Error "Invalid serial number" | Acrobat 9

When you try launch Acrobat after it has been installed as part of a Creative Suite 4 package, it prompts you to enter a serial number. Acrobat doesn't accept the Creative Suite 4 serial number.

Uninstall Creative Suite 4.

On Windows, choose Start > Control Panel, and choose Add Or Remove Programs. Select Creative Suite 4, and click Remove.
On Mac OS, navigate to a CS4 application folder (for example, /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CS4). Double-click the "Uninstall Adobe [product] CS4" shortcut, and remove the entire Creative Suite 4 package.

Uninstall any stand-alone version of Acrobat 9, if applicable.

Delete the Adobe PCD folder and caps.db file:

Windows: \Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD

\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\caps\caps.db
Mac OS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PCD

/Library/Application Support/Adobe/caps/caps.db

Reinstall the Creative Suite 4 package, and start one of the CS4 applications (for example, Photoshop CS4).

Start Acrobat 9.

For instructions, see Resolve installation problems with CS5 Cleaner Tool | CS5.5, CS5, CS4, CS3.

Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe doesn't provide support for editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. Make sure to back up the registry before editing it. For more information about the registry, see the Windows documentation or contact Microsoft.

Uninstall Adobe Acrobat 9 using the Adobe Creative Suite 4 uninstaller.

On Windows Vista

Choose Start > Control Panel.

Double-click Programs And Features.

Select Adobe Creative Suite 4 and click Remove or Uninstall.

Follow the onscreen instructions and deselect all applications except Adobe Acrobat 9 during the uninstall process.

On Windows XP:

Choose Start > Control Panel.

Double-click Add Or Remove Programs.

Select the Adobe Creative Suite 4 and click Change/Remove.

Follow the onscreen instructions and deselect all applications except Adobe Acrobat 9 during the uninstall process.

Launch the Registry Editor and backup the Registry.

On Windows Vista:

Click Start, type regedit in the Search field, and press Enter.

In the Registry Editor dialog box, choose File > Export.

Type a name for the file and choose the location.

For Export Range, choose All.

Click Save.

On Windows XP

Click Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK.

In the Registry Editor dialog box, choose File > Export.

Type a name for the file and choose the location.

For Export Range, choose All.

Click Save.

Delete the Acrobat 9 registration key.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0\Registration, open (double-click) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Software > Adobe Acrobat > 9.0 > Registration.

Select the Registration key and click Edit > Delete.

Important: Verify that you have the Registration key selected under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0\. If another key is selected, irreversible damage can be caused to the registry.

Click Yes.

Install Adobe Acrobat 9 using the Adobe Creative Suite 4 installer.

If you previously installed Acrobat, then the serial number and activation information that was used during that installation is retained on your computer. This residual activation information conflicts with the activation of the newly installed version. It's necessary to remove the residual activation information from the previous Acrobat installation.

Subtotal
Promotions
Estimated Shipping
VAT	Calculated at checkout

Total

Error "Invalid serial number" | Acrobat 9 | CS4

Products Affected

Issue

Solutions

Solution 1: Uninstall Creative Suite 4 and any stand-alone installations of Acrobat 9. Then delete the activation database files.

Solution 2: Run the CS5 Cleaner Tool.

Solution 3 (Windows only): Uninstall Acrobat, remove the Acrobat serial number, and reinstall Acrobat.

Additional information

Products

Download

Support & Learning

Buy

Company