I am trying to install CS2 but I receive a message that my serial number is invalid.

Report · Feb 10, 2013

I have been trying to install CS2 on Win XP. (My old laptop died, I still have the original disks, serial #, etc. but was unable to use because of the activation problem). I downloaded all the files from the website referenced above and tried to follow the instructions here and in the pdf. However the files that downloaded to my computer did not have the names that are mentioned in the pdf. The files that downloaded were called CreativeSuiteCS2Disc1, CreativeSuiteCS2Disc2, CreativeSuiteCS2Disc3, CS2.0_WWE_Extras_1 and VCS2. Also, I was never given an option to "install later".

However I was able to "extract" the files. They extracted into different folders, and after reading through this whole thread I was able to move the files around in the folders until they look like those in message 123 later in this thread that pictures all of the files that should be in a folder together (mine are in C:\Creative Suite CS2\Adobe Creative Suite 2.0).

However I still can't get it to work. If I try to run the installer in any of the programs (for example Photoshop or Illustrator), when I enter the serial number given on the website I get the message that the serial number is not valid.

Help!!

Thanks!

Report · Feb 11, 2013

Branching this to a separate discussion. Do you have any other Adobe Creative software installed on this computer? To confirm you did not have Creative Suite 2 installed on this computer previously correct?

Report · Feb 11, 2013

I had initially installed Creative Suite CS2 on the computer from my original disks. Then when I discovered that I couldn't activate it, I found the website with the instructions to download the software instead. I then uninstalled Creative Suite using the windows uninstall before downloading the new software. However, when uninstalling I received an error message that not all components could be deleted. It looked like just one file that ended in .dll. So I tried to run the uninstall a second time but received an error message that it couldn't uninstall because the software wasn't there. So I thought it was all gone. But perhaps there were some pieces still there to interfere?

thanks!!

Report · Feb 12, 2013

It is difficult to say you may want to try solution 2 in Error: "...user name, organization, or serial number is missing or invalid..." when you start Photoshop (CS2 on Windows) - http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/error-user-name-organization-or.html. Also to confirm you are using the installer files and serial number referenced in Error: Activation Server Unavailable | CS2 or older products, Acrobat 7 - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/creative-suite-2-activation-end-life.html?

Report · Feb 13, 2013

Thanks very much. Yes, I am using the installer files and serial number from the URL you referenced above. I have spent many hours trying to get it to work. I would love some help!!

The problem is that the instructions that come in the pdf with the downloaded files do not work, because the files that download from that page do not have the names referred to in the pdf, and most of the things that are referred to in the instructions do not happen. Here is what actually happened.

When I downloaded the files from the website, these are the files that downloaded:

I double-clicked each one and they extracted into two different folders.

Then I read a message on the forum that said to move all the extractred files into the same folder, so I moved all files into one file at C:\Creative Suite CS2\Adobe Creative Suite 2.0 as was pictured in the forum message. Here are screen shots showing all of the files in that folder I have now:

So then I double clicked the "Setup" file and I got this error message:

So then I tried to install the programs separately from the installer inside the folders Photoshop and Illustrator. I got this far and entered the serial number from the website:

But then I got this error message, even though I was using the files and serial number exactly from the website:

I tried both photoshop and illustrator and the same thing happened.

(I also looked at Solution 2 that you mentioned above but I don't have anything called VCOM on the computer. Also the error message that I got is not that one.)

I think I really need a set of instructions that lists the steps in order to do, but based on the files that actually download from the website and what happens when you extract the files. I feel as if I have all of the proper files but it still doesn't work.

Thank you very much!

Report · Feb 14, 2013

This is why you are receiving an invalid serial number. Please see message #11 in http://forums.adobe.com/message/4919014#4919014?sdid=KCHDS which it is discussed how to extract the files for installation. Once complete you will want to run the main installer, only it will accept the serial number, as opposed to the point product installers.