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robertk49878051
Participant
December 4, 2018
Answered

Will Windows 10 recovery drive wipe Elements off other drive?

  • December 4, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 403 views

Hi -

  I just bought Elements 2019 for a computer I bought a week ago. Installed it just fine. Used it too. I decided to use System Restore and it's now stuck 3 hours on "...restoring the registry," but I think it's lying.

From years of using Windows, I fully well expect that I'm going to have try using the recovery drive which I know will wipe the registry and C: drive.

I installed Elements 2019 on the 😧 drive, so it should be ok (if there's any justice in the universe).

My question is what now? Can I use my licence/serial number to unlock it again? Will it think I put it on a new computer, using up my second copy? Is there a way I can stop it from thinking it's currently installed on two machines after?

TIA

Bob

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Test Screen Name

    By the way, yes - if you restore the system disk all your software is lost and must be reinstalled. It makes no difference whether you installed it to C or D, there is much more to working software than just the files.

    You should always include this in your planning. For every piece of software you own, keep in a safe place what you need to reinstall it, because you could need to do this at any time. That means keeping serial numbers and install CDs or copies of downloads. I don't mean keep on the computer, of course, they would be lost along with everything else. Keep them on a CD or memory stick in a safe place.

    Many people try to install software only to find that they didn't keep a download and can't get it again without buying the current version.

    2 replies

    T
    Test Screen NameCorrect answer
    Legend
    December 5, 2018

    By the way, yes - if you restore the system disk all your software is lost and must be reinstalled. It makes no difference whether you installed it to C or D, there is much more to working software than just the files.

    You should always include this in your planning. For every piece of software you own, keep in a safe place what you need to reinstall it, because you could need to do this at any time. That means keeping serial numbers and install CDs or copies of downloads. I don't mean keep on the computer, of course, they would be lost along with everything else. Keep them on a CD or memory stick in a safe place.

    Many people try to install software only to find that they didn't keep a download and can't get it again without buying the current version.

      John T Smith
      Community Expert
      John T SmithCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 4, 2018

      If at all possible, DE-activate to release the serial number Activate and deactivate Adobe products

      Based on my understanding of the Windows registry and the Windows recovery process... everything is going to be set back to "as issued" which means your program's registry entries will be gone

      And that means a full reinstall so the program's information may be put in the registry

      If you can't deactivate per above, you may want to contact support before you reinstall to have your activation count adjustedf

      When you have a non-functioning computer and can't deactivate a serial number

      BE SURE TO ONLY ASK FOR ACTIVATION SUPPORT TO ADJUST YOUR ACTIVATION COUNT

      Click here for a non-Cloud program http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service-c1.html

      R
      robertk49878051Author
      Participant
      December 4, 2018

      Hi -

        Thanks for your helpful reply.

      After 5 hours, I finally gave up and restarted the computer using safe mode. Then just told it to start Windows normally. It then told me Restore hadn't finished (duh) and it hadn't changed any settings or files.

      Whew. I'll never use that "feature" again!

      Bob

      John T Smith
      Community Expert
      John T SmithCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 4, 2018

      I have never used Windows restore... when I am about to install something new, and I think there might be a reason to go back to a before install state, I use a program that makes a complete drive backup

      The product I bought and use is at http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-linux.htm

      .

      Image runs off of a bootable CD via Linux (the Zip you download includes a program to make the bootable CD) and it reads EVERYTHING on the drive, even the hidden registration information, so everything is restored when needed... and you may not only restore the image over a messed up install, you may restore to a brand new drive in case of a hardware crash, and not have to re-install anything (it DOES have to be an identical drive)

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