not work for me until I deleted the /Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher file!!
Thanks so much for your help – awesome!!
Although I do have a valid license, I HATE calling Mumbai or wherever their call center is for help.
@Simon The official Adobe tool (LicenseRecovery) didn’t work for me, but deleting the “FLEXnet Publisher” folder solved the problem immediately. THX a lot!
UPDATE: Repair tool didn’t work for me or any other action Adobe’s article recommends, BUT after 2 hours of being on the phone with someone in India that Adobe claims to know their software (F you Adobe) I figured it out for myself without their help. The Flexnet Publisher folder must be deleted. Not JUST the flexnet folder inside. ALONG WITH THIS the Adobe PCD.cache file must be deleted also. It is located in library/application support/adobe/adobe PCD/ cache/ cache.db
Thanks Rob. I’ll add your info to the bottom of my post.
Erik
Thanks everybody, I deleted the Flexnet Publisher and the cache.db and everything works just fine. Just few seconds to jump the tower…
Maybe it run for mac but not for windows, the flexnet doesn’t appear in the library, can someone help me please thank you
I have deleted both… I load one of the apps and choose Accept for the LA and then it just closes. WTF???
Even after I delete the above mentioned files I receive the error after restarting my CS4 apps. I have created an app that deletes the above files. After removing the files I am able to run the program fine one time after I re-enter my SN. It is a temporary fix; but it works for now.
Download my “Fix Adobe License” script via the following URL. "Fix Adobe License" http://www.sullysrants.com/?p=755
I have an open ticket with Adobe. hopefully I receive a complete fix soon.
I’m glad I finally found this BLOG. Only after running BOTH the Adobe Lisence Tool and Deleting the files/folders mentioned at the bottom of the BLOG, did I get CS4 back on its feet.
Thanks Much!!
Glad things worked out for you. Hopefully things don’t re-break each time like it does for Sully!
Good luck!
Erik
Thanks a lot, running both steps (tool and delete folder and db file) is the only thing that has worked, and I’ve tried for 5 days now. Adobe has taken a leaf out of the Microsoft book on this, on how to make things so complicated that even a paying user can’t get them to work. There is a reason there are several tools and scripts on Adobe’s website for this, and many web pages dedicated to the subject of licensing errors. That said, I am not a paying user and am thankful to the internet powers for keeping us on the latest versions of everything.
It’s pretty sad to hear that the things paying users have to do to keep their software are some of the same things that help keep software thieves up and running. I hope a power surge fries your computer, dude.
Erik
Here is the latest from Adobe…
“Thank you for contacting Adobe Technical Support. This is in reference to your issue with CS4. Please call back if you are facing any issues/provide us with a time when we can contact you. Kindly update your contact number.
Thanx and regards Manish Adobe Support”
Awesome – Thanks Adobe
Thanks so much! I have been working on this for literally 8-9 hours! I just deleted the folders and files mentioned above and that did the trick! Thanks a million!
Thank you!
Just installed CS4 on Mac OS X.5.8 (2.66Ghz Macbook Pro)
was all excited opening up photoshop for the first time – to be greeted by the obnoxious 150:30 notice.
I have only deleted the files noted in your article and it works a treat.
Thank you!
Thank u thank u!!!!!! I was pulling my hair out all day and now she works beautifully again!!
You rock!!
I tried it all. Nothing worked. What I did. Ran the License Recover tool 10 times NO CHANGE http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405970.html NO CHANGE Ran the Tool to remove all version of ADOBE NO CHANGE Uninstalled Everything adobe and re-installed the CS4. NO CHANGE. Formatted my Hard drive and Restored from Time Machine NO CHANGE. Final Solution for me.
Installed Snow Leopard on an External drive and Installed Adobe CS4 and it started working None of my Files. Migrated my User Account with out machine setting and with out applications and CS4 continued to work. Formatted my Internal hard drive and migrated User data no Application or Machine info. Re-Installed CS4 and ALL MY APPS and it is working now.
I have no idea for sure but it seems like a disk permission issue. I hope no one else has to go to this extreme to get it fixed. Billy.
I just wanted to say that I had been working on the same problem for 3 weeks, with emails back and forth to adobe and endless hold times with no luck. I read the last post that said to delete the FLEXnet Publisher folder and IT WORKED!! like a charm.
Thank you!!
Wow..Thank you! I’ve tried so many different ways suggested by various posts on the internet. Yours is by far the best. The only one that makes sense.
dude, you totally saved my ass!!!
my macbookpro crashed (had fun with the nvidia-chip) and now i´m on a leased macbookpro and put my timemachine-backup in and voila: nothing worked anymore and i made the acquaintance with my new best-buddy 150:30. so i reinstalled, and reinstalled and reinstalled and then – after thinkin´ about running riot – i used google and found your website. i deleted the files you mentioned in your article and: here we go, everything works fine :)
big thanks man :)
Deleting just the FLEXnet Publisher folder worked for me too. Thanks Erik (and Simon)!
THANK YOU! Deleting the Cache.db file and the FlexNet File together worked!!!
I’m a student and just forked out a whole bunch of money for CS4 design premium… if it hadn’t worked I think I would’ve cried =)
THANK YOU!
Tried it on a NEW MacBookPro with Snow Leopard with CS4 newly installed.
=> YOUR TIPS helped after hours of searching…
I followed the Instructions above:
The
/Library/Preferences/FLEXnet Publisher
folder must be deleted. Not JUST the flexnet folder inside. ALONG WITH THIS the Adobe PCD.cache file must be deleted also. It is located in
/Library/application support/adobe/adobe PCD/ cache/ cache.db
Removing the flexnet folder did it for me. Thanks!
Thank you very much! I was a little worried about deleting files in areas I rarely like to go to… but it has done the trick. How did you find out what to do? Very clever!
Thanks a ton man, this was driving me nuts!
Help, License recovery tool is asking for a password. Do you know it?? Deleting the Flexnet folders has not worked for me and cannot locate this cache.db folder, even following exact file path above. Its CS4 on SnowLeopard.
Thank you! I tried all of the Adobe steps to repair my 15o:30 error. Nothing worked until I deleted the FLEX and PCD files per your instructions.
THANKS! Totally saved me from a total meltdown
Thank you sooo much! After spending many hours trying to fix the problem, i’m glad I finally this page :)
It works. Cheers!
You hero’s! This saved me so many headaches!
i delete the flex folder and the app worked as described. Thanks!
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