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Martin:Duese
Martin:Duese
Participant
June 8, 2026
Question

CS5.5 Design Premium – How to transfer to Windows 11 when Serial number is accepted for installation but not to start Photoshop?

  • June 8, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 15 views

Hello,

I am trying to move my licensed copy of Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium from my old Windows 10 PC to a new Windows 11 PC. I have a valid single-user retail license.

Product: Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium
Platform: Windows
Installer used: DesignPremium_CS5_5_LS4 (downloaded fresh from account.adobe.com today)

What I have done so far:
- Registered the serial number successfully at account.adobe.com – the product was recognized correctly as "Adobe Design Premium 5.5"
- Downloaded the official installer from my Adobe account, provided after the registration
- Ran the Adobe CS5 Cleaner Tool before installing
- Installed as Administrator
- Entered the serial number during installation

The problem:
I used the LS1 installer (English International) which showed a green checkmark for the serial number during installation, but rejects it at first launch - "This serial number is not valid for this product" immediately when entering the key. The old PC is still running CS5.5 without problems – I have NOT deactivated it there yet, as I am concerned that deactivation on the old PC would leave me with no working installation on either machine if the activation servers are no longer responding.

I believe the activation servers for CS5.5 are no longer operational, which is preventing the license transfer.

I have my serial number available and can provide it via private message to an Adobe staff member.

Could an Adobe staff member please help with a manual activation code, or reset the activation so I can complete the transfer to my new PC?

Thank you very much for your help.

    4 replies

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 8, 2026

    BEST ADVICE: Leave CS5 on your Win10 PC & do not deactivate!  

    Get a supported product that’s compatible with your new computer.  

    At worst, you’ll still have the use of CS5 on your old device.

     

    CS5 from 2011 was built to run on WinXP, WinVista & Win7.  

    It was never tested or certified on Win11.

     

    CS5 REPLACEMENTS:

    ==============

    Photography Plan

    Creative Cloud Pro

    https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

     

    Enjoy your new PC.

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 8, 2026

    there are 3 ways to find/recover an adobe serial number.

    1. search purchased materials: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/find-serial-number.html

    2. you can check your account (if you purchased from or registered with adobe AND you remember the adobe id used to purchase/register), https://accounts.adobe.com

    3. if your adobe program is installed on another computer you can recover its serial number from that computer,

        (win:) http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

        (mac:) https://mac-product-key-finder.com/

    leo.r
    Community Expert
    leo.rCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 8, 2026

    Most likely, you won’t be able to do anything. The activation servers for CS5.5 are either disconnected or not maintained anymore. As far as I understand, Adobe support people wouldn’t be able to perform any manual activations even if they wanted to. As you know, this product reached its end-of-life many years ago.

     

    I have NOT deactivated it there yet, as I am concerned that deactivation on the old PC would leave me with no working installation on either machine

     

    That’s correct, if you deactivate it, you most likely won’t have a working installation anymore.

    Jeff_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeff_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    June 8, 2026

    Thanks for posting, Martin.


    I appreciate your long-term use of our software. I can confirm the serial number you registered today was for the volume license version of Creative Suite 5.5 Design Premium.


    Please see https://adobe.ly/4xijBzj for information on how to access the files that were included with your organization's purchase.


    The installation files available through https://adobe.ly/3Q1v7yl are for the retail version of the software, Martin. The volume licensing installers are available exclusively through the Adobe Licensing Website.


    Creative Suite 5.5 activation servers are online, but activation may not be required for a volume license, Martin. It will depend on the type of license your company purchased.


    Please update this discussion if you have any additional questions. ^JW

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