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actech12
Participant
November 12, 2012
Answered

Invalid serial number!!

  • November 12, 2012
  • 11 replies
  • 63290 views

Hi,

can anyone help with this?  I have CS5 Extended which I have had installed on my old pc for about 7 months until the pc crashed and burned.  I admit to buying my copy off e-bay, I make no apologies for that as there is nothing wrong with looking for a bargain.  I made every attempt to verify that it was a genuine unused copy, to the point of having e-mails from the seller should I need to look for redress on this.  The first installation went fine but it would not let me register with Adobe, so I e-mailed the seller again.  The program continued to work so I assumed it was a glitch with the installer ( a lot of people I have spoken have had issues with Adobe installers, especially on Windows based systems).  Forward 7 - 8 months and my pc has crashed and burned, probably from expecting too much from my 9-year old creation.  I now have a new monster with Windows 7 pro instead of XP 32-bit,  SSD's etc., but this is causing no end of problems migrating all my programs, some of which are beyond salvation.  However, like most of you out there, I find Adobe photoshop extremely expensive and cannot write this off.  I look at the packaging, the disc and part numbers (?) for each individual piece of packaging including the 'Genuine Adobe' holographic label, the serial number and I do not believe (nor anyone else that sees it) that my copy is not genuine.  Now upon installation, during the initial instal it accepts my serial number no problem, but when I first use it and am asked to register it, I get the message 'invalid serial number for this product'.  From several threads I have found this seems quite common but have found no answer.  Does anyone have a solution to this before the 'trial' period expires?

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer the_wine_snob

      This doesn't ring true ssprengel, I've been doing some research after a totally unsatisfactory online chat with Adobe. The message I get is very specific in saying  'invalid serial number for this product' along with an exclamation mark in a YELLOW warning triangle.  There are various explanations for this online (including from Adobe) but none of them specifically refer to pirated software. I am as convinced I have a genuine copy just as much as Adobe say my serial number is not recognised by their key checking software (they will not say outright that it is fake, just the serial number is not recognised).  By going online and obtaining a different serial number I am able to start cs5 and enter this number to get the green tick and carry on in cs5 until the next time.  The following time I start cs5 I get an exclamation mark in a RED TRIANGLE with the words 'invalid serial number' (without the 'for this product').  If you look for other error messages online there are several which may be of interest to you for your scenario, such as 'this serial number has been deactivated'. I should also point out also that when I enter an incorrect number to fool the program I am immediately kicked into touch the next time I start it, it will not carry on working, as you think, until the next time I have to reinstall it. As I said in my first post, cs5 had been running quite happily on my old pc for 7 - 8 months. The only issue I had then was that it would not let me register it with Adobe, but tis is nothing new to Adobe as there are many many posts online with exactly the same problem ( even with cs6 as posted only a few hours ago on this forum - perhaps someone would like to tell him that should his pc crash he will no longer have cs6!). After mulling it over for a few days I intend to take the product to my local photographic retailer who sells Adobe products (and who also holds classrooms for techniques including in the use of Adobe products) for an honest opinion, something that Adobe refused me.  Also check Adobe's policies on support and you will find they will refuse support from products bought on e-bay and will also refuse support on products bought ANYWHERE at prices discounted more than either 20 or 25% (I shall have to confirm the exact ammount, but it is stated in their policy online). This brings into question the issues of restrictive practice and price fixing which are both illegal in the UK, just ask any bank.  It also brings into question just what support a customer from my local photographic shop could expect from Adobe after purchasing a copy of cs5 for Mac for £399, reduced by approximately £250 ( more than 25%). And where does their policy leave someone who may be lucky enough to recieve it as a gift?


      If you DO have a legit copy of PS (most eBay copies are anything but), then I would call Adobe Customer Support in the UK, and discuss the matter. While the Live Chat can be useful, sometimes, it is not quite the same, as talking directly to a knowledgeable Adobe Customer Support representative.

      If one received a pirated copy of PS, as a gift, it leaves them out, and in the cold.

      Not saying that your particular reseller had pirated copies, but if they had more than one, the likelihood goes way, way up. Also, if the term "OEM" was mentioned anywhere, the odds against it being legit are astronomical.

      Good luck,

      Hunt

      11 replies

      Show previous replies
      acresofgreen
      acresofgreen
      Inspiring
      November 12, 2012

      If you have a legitimate license to use the software, Adobe Customer Service should be able to help you to activate it. 

      I hope you were lucky enough to purchase a genuine unused package.  Unfortunately, professional software pirates flood the market with thousands and thousands of genuine looking packages, which only trained people can recognize as forgeries.  That's why there are loads of sellers on eBay and similar sites who probably don't even know they are selling forgeries.  They themselves fell victim to someone selling pirated versions in large quantities at dumping prices.  Good luck!

      A
      actech12Author
      Participant
      November 12, 2012

      Thanks for replying, Acres, but can you explain how it worked fine for 7 months on the old pc if it is not genuine?

        gener7
        Community Expert
        gener7Community Expert
        Community Expert
        November 12, 2012

        Adobe has been known to blacklist serial numbers if they found they were fraudulent. One way is that the counterfeiter might have handed out the same number to more than one customer.

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