Missing Photoshop Elements Serial Number

[mnmmichelle]

About 3 years ago I bought Elements 7. A few months later I got an offer directly from Adobe to upgrade to CS4 which I did. After that I got rid of my Elements program. I figured I didn't need it I had CS4. 3 months ago my hard drive crashed. I went to re-install my CS4 and it asks me for the serial number from my Elements program, which I don't have anymore. I called Adobe and they told me I need proof that I owned Elements, ie receipt which I don't have that either. Does anybody have any suggestions? If I have to buy a new Elements program will it upgrade to CS4 being thats a few years old now?

[stargate87]

Did you have to give proof of the Elements when you upgraded to CS4 the first time? If so I would think Adobe should have your license on file? How did they give you the offer to begin with if they did not know you owned Elements? I know these are not answers but I am just brainstorming.

[mnmmichelle]

@Stargate87 When I originally purchased CS4 I still had the Elements program and probably just typed in the serial number. I bought Elements from Costco so they have no record of it and I don't have a reciept. I called twice and both times they told me I need "proof" that I actually owned Elements. I understand that they want to prevent people from just trying to pay for the upgrade instead of the full program but its frustrating because I've owned CS4 for over 2 years. What do they think I just bought it for giggles and never used it?

[suci]

Like Randy said Adobe should have the Elements serial number on file, since you upgraded, instead of bought the full version of CS4.
If they don't want to find the Elements number, then look around. If you bought a printer, scanner or similar item you got an Elements program on a CD. Give them that version of Elements along with the corresponding serial number.
In the future get the CD, or burn the program to a Cd yourself.
I never download a program, but buy the CD, exactly because of such problems.
PS. What do you mean you got rid of Elements? Did you give the CD away or sold it? Can you get it back?

[mrchile]

Where did you get CS4? If you got it directly from Adobe, they should have record of that. Elements shouldn't need to come into play anymore, unless they programmed it into the installation that the serial number is necessary. Call them again and find out.
Ask for a specific reason for needing the elements S.N.

[graphics12]

Ask for a specific reason for needing the elements S.N.
Requiring the serial number for the program the upgrade was based on is standard Adobe practice.

I faced a simular situation a year or so ago when my Elements CD was destroyed by a niece followed by a computer crash a few months later. After 5 or 6 calls to Adobe I ended up having to buy Elements again, needless to say that purchase is likely to be my last ever from Adobe. GIMP does everything I need and when the computer crashes I just dwonload and install the most recetn version with no hassles.

In the future get the CD, or burn the program to a Cd yourself.
I never download a program, but buy the CD, exactly because of such problems.
Since Adobe like virtually every other software publisher does not print the serial number on the CD/DVD itself buying the program on CD/DVD is no guarantee that you will not loose a serial number.

It does little to help you now but for the future I keep my software serial numbers in a text file and back it every week when I do my normal back ups.

G12

[suci]

It is true that the serial number for Elements is not on the CD. But it is on the box. I have Elements, E2, E4, E7. They are in their own box and the serial number is on them all.

[mnmmichelle]

Thanks for all your advice. What I had to do was purchase another elements program, not even install it, and just use the serial number on the box from that program and .I was able to re-install my CS4