CS4 license wont work

[stephj38]

Hi everybody,

there are some questions here, which are the same, but non of them help me to resolve my problem.

So I started this new thread.

I have a vaild CS4 Design Standard license which is registered online.

This worked on my old Windows 7 like a charm.

Now i´ve reinstalled Windows 7 and I´m not able to activate this serial number.

I opened a case and the support told me that this Serial is valid and open for registration.

However it wont work, the support couldn´t help me at all, as everything she said was "you are using an incompatible System and we don't support this."

I tried both ways:

1:starting the Installer, enter the key ->invalid, it does not even try to check it online (at least i think so)

2: Installed the Trial which worked (even if i have a non support system, strange....) -> Enter the License key directly in Photoshop or InDesign->still invalid.

I double checked that my license is for Windows and it is German and my download is for this language, but cant find any issue.

I even tried to download CS4 Design Premium, and In Design as single download, just to try if the key is for another Version, but it wont work.

Any help would be much appreciated.

regards

[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

[stephj38]

Hi,

as mentioned I know about this issue and I read this default answer, but it isn't true. The Webportal clearly says I have CS4 Design Standard and I downloaded CS4 Design Standard. The installer itself also says CS4 Design Standard in the welcome Menü.

Are there any special CS4 Design Standard Downloads which could suit my Key, maybe an older Version or something else?

[kglad]

no, the correct number and the correct installation file -> no invalid serial number message.

you can check that serial number with adobe, but they probably won't help with anything else.

using a browser that allows popups and cookies, contact adobe support during pst business hours by clicking here and, when available, click 'chat', https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

[stephj38]

Hi,

as mentioned I already chat with them. They confirmed the serial is Valid but this serial isn't working.

I know its sounds like I have the wrong installer but this is not the case, i have the installer for the Version mentioned in the Online Portal with the right language.

I also checked every other Version which is available of CS4 and the key still doesn't work.

I even restored from a backup and checked the installed Version and the key, which are the same as I use.

I don't understand why this happens and how i can check this further.

regards

[kglad]

as mentioned, using a cs4 design standard installation file does not ensure you're using the correct installation file and there's no way to check via the forums so i don't know how to help further.

and your comment about restoring from a backup confirming you're using the correct version indicates (to me - and i could be wrong) that you don't understand that there are several cs4 design standard versions.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright · Accepted solution]

Stephj38 as Kglad has indicated it is vital that you use the Design Standard CS4 serial number with the correct installation files.  In this case you have an education license and you will need to locate the installation files provided with your purchase.  None of the retail installation files for CS4 at Download Adobe Creative Suite 4 (CS4) products will work with your serial number.

The Design Standard CS4 license you purchased is unique.  If the current computer does not have an optical drive then copy the files to a USB drive on a computer which does feature an optical drive.

The serial number is still valid but between the education license, and the language of the license, your only opportunity to reinstall will be locate the installation CDs provided with your purchase Stephj38.

[stephj38]

Thank you for this answer and also kglad​

You are totally right I was not aware of different cs design standard versions as I only can download one.

I though the difference is Design Std and Design Pro...

Now it is is clear there is at last one education version and as we normally have education license this seems to be valid.

The problem is we cant find the CD to get this special setup, is there a way to get it somewhere?

regards

[stephj38]

Nevermind, we found the CD just now.

Thank you very much again.

If the chat support team had told me about the education version, I would not have had to create a forum entry.

regards

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Perfect thanks for the update Stephj38.  My apologies for the confusion.  Later versions of Creative Suite the licensing did get a bit more flexible but often education licenses were tied to the installation files provided at the time of purchase.

If you run into any additional errors during the install process please don't hesitate to start a new discussion in the Downloading, Installing, Setting Up forum at Downloading, Installing, Setting Up .

Our community in the Downloading, Installing, Setting Up forum is very familiar with many of the installation errors which can occur for the different versions of Creative Suite. 

KGlad, in particular, is very helpful and tries to guide others utilizing his years of experience utilizing Adobe software.