Re-installing Adobe InDesign CS4

[Jacinth]

I own InDesign CS4 & recently lost all my software & documents when I moved house. I need to get it InDesign back because I do a lot of work for charities on a pro bono basis & cannot afford to buy new software as I am an 80-year old retiree. Trying to reinstall my InDesign program CS4 & it won't allow me to use my existing Serial Number. what can I do? Please help me Urgently.

Doug Jones

[jdanek]

The only thing I can think of is whether you backed up your computer using a portable disk.  Or somehow get ahold of the computer and clone the entire system over onto an external drive.  You can't install because that serial number is linked to that previous version of ID. 

[Jacinth]

Hello Jdanek,

Thank you very much for your response. I don't understand what you mean by: "whether you backed up your computer using a portable disk". I tried to re-instal using the original portable disk I own of Adobe InDesign CS4 & it won't accept the serial number. Also, please tell me what you mean saying: " get ahold of the computer and clone the entire system over onto an external drive." I lost every program, document, file & even my fonts when the computer crashed. So I don't know how to do this.

Sincerely

Doug

[jdanek]

OK, I will try to explain a little better.  You have not stated which system ( PC or Mac ) you are using, but there are third party applications you can use to routinely backup your entire computer.  You need a external hard drive large enough to do this.  Microsoft and Apple also supply "cloud" space for you to backup to, as an option.

The previous computer, eventhough it has crashed, may still be able to be accessed if you take it to a computer technician.  They have ways of recovering files.  As I understand it, you have the install disk ( DVD ) for CS4 InDesign but cannot use the serial number.  It may be something as simple as the operating system on the new computer will not recognize the disk, the installer, or the serial number because the software may not be compatable with your new computer.

[John T Smith]

Invalid License http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/error-serial-number-valid-product.html

-and more help in http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/invalid-serial-number-cs4.html

CS6 and earlier programs have not been tested and will not be updated for Mac El Capitan/Sierra

-which means that you try to use CS6 and earlier at YOUR risk of having problems due to Apple updates

-Apple did not maintain backward compatibility with old programs in El Capitan or Sierra

--Adobe has a workaround to Apple's problem of not maintaining backward compatibility

--several help links and possible solution inside this message https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2301916

Two ideas that MAY work to install and/or run old programs in Windows 10

-RIGHT click the program icon or EXE and select a compatibility mode in the pop up option window

-or Run as Administrator http://forums.adobe.com/thread/969395 to assign FULL Windows permissions may help... says Encore, but sometimes required for ALL Adobe programs (this is NOT the same as using an Administrator account)

-or more on permissions https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2293598

[Jacinth]

Hello John

I am getting nowhere with this. Have come to a dead end it seems. There must be someway to have my serial no accepted or can I get a replacement no to replace the current one. I can arrange to revert to Windows 7 from Windows 10. What do you think/

Cheers

Doug

[Jeffrey_A_Wright · Accepted solution]

Doug I am sorry you are facing difficulties reinstalling InDesign CS4.  Unfortunately their are no Adobe software titles registered under the e-mail address/Adobe ID you are using to post to this public forum.

As a next step I would recommend locating your registered serial number on http://www.adobe.com/.  Details on how to locate your registered serial number can be found at Find your serial number​.  If you need assistance locating your serial number then please contact our support team directly at Contact Customer Care.  Please be prepared with any alternate e-mail addresses or phone numbers that may have been utilized to register InDesign CS4.

Once you have confirmed you have a valid serial number then please re-review the steps offered by John in message #4.  The invalid serial number document in particular is beneficial for resolving software errors that are preventing a valid serial number from being accepted.