Photoshop CS3 pirate or genuine?

[jim_karthauser]

Hi everybody

 

I need your help. I'm new to this forum but you'll often find me on Canon EOS.

 

I'm in the market for a new pc and have just bought a copy of CS3 from eBay.

 

Got it out of the (sealed) box and am not too sure of it's genuinity, as the actual

software disc is softly scratched?

 

Should there be some sort of hologram on the discs or not, as there isn't on mine.

 

It also came with a video workshop disc, of which I cannot find any mention of on

the adobe site.

 

The box and manuals look very genuine though so I'm a bit stuck, as I'm just not

sure.

Obviously I don't want to use pirated software but I just don't know whether this is

actually genuine or not.

 

I'm looking for an image of the actual disc print, as I cannot find one on google

images to compare mine with...

 

Hmm.

Thanks in advance.

[vincedistefano]

If it's a pirated copy and has already been activated, or uses a bogus activation code, you'll probably find out when you go to activate the software.

 

I can say I've never, ever seen scratches on a brand-new disc. And lots of people can do pretty good looking fake seals and shrinkwraps.

 

I've not purchased any physical CS3s, only online, but our physical purchase of CS1 did come with video and "extras" discs that, if I recall, were barely mentioned if at all on the marketing pages.

[ty_mixon]

I've worked in the PC industry & i've seen plenty of scratched new discs. esp. the light marks Jim seems to be seeing.

 

Look for a EULA sticker, and also install the software. It asks for a code. If your code is good, no worries. If not, call Adobe& let them know what happened. They might do something nice.

 

I've used pirated software from time to time b/c I was unwilling to pay before I knew it was what I wanted. It's a pain. But still, the pain was less than buying software I wouldn't have used. I deleted it, or I bought it.

 

I don't need to do that nearly as often now that software can usually be dwnloaded for a trial, or there are free eqqivilents (gimp).

[lenny_purdie]

Is it Photoshop CS3 or extended? If it's the "regular", when you install it will ask for your serial # and then has an activation. If it activates, it's 99.9% real. If it's extended, there is a pirated version that won't ask for activation, so that would be harder to tell.

[jim_karthauser]

So if the reg code lets me register the product then I know it works and is genuine. Great, thanks.

 

If it is pirate though, do I not run the risk of it installing invisible spywares and viruses on my machine though?

 

Hmm.

[JAPster]

Try going ahead and installing the application. The install process will ask you for the authorization key (ie, serial number) that came with the package. Type that (big) number in, exactly as you see it on the sticker. This will enable you to complete the install. Make sure there are no errors during the install. Probably best to reboot the system after the install finishes.

 

Then, make your connection to the WWW, and try to register the new install. Now, if anybody else out there has already installed and registered the same package using the same Authorization Key (ie, serial Number), then that Auth Key will already be in the Adobe Corp database, and the registration process will give your attempt an ERROR, something about cannot complete registration.

 

That probably wont happen. I'm thinking you have a legitimate copy thats just a little scratched. If the registration step completes OK, then you're good to go. Everything is fine. But if the Registration Step fails and Errors out, then something is wrong. You will have to contact the Adobe Customer Service line by phone or email, explain the situation, and ask if they will check and see if someone else is already using this package with the same auth key as yours.

[g_w2]

jk - as has been said by others if you can register it, you got lucky. adobe will answer

your question on the phone.

 

it's not a good sign if you didn't pay a realistic price. except for educational and

some professional purposes ps isn't discounted more than a few $. at least that is my

experience.

 

good luck. i hope you got a deal. - gw.

[ty_mixon]

Oh, one other test - after install, get the latest update. Most sw makers use updates to stop pirate copies from working.

[colin_mattson1]

Video workshop's been a pack-in for several generations of Photoshop. Adobe

mentions it off and on, but since it's a pretty much content-free teaser to get you to

buy the complete series, they don't hype it up too much anymore.

 

Adobe's keeping Photoshop's prices exactly where they want them, and anyone selling

Photoshop for much less than retail (Amazon being about the absolute lowest) either

stole it from a truck or is churning out copies in their spare bedroom.

[jim_karthauser]

Aha. thanks everyone. I hope it is a genuine copy otherwise I'll most likely have some hassle getting my money back. Paypal is good for this sort of thing though.. (says confidently)

 

Here's the link. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250251367160

 

I reckon that I got a good deal not because it was pirate, just got lucky as it was an auction, not fixed price. Perhaps others were worried whether it was pirate or not so didn't bid... If it is genuine then I got a real steal!

 

Thanks for all of your advice.

[custom film holders for fl]

>>If it activates, it's 99.9% real<<

 

This is not necessarily true. The pirates have gotten so sophisticated that you can't tell the pirated packaging and materials from the real stuff unless you know what to look for. Key gens allow for the software to install and show as activated.

 

Go to the Adobe website and try to register your software in your name (different than "activating") here: https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/gpr/index.cfm?email=&v=1&1001=&nf=0 . If the website balks at taking your serial number, you probably have pirated software. The other thing to do, and thus be really sure, is to call Adobe's 800 number (from the support tab on their website for your country) and ask them to verify that your serial number is genuine.

 

You might as well find out now as opposed to later when you go to update your software or upgrade your software and find Adobe has invalidated your serial number.

[kelly_flanigan1]

Keygens sometimes are just a lure to load a rootkit too; thus your machine bogs more while your activity is monitored by a nifty clever bored kid 8000 miles away; seeking login id's; passwords, credit card info; a loose FTP area to store games; another zombie machine in the ranks.

[ekovisions]

Yikes, you paid 107 pounds for this? I can't imagine any scenario in which this is real software. The seller has no real history, and similar packages are going for 350 pounds on ebay. Clear signs that this is in all likelihood pirated. Sorry.