[TommySL]

After just installing CS3 on my new MBA, I ran into Adobe's Activation restrictions for the first time.

This was my third install, which I've now discovered is one too many. Adobe says I can deactivate one of my existing installs in order to activate this new one. So, my question is this: can I continue to switch back and forth using CS3 on 3 computers, so long as I deactivate one before using the other? In other words, are there unlimited activations and deactivations on an install so long as the total number of active installs you have doesn't exceed 2?

Thanks

[edmetric]

Are you running all of CS3 on an MBA or just one/few of the apps?

I've not ever deactivated so please post what you find out. Google has numerous posts about how to deactivate but nothing on how many times you can do it. It appears you can deactivate/activate whenever you want.

How do you connect both file storage (if an external is used) and scratch disk on the MBA? How do you use the MBA with Adobe? It's got to be a tight fit and heats up.

[Graphos]

To answer your question, YES!

As long as you deactivate one seat you can activate the other. One word of caution is when deactivating be sure not to choose the option that wipes out your serial number information, if you do, you will have to enter it every time you reactivate your license.

[TommySL]

Graphos, thanks for the green light. I'll give it a try.

Edmetric - I currently have all of CS3 (Web Premium) on my MBA, which was the base model with the 80gb HD. I tried to just put Photoshop on there, but had a heck of a time doing so with Remote Disc. I was only able to get the full install to work. After getting it all on there, plus iWork and all the indigenous apps. I have 50gb of free space. That's before any photos, movies, music etc.

As you probably guessed the MBA is not my main computer, so I there should be need for what I need to work on and then I can leave the rest on the "mothership". That's the theory anyway. The MBA is only 2 days old, so I'm still sort of planning out my strategy. I have a 4gb and 8gb thumb drives for extra storage, and I'm hoping that will do the trick.

[Graphos]

A word of caution about thumb drives. Use them as temporary transfer vessels, not a permanent backup devices. I have had them go bad, and because of their semi large capacity, you can end up loosing a lot of work. I would recommend backing up on to DVD media for the stuff you my want to keep for more then 5 years.

[alansky]

A word of caution about DVD backup as well. I've had several name-brand DVD's go bad over the years. My personal choice for secure backup is hard drives. It goes without saying that one should always keep at least two separate copies of all important data.

I love my SanDisk flash drive, but agree that important data should never be stored exclusively on such a small, inexpensive device.