Acrobat Professional X invalid Key

[rubenl54192147]

My key is returning an invalid key when I tried to reinstall acrobat professional X.  This was expensive when I bought it and expected to continue to be able to use it.  Why can't I use my key any more?  I feel like I should get something for all that I paid when I had it.  Just because I changed PCs doesn't warrent the software to no longer valid.

[kglad]

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

[rubenl54192147]

Why would the platform matter in this day and age?  Mac vs Windows should be interchangeable.  I understand different installations, but the key is for the product use not platform specific.  I got rid of my Mac over 2 years ago and didn't even get to use my Acrobat professional for less than a year.  I don't really think that is fair to pay all that money for something that is limited by the installer.  When I buy music I can listen to it using any format version, since I already paid for the music itself.  Same concept.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

your acrobat x serial number is platform specific.

i don't know why that was, but it had been adobe policy for many years until a few years ago when adobe adopted a subscription model that allowed installation on both pcs and macs.

in previous years adobe allowed platform swaps for the most recent version so people could change from mac to pc or vice-versa, but that's long past for acrobat x.

at this point your only viable option for an adobe product is to upgrade to acrobat dc.  if you purchased a subscription (Plans and pricing | Adobe Acrobat DC ) you could install on macs and pcs as mentioned above.  if you purchase a perpetual license you would commit to pc only (Software & Services )

[rubenl54192147]

That's a pretty poor policy.  I paid all that money only to have to pay more money for something I expected to be able to use.  An your offering now is a monthly subscription, which ends up costing way more in the long run.  No thanks.

[kglad]

these are user-to-user forums.  i'm not an adobe employee/rep, and you're welcome.