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Donna Dee 1538
Participant
September 25, 2018
Answered

I have purchased Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 from Newegg.com, I entered the Serial number, and told me it was registered, but the online site says it is invalid.

  • September 25, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 1766 views

Sorry, I had the questions all put in the question line.  Let me clarify....

I purchased Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 from newegg.com. 

I entered the Serial number when I installed it from the CD that it came with.

I registered it with the installation of the program

It told me I had to sign on to Adobe.com and validate the serial number. 

  It then told me it was unable to validate the serial number after I logged in.

I opened up the program, and it allowed me to open a pdf file and even edit it.  So can I still use this program, or will it expire in a certain time limit? 

HELP! 

Thanks. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Donna Dee 1538

Okay, after being able to open the program but get the validation error (and tell it 'later'), I now was not getting the program to open up at all!  It now told me it was unable to validate my purchased license of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 and I could not get the program to open to work on my files.

I contacted Adobe customer service and they created a online chat, and remote computer help.  He confirmed that my program was registered, and was a proper legal registration number.  I had to turn off my firewall and ESET internet protection, and then he worked on my issue.  I still could not get the validation error to go away.  He finally had to remove the activation language under the finder>Go>Go to>/etc>hosts

Note, he had to copy that hosts file to my desktop and use text editor to delete the language of activation, then saved it and replaced that file back into the original location when it asked to replace or keep both files, he stated to replace the original file.  Then we downloaded the link again, entered the serial number and presto, the program worked.

I could put what he typed in that folder here in this chat, but I won't do that, if anyone needs help at that level, I would suggest that you contact customer support and have them do that for you.

He did state that each time I might change computers that I would have to do this each time.

I am now able to open the program without any validation error messages.

4 replies

D
Donna Dee 1538AuthorCorrect answer
Participant
November 2, 2018

Okay, after being able to open the program but get the validation error (and tell it 'later'), I now was not getting the program to open up at all!  It now told me it was unable to validate my purchased license of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 and I could not get the program to open to work on my files.

I contacted Adobe customer service and they created a online chat, and remote computer help.  He confirmed that my program was registered, and was a proper legal registration number.  I had to turn off my firewall and ESET internet protection, and then he worked on my issue.  I still could not get the validation error to go away.  He finally had to remove the activation language under the finder>Go>Go to>/etc>hosts

Note, he had to copy that hosts file to my desktop and use text editor to delete the language of activation, then saved it and replaced that file back into the original location when it asked to replace or keep both files, he stated to replace the original file.  Then we downloaded the link again, entered the serial number and presto, the program worked.

I could put what he typed in that folder here in this chat, but I won't do that, if anyone needs help at that level, I would suggest that you contact customer support and have them do that for you.

He did state that each time I might change computers that I would have to do this each time.

I am now able to open the program without any validation error messages.

    P
    payne6t8
    Participant
    December 26, 2019

    can anyone point me in the right direction to fix this same problem but on a PC. Seems everyone has a mac 🙂

     

    Adorobat
    Adorobat
    Participating Frequently
    September 27, 2018

    Hi Donna Dee,

    Could you try the troubleshooting steps given in the following help document and try again?

    Resolve connection errors with Adobe Creative Cloud and Creative Suite applications

    You may also refer to the following forum thread discussing the similar issue:

    Unable to validate serial number

    -Shivam

    D
    Donna Dee 1538Author
    Participant
    September 26, 2018

    Thank you so much for your help! 

    Is there anyway to remove the link that keeps popping up asking me to validate this program?  Or is it trying to validate a CC acrobat software program?  Since this is a perpetual license, and it is shown to be registered on my adobe account on the adobe website, is there any way to remove this message that comes up every time I open this program? 

    This is what happens when I open the Acrobat Pro 2017:

    Immediately get message that sign in is required.  I hit the sign in button,

    Then it says:  UNABLE TO VALIDATE SERIAL NUMBER.  Please connect to the internet to validate your serial #.  I click Validate button and the same message (UNABLE TO VALIDATE SERIAL NUMBER.  PLEASE CONNECT TO THE INTERNET TO VALIDATE YOUR SERIAL NUMBER) COMES UP.  I then click the 'connect later' button to remove it from my screen. 

    I should state, that with this program open, I was already logged into my adobe account in this program app, while I got the above message.

    What can I do to fix this?

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    September 26, 2018

    Ok, the message gives important info. It says "unable to validate serial number" but not because it thinks it is wrong, revoked or anything else. It is because it thinks you aren't connected to the internet.


    So it's a technical problem with your computer or local network, not a license problem. If your computer can connect to the internet, it could be firewall settings blocking Acrobat registration.

    Adorobat
    Adorobat
    Participating Frequently
    September 26, 2018

    Hi Donna Dee,

    As we have checked the account details using the email address you are logged into the forums, you have a perpetual license for Acrobat Pro 2017 on a Mac machine registered on 09/25/2018.

    As you have a perpetual ( one-time license) for Acrobat, it will not expire. You can also check the registered products under your account using this link: Account and membership help

    Let us know if you have a further query.

    Shivam

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