Error 16 + No Serial Numbers + Not registered with Adobe - HOWEVER programs still on Apple Mac.

[Garry Maclean]

Hi there,

I’m just wondering if anyone can assist or can offer advice as to where to look.

Apologies in advance if this is a long read.

I’ve been working on my hobby website, on and off since 2014, using Dreamweaver & Photoshop CS6, which I’m aware are old school nowadays.

My problems began last December, 2022, after I had upgraded from High Sierra to Mojave, the upgrade was to enable some other app which required a higher OS than High Sierra. I had previously googled as to whether CS6 was compatible with Mojave and the first answer I found unfortunately said it was - I have since discovered they are not compatible.

The problem I encountered was that although I could still access and use Dreamweaver I could no longer upload the updated page files to my server.

I then purchased a 2 TB SSD to back up everything as I had read that one option was to “downgrade” to High Sierra.

Many issues followed as I soon encountered problems such as being told that there was already a newer OS installed. I eventually went back to Mavericks (Internet Recovery Re-Boot) which my Mac shipped with. Over the next extremely stressful few days - including my mac showing what looked like a white “No Entry Sign” - I have somehow managed to stumble my way to having High Sierra as my OS and The Machine back ups to before Mavericks, when I was running Mojave.

I’ve used Time Machine to restore the Adobe CS6 products but I now have come up against Error 16.

CONFIGURATION ERROR

Please uninstall and reinstall the product.

If this problem still occurs, please contact Adobe technical support for help, and mention the error code shown at the bottom of this screen.

Error: 16

http://www.adobe.com/support/

The problem now escalates somewhat as whilst I purchased the proper packaged printed disks with serial numbers and licence etc., from memory for something in the £800 to £1,000 mark from a retailer I cannot now recall, I also failed to register with Adobe, yep I know, big  .  .  Doh!

I still have the boxes and disks.

Having googled extensively I now appreciate I am in something of a pickle to put it mildly.

I am encountering Error 16 which states I should uninstall/re-install but without the Serial Numbers this I cannot do.

There appears to be a few different apps available that claim to be able to locate the serial numbers from within the mac.

This is a genuine and honest enquiry regarding having legitimately purchased the items so they were input to my Mac at some point, most likely circa 2014.

Does anyone know if these supposed “key finders” actually work ?

https://mac-product-key-finder.com/

They seem to cost about $29 which from where I am would be something of a bargain.

Any assistance and/or suggestions gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Kind regards, Garry.

[kglad]

1st issue: "Having selected “LICENCE” this bought me to the x8 boxes to input my Serial Number."

there is no 8 box input for the serial number.  there are 6 groups/boxes for 4 numbers each.

where were those input boxes?  a website?  a panel on your computer?

[Garry Maclean]

My apologies, it was SIX boxes, each of which took FOUR numbers.

[kglad]

where were those input boxes?  a website?  a panel on your computer?

[Garry Maclean]

When I open Dreamweaver CS6 from my applications folder - whilst online - an Adobe window opens informing me that there is a "SIGN IN REQUIRED" for the trial.

The other sequence of events I described, whereby I go OFFLINE and try to launch Dreamweaver and get options “LICENCE” or “TRIAL” followed by the six boxes for serial number input were in an Adobe window dialogue box.

However, having just tried once again in the interim period, whilst OFFLINE I no longer get those options and instead it reverts to the “SIGN IN REQUIRED” for trial.

The messages I describe appear in Adobe pop up windows.

[kglad]

there are problems with what you're describing that indicate there's a mixture of adobe files on your computer.

you could try the cc and cs6 cleaners and manually try removing adobe files, but i think it would be quicker and better to reset your computer to factory settings and start a clean cs6 install.

[Garry Maclean]

Whilst looking around for your earlier suggestion of using the “CS6 Cleaner”, I occasionally come across reference to the  “Adobe Application Manager” for use in uninstalling Adobe files, which I do not appear to have - is this relevant ?

I have  .  .  .  Photoshop CS6 (on trial mode), Adobe Bridge CS6, Adobe Extension Manager CS6 and last of all Adobe Dreamweaver CS6.

I have not yet managed to find the "CS6 Cleaner” you suggest using, is it the same as CC Cleaner ?

Many thanks.

[Garry Maclean]

Sorry kglad, our messages were crossing simultaneously, I see you have made suggestions. 

So do I follow your earlier advice regarding, clean install, update only Safari and when installing Adobe products do I use diske online or off "

[Garry Maclean]

"disks"

[kglad]

what os will your computer be reset to, if you reset to factory settings?

[Garry Maclean]

Mac is a 27" iMac, late 2013 which shipped with Mavericks.

[kglad]

great.

restore your os. do not update.

disconnect from the internet

start the cs6 install and when prompted proceed with offline activation:

paste your request code and serial number here to get your response code and complete activation:

https://aoes-stage.licensingstack.com/aoes/aoes/v1/imsauthstatus

you'll probably need to use an alternative sign-in to the website (eg, google).

[Garry Maclean]

Cheers kglad,

I'll proceed with suggested route.

