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Indesign CS6 serial number only 20 characters

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
May 30, 2021
6 replies
9875 views

I installed Indesign CS6/ID8 on my old HP Spectre X360 laptop three years ago but after a technical problem - where Windows and everything had to be reinstalled - I could not reinstall.

I have found the old installation files and, as I have CS6/ID8 still installed and working on my desktop PC, thought I had found the serial number. However, it only has 20 characters and not the 24 sought.

How can I find the serial number on the desktop PC (Windows 10)?

Thanks for any help
Ken

How to

Correct answer Laubender

Ken said: "I have found the old installation files and, as I have CS6/ID8 still installed and working on my desktop PC, thought I had found the serial number. However, it only has 20 characters and not the 24 sought."

Hi Ken,

maybe you found the wrong serial number.

Let me explain this a bit more:

For some years now InDesign CS6 and InDesign CC version 9 are not part of Creative Cloud anymore.

That means: If you took the serial number from the old installation and you had installed CC software on top of it you have the wrong serial number extracted, because the CC installation back then changed your perpetual serial number to a new one that is tied to the Creative Cloud.

And that means for your new machine:

First wipe all creative cloud software from your machine, then install your perpetual version with your perpetual serial number. You cannot retrieve that serial number from a machine where you installed creative cloud.

To get rid of all remnants of a creative cloud installation use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

{Response modified by MOD}

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Ken said: "I had thought that as I still had the installation files then I would be able to set up CS6 anew - and started the hunt for the serial number."

If that would have been the perpetual version of CS6 and you still have the serial number for this perpetual version, not the version from Creative Cloud, you still could first wipe all CC from the machine and install CS6 as next step. The perpetual version of CS6 is still an "authorized" version, the CS6 from Creative Cloud is not.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

L

Laubender

Correct answer

Community Expert

Ken said: "I have found the old installation files and, as I have CS6/ID8 still installed and working on my desktop PC, thought I had found the serial number. However, it only has 20 characters and not the 24 sought."

Hi Ken,

maybe you found the wrong serial number.

Let me explain this a bit more:

For some years now InDesign CS6 and InDesign CC version 9 are not part of Creative Cloud anymore.

That means: If you took the serial number from the old installation and you had installed CC software on top of it you have the wrong serial number extracted, because the CC installation back then changed your perpetual serial number to a new one that is tied to the Creative Cloud.

And that means for your new machine:

First wipe all creative cloud software from your machine, then install your perpetual version with your perpetual serial number. You cannot retrieve that serial number from a machine where you installed creative cloud.

To get rid of all remnants of a creative cloud installation use the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

{Response modified by MOD}

K

k ss94042981Author

Participating Frequently

OK, thanks. I can see that's logical.

When I signed up for Creative Cloud Indesign in 2018 I saw that CS6 was available to download via the CC download app and the Older versions dropdown. I did so on both HP laptop and desktop.

However, as explained above, the HP had to be reformatted and by this time CS6 was no longer available/supported.

I had thought that as I still had the installation files then I would be able to set up CS6 anew - and started the hunt for the serial number.

But you're right, there was no serial number needed when I downloaded the Older version from CC.

Ah well, I guess I'm resigned to the long workaround: saving pages as CS4 files, then to Google Drive to transfer to my desktop PC and open/save in the PC's CS6.

Thanks for all answers and for taking the time to offer help. Much appreciated

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi,

to make this work you have to uninstall all creative cloud software and then install CS6 from your DVDs or the original installers from your DVDs using your serial number from about 10 years ago when you purchased CS6 and no creative cloud was around.

Why? In the moment you install creative cloud software on top of already installed perpetual CS6 software the serial number of your installed perpetual version will change.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

K

k ss94042981Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks to Sunny.sunny and Randy Hagan for help.
I installed License crawler (still waiting for Belarc to reply) and it found the necessary code.

But when I type it in to the installation Serial Number box it tells me "The Adobe software you're attempting to install is not genuine".

As I downloaded the original software from the Adobe site when I installed it in 2018 (when I signed up for Creative Suite to pay monthly for Indesign) I'm not sure why that would be the case.

Any ideas before I take it up with Support directly?

sunny.sunny

Inspiring

Looks like you didn't deavtivate it on the previous computer. The best way to sort it out is to contact Adobe Support.

BobLevine

Community Expert

That is not the error you'd get for too many activations.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

I suggest running Belarc Advisor on your desktop PC. Be sure to get the program directly from the software publisher; it's widely distributed through software despositories like CNet and such, but as a matter of security I recommend always downloading your software direct from the program's publisher.

It's a powerful and widely recommended system inventory utility, which offers a comprehensive check of the software and hardware configuration of your system. One of the things it does as it conducts that full inventory is register and list things like your Windows and other software serial/activation numbers.

You may encounter activation issues trying to do a "fresh" install of CS6. But as far as getting the serial/activation numbers for your software off your system, Belarc Advisor is a safe and secure way to do the trick.

Just be sure to run the reports and save a record (I prefer a hard copy, but it'll also work to save it to another system/external drive) to help you if you have any future issues. I look at it like carrying an umbrella if it looks like rain. If you have it with you, it's entirely possible you'll never need it. But if you do need it, you're prepared.

Hope this helps,

Randy

sunny.sunny

Inspiring

Hi, try License Crawler. It's a very simple and effective program.

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