/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/serial-number-issue-upgrading-from-cs3-extended-to-cs4/td-p/10367332Feb 07, 2019
Feb 07, 2019
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Below is the interaction with the chat agent which should explain the problem I'm having.
Hello Shanna, How may i help you today?
I am trying to reinstall Photoshop CS4, an upgrade version, on a new laptop as the previous laptop has stopped working. I am upgrading from CS3 extended. This is the third time in the 10 years since we purchased these products that I've had problems with the reinstall. The case number from the first time is 203006828. I don't see a case number for the second time on 05/10/12, but I do have a printout of the conversation with the two support people. I just want to install the product that I paid for, but it keeps saying that my CS3 extended serial number is invalid.
As we understood, you need help with the installation and activation of CS3.
Did I understand your issue correctly?
No, CS3 extended installs just fine, but when I try to install the upgrade to CS4 it says the serial number for CS3 extended is invalid, which makes it so I can't install CS4.
Shanna CS4 and CS3 are pretty old version of Applications which are no longer supported over chat or phone.
I get that, but I purchased them and should be able to use them. I have all the discs, boxes, etc. Are you telling me that because they're old I'm just out of luck?
I purchased CS3 extended a number of years ago. A couple of years after that I bought the upgrade to CS4. Both versions recognize their own serial numbers as valid. However, when I try to install CS4 it always tells me the CS3 extended serial number is invalid. I've gone through customer support every time I've had to reinstall it and they do a challenge and response code. Now, however they say that they are no longer supporting it. So I'm stuck with a program that I paid for and can no longer use.
The chat is correct- Adobe no longer supports CS3 or 4 and the activation servers have been disabled.
This is the brutal truth about software - it does not last forever and eventually will break - most likely from hardware/software updates or in this case antiquated licensing servers.
I did the obtain a new serial number, which said my serial number was valid, but gave me a new one. It also says that my software that I purchased is no longer valid? Does that mean I can no longer use my CD?
If you get the "non activation" CS3, along with new serial number you get a new CS3 software that you download and no longer need to activate. That does mean your old CS3 discs/serial number cannot be activated and therefore are useless. At this time I have not heard of CS4 activation taken off line.
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