Creative Suite 6 DesignWebPremium CS6: wrong message: serial number too often used

[muputz]

Creative Suite 6 DesignWebPremium CS6:

I had a failure with Adobe Acrobat Pro. I couldn’t open it. Therefore I re-installed Acrobat Pro from the suite without before de-installing the suite. I was required for the serial number. After this Acrobat worked again but now when I open Photoshop CS6 I get the message “The serial number is already in use by the maximum allowed computers. You need to deactivate another computer to use this product”.

How can I stop the wrong message? I didn't install the software on another computer.

[kglad]

select all the updates and click ok.  then paste a screenshot of the result.

[muputz]

all apps selected:

oK

actualize:

updates in progress:

updates finished:

Photoshop launched:

no change

[kglad]

you have to deactivate elsewhere.  there's no work-around.

i would not recommend deactivating your laptop.

[muputz]

what should I do now?

Is there no possibility from your side to unlock the app?

You kown my serial number.

There is a system error in the program. I therefore expect Adobe to correct this error.

[kglad]

i'm not adobe, but adobe employees no longer have the ability to deactivate for you.  ie, there's no work-around for an excess activation count message.

you can continue to use your trial.  when it expires, you can reformat your computer and reinstall cs6 and use another 30 day trial.  nothing less troublesome/difficult/time-consuming will work.

[muputz]

I have no trial version.
I had bought a full version without a time limit for use.

Can you please give me a valid email address from Adobe-service so that I can try to have the system error rectified there?

[kglad · Accepted solution]

all adobe software operates as a trial version until a subscription (for most post-cs6 software) is activated or a perpetual license is activated.

there's no support for cs6.  if you want to hear that from adobe there are 2 ways to contact adobe support; chat and twitter (now x):

chat:
if you have or want to purchase a subscription, use a browser that allows popups and cookies
and click here, https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen
in the chat field (lower right), type AGENT
be patient, it can take quite a while to reach a human.

twitter/x:
tweet @AdobeCare

p.s. if you're contacted by anyone (via email or private message), it's much more likely to be a scammer than an adobe representative.

[muputz]

I reached a human and could clarify in less than a hour.

Thanks for your time.

[kglad]

you're welcome.

[Nancy OShea]

By the looks of things, you have exceeded your 2 activation limit.  An individual license allows you to install your app on up to 2 devices concurrently.  If you wish to install a 3rd time, you MUST DEACTIVATE one of the previously installed versions from the Help Menu.   See below for more details.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

Due to CS6's advanced age, a reset of your activation count is no longer possible.  The legacy CS apps are 12+ years old.

MODERN OPTIONS:
===============
FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, print & sign PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography Plan ($10/month for 12 months). Includes the following:

• Photoshop CC and Photoshop on iPad
• Camera Raw
• Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
• Lightroom Classic
• Portfolio website + hosting
• Adobe Express (free starter plan)
• Bridge
• 20 GB cloud storage (upgradable to 1 TB).
• Free upgrades for paid subscribers

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud bundles and Single App Plans for mobile, web & desktop
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

[muputz]

You unfortunately don't understand my problem.

Again:

I don't want to install on a third device.

I only wanted to remove an occurred failure. Then I got the wrong message.

This is independent from the age of program.

So I wait for an answer to my question I put to member kglad above.

[Nancy OShea]

So I wait for an answer to my question....

By @muputz

===========

Crickets

• Adobe programmers don't monitor these user-to-user communities. 
• Adobe Support can't help you with unsupported software.
• Fellow users and unpaid forum volunteers can't help you with an exceeded activation limit. 
• Sorry.

[Alekogs]

Hello Nancy,

I also have similar problem and am receiving " The Serial Number XXXXXis already in use by the maximum allowed computers..." ( I am using Acrobat XI Pro ). When I check from https://account.adobe.com/activated-devices page to remove activated devices, I am having " You have no activated devices ". 

How can I solve the problem ?

[kglad]

@Alekogs 

there's only one way.  you have to use a computer with an activated version (that has a current default web browser), and deactivate.  there's no work-around.

if the above is impossible, it's impossible to reset your activation count.

[Nancy OShea]

Acrobat XI is outdated, unsupported software from 2012.  You shouldn't be using outdated Acrobat for security & compatibility reasons. 👿

MODERN OPTIONS:
===============
FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, & sign PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- Continuous Release version, the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Hope that helps.

[Nancy OShea]

When I check from https://account.adobe.com/activated-devices page to remove activated devices, I am having " You have no activated devices ". 

By @Alekogs

=========

Only Creative Cloud subscribers can deactivate devices from their online portal. 

Legacy Creative Suite apps must be deactivated from the devices on which they were previously installed.  If the device is gone or damaged, you're stuck. There is no other way to reset your activation limit.

As I said above, don't needlessly put your computer at risk for the sake of outdated software that's not receiving security updates anymore.  Acrobat XI really needs to be replaced.