As before, many many thanks for your assistance to date, greatly appreciated.

Regards, Garry.

[Garry Maclean]

Just checking, is that an Internet Recovery re-boot which will reset Mac to factory settings including Mavericks ?

Then disconnect from internet and install from disks - offline activation ?

[kglad]

here's hoping... keep this thread updated.

[Lumigraphics]

You CANNOT migrate an installation. You have to install from scratch.

My suggestion is to get a newer, supported computer and as CC subscription. How much time and money (sunk cost) is already wasted on trying to get this working?

[Abambo]

FYI:

5) is for your firewall. Especially some corporate firewalls are configured to block addresses. You need to whitelist the given addresses for using the indicated service. I do not think that this is applicable to you.

[kglad]

@Abambo 

it's not (yet).  we're going directly for offline activation.

[Garry Maclean]

Tried re-booting in Internet Recovery Mode in the hope that I would be able to get the original OS that my iMac shipped with - MAVERICKS - reinstalled.

All went well until I chose Mavericks reinstall at which point a message stated that “You can’t upgrade this version of OS X because a newer version is installed”

I had thought that by using the Internet Recovery Mode I was starting afresh and that there would have been no previous OS in situ to prevent Mavericks installing.

I’m aware that this is perhaps morphing into more of a Mac question now, so please advise me if I am crossing boundaries and should perhaps look elsewhere for Mac related queries ?

[Garry Maclean]

Apologies -  seems those last image files were very large.

[kglad]

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065

[Abambo]

@Abambo 

it's not (yet).  we're going directly for offline activation.

By @kglad

OP can ignore this (5. Whitelist of Endnotes) in all cases (99.99%) if he is not behind a corporate firewall managed by a very protective corporate IT.

[kglad]

@Abambo 

i doubt he's behind a corporate firewall and allowed to fiddle with his mac like he's doing.

[Garry Maclean]

I rebooted in "Recovery Mode" then erased Macintosh HD and reformatted to Mac OS Extended as Apple direct.

Nothing on HD at this stage.

I then rebooted in  "Internet Recovery Mode" and then via Mac Utilities arrived at screen stating "Now installing OS X on Disk "Macintish HD"

I am now using OS 10.95, Mavericks, my original factory OS it shipped with.

I immediately tried to install with disks, options were "I have Serial Number" or "Try", I chose Serial Number option and input serial numbers.

It initially stated I had to connect to internet, I was connected to the internet, after repeatedly selecting the 'RETRY' option it began installing and when installed said it required Java which I also installed.

I was uncertain at this point whether it had actually worked or whether it was a 7 day trial, however having googled I have since learned that on each initial daily launch you will be informed of hiow long your 7 day trial has remaining - if it is a trial - sadly both my Photoshop and Dreamweaver are showing "7 days remaining" of my trial.

I have NOT updated anything on my iMac - apart from Adobe CS6, Bridge, Dreamweaver, Extension Manager & Photoshop.

I'll hang fire to see if anyone has any ideas from here.

I have tried going offline, but only AFTER installing and trying the serial number option.

I guess I could try going back and repeating the Internet Recovery Mode process and immediately going offline to try activation ?

Regarding the other ideas - "firewalls" etc., I'm out of my depth there. My iMac was bought new way back in 2013 along with the Adobe CS6 disks. It's only ever been used for private personal use. The Adobe disks were never ever istalled on any other mac.

[kglad]

disconnect from the internet > open ps > click help > click activate.

what do you see?

[Garry Maclean]

I've once again erased the iMac HD and done a clean install of Mavericks.

So iMac at this stage is cleared/ cleaned of all Adobe products.

Went offline.

Inserted DW Disk and launched installer.

Selected - "I have a Serial Number" and input my DW serial number. (6 boxes 4 numbers in each)

Black window appears stating "Please connect to the internet  .  .  .  "

Clicked "Retry" repeatedly to no avail.

Repeated the above process offline and got the same messages as above.

Have now upgraded OS to High Sierra as Mavericks was kinda clunky, iMac remains cleaned of any Adobe products.

In answer to what do I see when I click on D.W. (P.S)  .  .  .  with D.W. not yet installed there is nothing relating to it in the "help" window. The "get info" window on Safari gives me basic D.W. CS6 info such as when last opened back in 2012.

 

I've been working pretty much non stop these last few days trying to get acquainted with re-booting iMac etc., making copious notes so that I now know that I can at least move between various O.S. and remove any traces of old Adobe files.

Any assistance from this relatively new starting point - no Adobe files or apps currently on iMac - greatly received.

I'm aware that CS6 is on "life support" but having paid a substantial amount of money on what I believed to be a "forever product" it is sad to find this is perhaps now not the case. My website was/is just a hobby but one which I derived a great deal of pleasure/satisfaction from and I'm kinda gutted it's perhaps no longer accessible/workable.

I'm aware also that Adobe CC on subscription is an option but when as recently as a few weeks back things were working fine it's not an easy choice at my advanced years, pensioner, to commit to yet more of a financial outlay on a hobby website.

That's not to say that it's not a route I will have to travel if all else fails.

Thanks again.