For some reasons, one of my Windows 7 PC’s complained about “Error! Check Activation” when I tried to download an ePub eBook from Overdrive, an eBook loan program from my library. On another PC, I had no problem and I didn’t have this problem on this PC before. So I decided to remove the Adobe Digital Edition’s authorization and re-authorize. Then I encountered this error “”unable to erase authorization. please try after some time” I kept trying and trying without avail.
After googling/checking around and based on this Adobe Forum thread, I was able to fix the authorization removal problem by editing the Windows register directly:
1. Quit Adobe Digital Edition.
2. Choose Start > Search for regedit (On Windows 10: it’s in c:\Windows directory)
3. Right click on regedit, ans select “Run as admininstrator”
4.In the left pane of the Registry Editor, locate the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adept
5. Select “Adept” , right click on it and select “Delete”
6. In the Confirm Key Delete dialog, click OK.
7. Close the Registry Editor.
8. Open Adobe Digital Editions and reauthorize (Help->Authorize Computer…).
And Voila! It worked. I can download the eBook again.
Another tip: be sure to de-authorizethe PC when you decided to retire it.
formidable!!!! thank you
Worked for me. Thanks!
Thank you!!!
I cant thank you enough for posting this my friend! This had been driving me crazy for months and i couldnt find anything in adobe forums!!
Thank you! Thank you!
You are very helpful!!! thank you!
so helpful, thanks!
I have been bumped from one online suggestion to another and the ones that supposedly knew the most (ie Adobe Help and Kobo) were the least useful. Finally, I came across this blog, followed it’s very clear directions, and was able to download and open my Library ebook. Thanks so much, you have a devoted follower!!
Works great! Load the desired acsm file again. The old one may not work; a timing issue.
Thank you so much, after trying thousands of possibilities for about 4 hours in total, yours worked!!!! You should have heard my shout of victory:) (sorry for my french-english!
Exactly what I needed! Clear, correct, complete and concise. Thank you very very much.
So glad to have stumbled on this post. Thank you!
Amazing!!! Thank you, thank you for posting this fix! I’ve spent hours on this sort of problem before and I thought for sure I was doomed. 🙂
I was getting so frustrated! This worked! Thank you!
Worked today – Wierd why everyones facing this at certain times. I’d not used ADE in last few months.
Perfecto!!!. Muy agradecidos.
Muy mal la atención de Adobe ante un problema muy generalizado.
This helped tremendously! Also didn’t realized that ADE does not automatically update, so I downloaded and authorized the latest version.
Awesome!! I’ve been trying to solve my ADE issues for days and your step-by-step instructions were exactly what I needed to solve the problem. Thank you!
Thank you very much!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have over 200 ebooks on my ADE, and I refused to lose them. Like so many others, I went to the adobe site. How can they be so clueless about their own product?
Thank you! Saved my bacon.
All I can say is, “You’re my hero!”
It worked! Thank you!
I’ve followed the directions and deleted the adept files, now I’m getting the following messages: E_ADEPT_REQUEST_EXPIRED and E_ADEPT_NO_TOKEN. What should I be doing?
You’d need to re-authorize. Help->Authorize Computer.
Thank you, great help!
You are my hero!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Adobe should give you a medal!!!!
Great clear instructions and it worked first time. Thank you.
You’re amazing – this worked perfectly!
Thanks, it worked! I didn´t understand what i was doing but i just kept on following your great instructions. So thank you for your help
Many thanks ,fixed at last. Seems like this is happening to a few people out there.
Wonderful, many thanks!
Perfetto grazie!
Wow awesome! Thank you so much, it worked!!
Yes thanks so much, so glad I found the instructions.
I love you!
You’re the best! Thank you so much – I was getting soooo frustrated, you saved the day 🙂
Super! Thanks!
Thanks a million!
LIFESAVER!!! after WEEKS of trying to figure this out, and Adobe being NO help, this WORKED!
I have to be the odd one out. when I right click on HKEY_Current_User, there is no “Adobe,Adept” choice. Where do I go?
Also, you first said Windows 7, but your instructions appear to be fore Windows 10. Mine is version 7. Does it make a difference.
I’m not a good computer person. I have been around and around with this problem. Hope you can help me, too. thanks. Barbara
Click on HKEY_Current_user to expand and keep expanding until until you find Adobe then right click on Adept to delete.
This worked for me exactly as described! Thumbs up!
OMG, this soooooo worked!!!!!
Well written instructions…and this posting worked for me!! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
damm i was really in despair thanks cos you are awesome your the best i love you guys please give tutorial on other things
Thank you. The post on the Adobe forum was not clear but your instructions are EXCELLENT
Adobe Forum is useless. Adobe now quotes your link when pressured to provide any sort of support. This has so many comments on it’s success. I can edit my registry. (Windows 10, Surface Pro 4)
However, I MUST be absolutely certain that none of my existing books will be “lost” or unable to be read. How many can attest to that ?
I had to do this more than 3 times (this is not a one-time event) without any issue.
OK, thanks for the reply. So, ALL your other purchased and free downloads from various sources were still on the device and accessible ?
Yes, I can access all contents. But do you have another choice? You can’t access them now – you’re no worse. 😉
This totally worked! Thank you!
Thankyou so much. After a lengthy chat with Adobe support in which I was told he could not help me because Adobe no longer supports Digital Edition I was so please to find your directions which worked beautifully
I love that you included that you were using OverDrive. The same thing happened to me trying to download EPUB from my Library OverDrive website. Followed your steps and it works beautifully now. I did have to Authorize my machine but chose to do it without an ID, which didn’t cause any problems either.
Thanks again!!
Qué hijue madre. Positivo !!! realmente cuando uno encuentra éstas movidas, solo le resta exclamar que bacán y decir gracias. Todo queda papelito. Thank you very much !!
Finally !!!
Thank you very much ! Excellent
Hi I have a Lenovo think pad(laptop) and im receiving Error! check Activation when trying to open my book in ADE 3.0. Will these steps work for me?
It’s a risk you’d need to take.
Worked. Very nice, and thanks!
Thank you for your help , the eBook
uploaded but not opens its dimmed
Thank you! This worked beautifully! Now I can get my Overdrive library books on my Nook again 🙂
Fantastic! My wife & I have both been totally frustrated with the Kobo downloading process and were contemplating getting different e-readers. MANY THANKS!
Fantastic! Thank you so much!
Awesome! I bacame a fan!!!