cs6 serial suddenly invalid

[apedersen1]

hi. cs6 master collection serial has worked fine for almost a year but is now "no longer valid". pls help

[Abhijit_Kr_]

Hi Aperdersen,

Could you please Private message me the Serial no so I can verify it and get back to you.

regards,

Abhijit

[Romsinha-9KMEUt]

Hi apedersen1,

Please refer the knowledge base article: http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/error-serial-number-valid-product.html.

Regards,

Romit Sinha

[apedersen1]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. That knowledge base article is not very helpful.

As it suggests, I have tried to reinstall using the CS6 Master Collection disks but still get the "we are unable to validate this serial number for the CS6 master collection" message.

As you now know, my serial number is perfectly valid.

What should I do next?

Thanks, Andy

[Romsinha-9KMEUt · Accepted solution]

Hi apedersen1,

Kindly reset the host file:

Windows

1. Choose Start > Run, type %systemroot% \system32\drivers\etc, and then press Enter. 
2. Right-click the hosts file and select Open. Select Notepad for the application to open the hosts file. 
3. Back up the hosts file: Choose File > Save As, save the file as hosts.backup, and then click OK. 
4. Search the hosts file for entries that reference activate.adobe.com (for example, 127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com) and delete these entries. 
5. Save and close the file.

  Mac OS

Log in as an administrator to edit the hosts file in Mac OS.

In a Finder window, choose Go > Go To Folder.

Type /etc.

Select the hosts file and open it.

Back up the hosts file: Choose File > Save As, save the file as hosts.backup, and then click OK.

Search the hosts file for entries that reference activate.adobe.com (for example, 127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com) and delete these entries.

Save and close the file.

Please let us know whetehr it worked.

Regards,

Romit Sinha

[apedersen1]

Thanks for the speedy response. I found the hosts file, but it contained no reference to activate.adobe.com

-andy

[Luis Rebelo]

The hosts file procedure is one of the mentioned in http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-network-issues.html

I would advise you to check them, step by step.

Good luck!