installed cs 5.5 on new computer - get "this serial number is not valid for this product"

[debbie_jean__7314]

purchased cs 5.5 legally in 2012 & have proof of purchase & DVDs, etc.

Adobe account shows my serial number is valid for cs 5.5

de-activated cs 5.5 on old computer

installed cs 5.5 from Adobe Account download link (i installed the full suite)

installation likes serial number. (it should- it's a valid number)

after installation is complete, Acrabat Pro wants the serial number - again

and responds with "this serial number is not valid for this product"

Help! I don't have the funds to purchase a subscription - (Adobe chat offered latest & greatest but didn't give me a dollar amount.)

How can I get Acrabat Pro to accept my serial number?

[kglad · Accepted solution]

if you saw an invalid serial number you either made an error when entering the number OR you have the wrong installer.  details:

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 (correct) 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

[John T Smith]

>installed the full suite

I don't use it now, but I bought CS5 Master Suite a long time ago... it came with TWO serial numbers... one for everything else and a separate one for Acrobat Pro

[kglad]

@John T Smith 

cs5.5 did not do that.

[Peru Bob]

My CS5.5 only had one serial number.