Elements 6 stopped working after Windows update, needs reactivation but can't

My Elements 6 stopped working after a Windows 10 update.  Needed to be "reactivated". But it would not reactivate via internet ("could not connect"), and the phone reactivation option listed has been discontinued by Adobe.

So I tried live chat and spent literally over 2 hours in 2 sessions - the first agent had me uninstall the program so that I could reinstall from a link he sent (and since I downloaded this to begin with, I don't have a disc).  I downloaded the link, ran the set-up file, but it won't accept the serial number that has been validated by Adobe as correct.  Another chat session, and after another long session I was finally told that this was an old version of Elements and that they would not do anything to resolve the problem. Perhaps if I had been told this at the beginning it would have been just annoying, but after investing hours in their chatting, I expect something more!

Has anyone else had this? Solved it?