assuming you're using a valid adobe serial number (6 groups of 4 numbers), you have a mismatch between your installation file and serial number. ie, you can have a valid serial number, but if it's for program A and your installation file is for program B, you will see an invalid serial number message.
common mismatches are language/region (eg, serial number is for western europe and installation file is eastern europe), platform (eg, serial number is for a mac and installation file is win), license type (eg, education vs enterprise vs individual).
and one of the most common is using a program installation file with a suite's serial number. eg, using a cs6 suite serial number with a photoshop cs6 installation file. that won't work even though photoshop is included in that suite. you must use the suite's installation file (and you can choose to only install one program from the suite).
here's official info about that error, http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/error-serial-number-valid-product.html
Individual User Downloadable installation files available:
- Suites and Programs: CC 2017 | CC 2015.5 | CC 2015 | CC 2014 | CC | CS6 | CS5.5 | CS5 | CS4, CS4 Web Standard | CS3
- Acrobat: DC, XI, X | X Suite | 9,8 | 9 pro extended exe,9 pro extended 7z | 9 standard | 8 standard |
- Authorware: 7.01 windows |
- Captivate: 10 (2017) | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5.5, 5 | 1
- Cold Fusion: 11, 10 | 9.0.2, 9.0.1, 9.0.0, 8.0.1, 8.0.0, 7.0, 6.1, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 |
- Contribute: CS5 | CS4, CS3 | 3,2
- FrameMaker: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7.2 |
- Lightroom: 6.10| 5.7.1| 4.4 | 3.6 | win 2.7, 1.4.1 | mac 2.7, 1.4.1 |
- Photoshop Elements: 15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8 | 9,8,7 win | 8 mac | 7 mac
- Premiere Elements: 15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8| 9, 8, 7 win | 8 mac | 7 mac
- RoboHelp: 2015, 11, 10, 9, 8
Download and installation help for Adobe links
Download and installation help for Prodesigntools links are listed on most linked pages. They are critical; especially steps 1, 2 and 3. If you click a link that does not have those steps listed, open a second window using the Lightroom 3 link to see those 'Important Instructions'.
And a big thank you to Jim @ Prodesigntools for helping me with these links!