Skip to main content
larryb79979373
Participant
February 8, 2017
Question

Invalid serial number

  • February 8, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 234 views

After reading through the forums, I'm convinced that I am my own worst enemy. I had some issues with computer, and installed Acrobat X several times on 3 different computers, not realizing that I needed to deactivate my installation FIRST. However, if the computer crashes, you CAN'T deactivate. Anyway, I have Acrobat installed on my office computer (HP 15.7" notebook) and the HP 13.3" notebook that I carry in the field. Recently, I'm getting messages telling me that my serial number is invalid. So, the burning question is: how do I get my serial number back to where it's supposed to be, i.e., installed on only two computers so I don't get that annoying message?  Thanks in advance for help! 🙂

[Moved from the non-support, general, all-of-Adobe forums Lounge to a product-specific support forum - moderator]

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 8, 2017

an invalid serial number message isn't what you see if you attemp too many activations.  you'll see an excess activation count message.

re: an invalid serial number message:

assuming you're using a valid adobe serial number (6 groups of 4 numbers), you have a mismatch between your installation file and serial number.  ie, you can have a valid serial number, but if it's for program A and your installation file is for program B, you will see an invalid serial number message.

common mismatches are language/region (eg, serial number is for western europe and installation file is eastern europe), platform (eg, serial number is for a mac and installation file is win), license type (eg, education vs enterprise vs individual).

and one of the most common is using a program installation file with a suite's serial number. eg, using a cs6 suite serial number with a photoshop cs6 installation file.  that won't work even though photoshop is included in that suite.  you must use the suite's installation file (and you can choose to only install one program from the suite).

here's official info about that error,  http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/error-serial-number-valid-product.html