CS6 upgrade from CS5

[heyjohnboy]

Hi. I have valid serial numbers for CS5 and CS6. I purchased both, and both have run without issue. However, I recently switched to a new computer, and while my CS5 installs just fine, my CS6 will not install because the registration site now appears to support only CS5.5 as an upgrade option to CS6. Since I upgraded from CS5, the system will not allow me to install CS6.

This is NOT an issue of compatibility with the new machine, since CS5 installed successfully and operates just fine on it. The problem is simply that the registration server will no longer accept a CS5 serial number when installing CS6. As I upgraded from CS5 and did not purchase CS5.5, I do not have a CS5.5 serial number, so it seems I need Adobe to provide me with a clean CS5.5 serial number that can be used to install my CS6 software, or else I need someone to provide me with a workaround that will allow me to install CS6. Please help!

[AxelMatt]

Try the offline activation as described as Solution 2 in the linked document.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html

But be aware: if you have reached your activation limit and you don't have any chance to deactivate an older installation you're out of luck. Adobe has stopped the support of Lightroom 6 and the resetting of the actiovation counter isn't possible anymore.

[John Waller]

because the registration site now appears to support only CS5.5 as an upgrade option to CS6.

What is the exact error message?

[D Fosse]

@heyjohnboy 

You do not need to install CS5.

Creative Suite upgrades did not require the previous qualifying version to be physically installed. What you need to do is enter the CS5 serial number when prompted, during the CS6 install.

That said, you might not be able to activate it, if you did not deactivate the old installation first. Adobe will no longer extend activations beyond the two allowed.

[heyjohnboy]

I have already attempted to use my CS5 serial number when installing CS6, but the Adobe licensing server just says it is not a qualifying product. It only accepts CS5.5 now, which is bogus, since I upgraded from CS5 initially.

John Duncan

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[AxelMatt]

I have already attempted to use my CS5 serial number when installing CS6,...

By @heyjohnboy

You can't use the serial number for CS5 for a CS6 installation.

If you buyed CS6 (whether as a full version or as an update) you got an appropriate serial number for CS6.

After installing CS6 enter the serial number for CS6!! If it's a update version and no appropriate version is found on your machine you'll aks to enter a serial number of the pre-version. 

As mentioned before, if the normal activation doesn't work you should try the offline activation as described as Solution 2 in the linked document.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html

[John Waller]

You can't use the serial number for CS5 for a CS6 installation.

@AxelMatt 

I think he means that he entered his CS6 serial number for the CS6 installer followed by entering his CS5 serial number as a qualifying product.

The CS5 number was not accepted as a qualifying product.

The installer is insisting that only a CS5.5 serial number can be entered as a qualifying product. I never saw that error message in all my time using Creative Suite upgrades back in the day.

[AxelMatt]

@John Waller  It's possible, but I've understand that he installs CS6 and used the serialnumber for CS5.

But anyway, we've to wait until he post a answer.

...

The CS5 number was not accepted as a qualifying product.

The installer is insisting that only a CS5.5 serial number can be entered as a qualifying product. I never saw that error message in all my time using Creative Suite upgrades back in the day.

By @John Waller

I've don't heard and read about this fact.

[heyjohnboy]

Hi all and thank you for attempting to help with this issue. @AxelMatt is correct: I used my CS6 serial number when the installation routine requests a serial number. THEN it brings you to a screen that requests a qualifying product in order to complete the installation. In that product dropdown it ONLY presents CS5.5 products, but my upgrade was from CS5. I did attempt to enter my CS5 serial number while selecting one of the CS5.5 options in the dropdown, but it returned the following error message: "The serial number is not for a qualifying product. Please try another."

When I run the CS6 installer I get a Welcome window with three options: 1) Install with a serial number 2)Start my subscription 3) Install a trial. I do NOT get an option that says "Having Trouble Connecting To The Internet," so I am unable to try the "Solution 2: Process Offline Activation" approach that @AxelMatt suggested. If I continue by selecting the "Install with a serial number" option and accept the license agreement it opens the Serial Number window. When I enter my CS6 serial number and press Next I am brought to a window titled "Serial Number of Previous Version" with a message that says: "Serial number you provided is valid, but a qualifying product could not be found on this computer." This window has a dropdown to select the previous version and provide the serial number of that version. The problem is that this dropdown ONLY provides CS5.5 and CS6 options, and my upgrade came from CS5.

As a result, I am unable to use my CS6 software, even though I was able to successfully install my CS5 software on this machine. I paid for CS6, but am unable to use it, which seems quite unfair, since I have paid Adobe thousands of dollars for many licenses going all the way back to #Studio version 8, Web Premium CS4, Audition CS5.5, InDesign version 7.5, Web Premium CS5, Acrobat Professional version 9, and finally Design and Web Premium CS6.

So as I stated in my initial post, the only way I can think of to get CS6 activated is for Adobe to provide me with a clean serial number from Web Premium CS5.5 or for someone to have a workaround that works. 🙂

Any and all continued help is much appreciated.

[heyjohnboy]

(Please read my previous reply first.) One other option that might be viable is if somebody can provide the URL to the "Having trouble connecting to the internet" installation option, since I am not provided with that option while attempting to install CS6. I'm thinking that if I can create an offline activation request code I could use the Offline Activation screen (https://exception.licenses.adobe.com/aoes/aoes/v1/t1) and generate a Response Code. I'm not exactly sure how or if that would work, but I'm hoping it is a possiblity if nothing else works?

[D Fosse]

Web Premium CS5 (...) Design and Web Premium CS6.

By @heyjohnboy

Are you trying to install a Design suite with a Web suite serial number? That won't work. These suites were edition specific, and an upgrade had to be the same suite.

[heyjohnboy]

I upgraded from Web Premium CS5 to Design & Web Premium CS6. That's  what worked initially and that's what worked several years ago when I reinstalled on a new machine. I'm not even sure there WAS a Design & Web Premium until CS6. Still, one of the "previous version" options in the dropdown is Web Premium CS5.5, so there definitely is an upgrade path from Web Premium to Design & Web Premium. And the CS5 to CS6 upgrade worked fine until Adobe removed CS5 from the qualifying products list.

[heyjohnboy]

[Illegal activity removed] No other suggestions have worked. I'd be so happy to just subscribe to the latest offerings, but I'm retired and on a fixed income and can no longer afford Adobe's price points. But I paid for a lot of Adobe software over the years and I'd just like to be able to use it. LOL

[ExUSA]

Asking for seriqal numbers is not allowed here. At this point you may not have any options, Adobe has been cutting off access to older software and I'd be surprised if they keep allowing CS6 activations for much longer.

[heyjohnboy]

Sorry. Adobe support told me people here in the community would be able to help me get my CS6 activated. Apparently they were wrong. 

[ExUSA]

Adobe doesn't support CS6 and we have no way to help you get it activated. All we can do is explain what they should be telling you, that CS6 is close to dead.

[kglad]

we can help by giving you info, but that's no guarantee.  

regarding your request for offline activation of cs6:

disconnect your computer from the internet

Launch the product.
At the Serial Number Validation screen, click Having Trouble Connecting To The Internet.
Click Offline Activation and click Generate a Response Code.
Write down the Request Code.
Switch to an online computer and navigate to www.adobe.com/go/getactivated.
Click Offline Activation.
Sign in with your Adobe ID.
Enter your Request code and click Generate.
Write down the Response code.
Switch back to the offline computer.
Enter the Response Code and click Activate.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html