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Sams_tru
Participating Frequently
May 26, 2017
Answered

CS6 product key not valid

  • May 26, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 4860 views

Hi all ,

Since this morning, I try to install CS6 Master Collection on my new MBP that runs 10.12 (Sierra). I bought the DVD on sale in 2013, but never installed it until now (thought to keep it for my next machine, apparently a bad idea). I know there are issues with this combination, but mine seems somewhat different. In fact the installer runs just fine. Also I am able to install the evaluation version of CS6 and both Ps and Br that I tried seem to run fine. The problem occurs when during installation I select "I have a license key". There, I enter my product key, and it says the key is not valid. I just spent a lot of time on the chat of Adobe France, they checked the product key and said it was perfectly fine. So what is the issue??

Thanks a lot for your help

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jeffrey_A_Wright

    Thank you.

    I tried all 5 possibilities from:  Error: "The serial number is not valid for this product" | Adobe Creative Suite

    The AdobePCD and caps were tried earlier today with the person from Adobe France I was chatting with, it didn't help.

    I also ran through all possible issues here: Resolve connection errors with Adobe Creative Cloud and Creative Suite applications

    Is there a way to check the match between the serial number I received and the software on the DVD? I was able to install the trial version and it seems to run fine. Thus from this trial version, can I extract some info about the software version that could be helpful for you or someone else at Adobe?

    From the licence number, is it possible to know for which version it is made (language, operating system, etc)?

    Last thing that I can think of would be to downgrade one of my laptops and install an old operating system to see if the OS is involved. But that would be a huge pain.


    Sams'tru the serial number you registered is the Master Collection CS6 retail license for Mac OS.  The serial number will work with the English installation files available at Download Adobe Creative Suite 6 applications​.

    If the steps listed in Error: "The serial number is not valid for this product" | Adobe Creative Suite  are not allowing you to complete the installation successfully then I would recommend backing up any critical documents and settings.

    You mentioned at the start of this discussion that you got a new MacBook Pro running macOS Sierra.  I am under the assumption that a migration of your applications, documents, and files was performed to bring your files over from your previous Mac?  Is this correct Sams'tru?

    If so then you have one last chance to recover from the migration and install successfully.  Completing the following steps has allowed other individuals to recover from a migration and install their software, with their serial number, successfully.

    1. Run all available uninstallers in Applications/Utilities/Adobe Installers
    2. Download and run the CC Cleaner tool from Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems
    3. Try to install Creative Suite 6 again

    Even if you feel you have completed these steps previously I would recommend performing them again Sams'tru.  You may even want to perform them in the newly created administrator account per solution 5.

    If the serial number continues to be seen as invalid then I would recommend backing up any required files and settings and going through the migration process again.  This time only migrate/copy the necessary documents, files, and settings.  Adobe applications in particular are designed to be installed on computers and not copied.

    Feel free to update this discussion if you have any additional questions Sams'tru.  I will be online for a bit longer and then will be returning after the US Memorial Day.

    Kglad is a very experienced member of our community.  If he has any additional suggestions to offer please follow his guidance.

    Please do update the discussion with your results Sams'tru.  I look forward to hearing the results.

    1 reply

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2017

    assuming you're using a valid adobe serial number (6 groups of 4 numbers and confirmed by adobe france), 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

    S
    Sams_truAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    May 26, 2017

    Thanks! One element in your answer attracted my attention: "license type (eg, education vs enterprise vs individual)". Do they differ, is there a specific procedure for education versions? I am a scientific researcher working in the academia (research institute), so the version I have might be for education purposes. But I installed it from the DVD that I bought; which came with its licence key... Should I register somewhere else or differently in my case?

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2017

    there's not a different procedure so much as different installation files.  if you use the publicly available installation files with an education serial number you will see an invalid serial number message and adobe support will confirm your serial number is valid (with the correct installation files).

    if you have a dvd and serial number (for that dvd), you should not see that error message. are you sure the serial number you're using mates to that dvd?

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