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T
toucanne
Participant
January 9, 2013
Answered

"Invalid" CS2 Premium serial number

  • January 9, 2013
  • 2 replies
  • 3829 views

In 2009, I purchased a used Mac G4 from a friend. He also sold me the copy of CS2 Premium (the whole suite) that was installed on it. We did a conference call with Adobe to get the number and the ownership transferred to me, and the software installed on my laptop. The software was activated on my laptop and my name showed up on the splash page. Everything worked fine on both computers. The serial number shows up under my name in My Adobe/My Products.

Last year, I acquired a 2006 iMac. I deactivated and uninstalled CS2 on my laptop so I could install it on the iMac. After I installed it, the activation came back unsuccessful, so I called Adobe. The staff member told me my serial number was invalid. I asked her what she meant by invalid and to explain what the problem was, and she eventually hung up on me. Any idea what I can do to be able to use CS2 again? I'd rather not uninstall and reinstall the download you currently have made available since I have the software on disk. I have a satellite broadband connection that has a daily limit of 200MB.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer John Waller

Don't think the Adobe rep was trying to tell you that your CS2 serial number is invalid. Just that it can no longer be activated because in Dec 2012 Adobe shut down the CS2 activation server and made available for download copies of CS2 which no longer require activation.

See http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/creative-suite-2-activation-end-life.html

Think you'll have to re-download the non-activation version from the link above in order to use CS2 again.

2 replies

John Waller
Community Expert
John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 9, 2013

Don't think the Adobe rep was trying to tell you that your CS2 serial number is invalid. Just that it can no longer be activated because in Dec 2012 Adobe shut down the CS2 activation server and made available for download copies of CS2 which no longer require activation.

See http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/creative-suite-2-activation-end-life.html

Think you'll have to re-download the non-activation version from the link above in order to use CS2 again.

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toucanneAuthor
Participant
January 9, 2013

Thank you both. I guess what I was hoping for was a way to precisely not need activation, at all. As in, a way to use the software that I already have installed and have a serial number for without jumping through extra hoops. Connecting to Adobe with a serial number and getting an OK, maybe? Perhaps there's built-in programming in the disks that prevents that. I guess I'll try downloading, staying up half the night if I have to.

John, this was in the summer, before the announcement that the activator servers were toast. The staffer kept saying it was invalid, and would not explain any further or answer my questions.

A secondary question: I own the original CS with a different serial number. It was an upgrade from Photoshop 7. I tried to install that thinking it would be better than nothing, but it's asking for my Photoshop 7 number! I am not sure where that is, it must be packed away somewhere. We're talking 12-14 years! The number also doesn't show up in My Products, although my Illustrator 10 number does... Why must Adobe make things so difficult for customers who need to hold on to older software? This is out of necessity. Even if I could afford CS6, I don't have a Mac new enough to run it.

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toucanneAuthor
Participant
January 10, 2013

One more thing: is there a time limit on this? (I'm going to have have to download at my daughter's house, where there is a cable modem.)

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Anonymous
January 9, 2013

Even if you have the software on disk I don't think you can use it anymore. The servers that activate the software are gone for good; that's why the put the new installers online for "their customers".  I too have the CS2 disks but I believe they are useless now and I have downloaded the installers with the new serial numbers made specifically for these new installers that will bypas the activation servers.

I would like Adobe to address this situation; are our Adobe CS2 disks coasters now?

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