TechNote (Archived)

Error "...can not verify the serial number..." during startup or installation (InDesign 2.x, CS)

Issue

When you try to install or start Adobe InDesign, it returns the error "Adobe InDesign can not verify the serial number. Please re-install InDesign."

Solutions

Do one or more of the following solutions:

Solution 1:Install InDesign using the Adobe Creative Suite CDs (InDesign CS only).

If you installed Adobe Creative Suite after you installed InDesign CS, remove InDesign CS and then reinstall it using the Adobe Creative Suite CDs and serial numbers.

To remove and reinstall InDesign CS:

1. Remove InDesign CS usingthe Add Or Remove Programs utility (Windows), or by deleting the Adobe InDesign CS folder from the hard disk (Mac OS).

2. Install InDesign CS using the Adobe Creative Suite CDs and serial numbers.

Solution 2: Log in as an administrator.

Solution 3: Rename the hard disk or remove special characters from the hard disk name.(Mac OS only)

Rename the hard disk using a short and simple word with no spaces (for example, Drive or Mary), even if your hard drive currently has the default name (Mac HD or Macintosh HD). If the hard disk name is blank, name it.

If the hard disk name includes special characters (for example, trademark symbols, superscript characters, or ellipses) remove them. (The name should include only alphanumeric characters, underscores, and hyphens.)

If you need to include special characters in the hard disk, upgrade to InDesign CS2. For upgrade information, visit the Adobe website athttp://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catInDesignUpgrade .

Solution 4: Install InDesign to the default destination folder.

If you receive the error when you try to install InDesign, install it to the default destination folder.

-- In Windows, the default destination folder is [hard disk]/Program Files/Adobe.

-- In Mac OS, the default destination folder is [hard disk]/Applications.

Solution 5: Make sure that you have read-and-write access to the Adobe Registration Database file or Registration key.

Make sure that you have read-and-write access to the Registration key in the Windows registry (Windows) or the Adobe Registration Database file (Mac OS).

Note: If you can't change access permissions, contact your system administrator or log in to the system as an administrator.

To set access in Windows:

1. Choose Start > Run.

2. Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.

3. In the Registry Editor, locate the HKEY Local Machine\Software\Adobe\InDesign\[2.0 or 3.0]\Registration key.

4. Right-click the Registration key and choose Permissions.

5. Click Allow.

To set access in Mac OS X:

1. Locate the Adobe Registration Database file located in Library/Application Support/Adobe.

2. Control-click the file and choose Get Info.

3. Expand the Ownership & Permissions area and choose Read And Write from the Access menu.

To set access in Mac OS 9.x:

1. Locate the Adobe Registration Database file located in System Folder/Preferences.

2. Select the file and choose File > Get Info.

3. Deselect Locked.

Solution 6: Delete the Adobe Registration Database file (Mac OSonly).

If you receive the error when you try to start InDesign, delete the Adobe Registration Database file and then run the installer again. The Adobe Registration Database file is in the following folders:

-- In Mac OS X: Library/Application Support/Adobe

-- In Mac OS 9.x: System Folder/Preferences

Solution 7: Copy the Adobe Registration Database file to the user's Preferences folder (Mac OSonly).

If you run Mac OS in a multiple-user environment and the User Profile is on the network, copy the Adobe Registration Database file to the user's Preferences folder before installing or running InDesign. Contact your network administrator for assistance.

Solution 8: Reinstall InDesign in Safe mode.

Remove InDesign, restart the computer in Safe mode and then reinstall InDesign.

To start in Safe mode:

Windows

1. Restart the computer.

2. Do one of the following tasks:

-- In Windows XP, Me, 2000, or 98, press the F8 key as soon as Windows begins loading, and then choose Safe Mode from the list of startup options.

-- In Windows NT, choose Windows NT (VGA Mode) from the startup menu.

Note: If you can't start Windows 98 in Safe mode using these instructions, refer to the instructions in document 322724 , "Starting Windows 95 and Windows 98 in Safe Mode."

3. If you use Windows XP, Me, or 98, click OK to acknowledge that Windows is running in Safe mode. If Windows doesn't display the words "Safe Mode" in each corner of the desktop, repeat steps 1-2.

Mac OS

1. Restart the Macintosh, and hold down the Shift key immediately after you hear the chimes.

2. Release the Shift key when the Apple logo appears. When the Macintosh is in Safe Mode, the words "Safe Boot" (Mac OS X) or "Extensions off" (Mac OS 9) appear.

Background information

If you install InDesign CS and then install Adobe Creative Suite, the Adobe Creative Suite installer alters the registration information for InDesign, but doesn't overwrite the existing InDesign CS installation. When you start it, InDesign CS compares installed and registered serial numbers, and returns an error if they do not match.

To install InDesign in Windows or Mac OS X, you must log in with an account that has administrator rights and you must have read-and-write access to the Registration key (Windows) or the Adobe Registration Database file (Mac OS X).

If the path to the folder in which you choose to install InDesign CS contains certain special characters, either the installation may fail or InDesign won't start. Accepting the default install location or removing special characters from the hard disk name ensures that the path contains only allowable characters. InDesign CS2 allows special characters in the installation path.

In a few instances, renaming the hard disk has resolved the error. It appears that the encoding of the hard disk name is damaged or that it contains hidden characters on some systems. When you change the name to something short (5 or 6 characters in length) that has no spaces, or symbols, you may resolve the issue.

If the Adobe Registration Database file is damaged, you won't be able to install or start InDesign. If you delete the Adobe Registration Database file, and then remove and reinstall InDesign, the installer creates a new Adobe Registration Database file.

To install or run InDesign in a multiple-user Mac OS environment in which the User Profile is on the network, the Adobe Registration Database file must be in the user's Preferences folder.

Software that loads automatically can conflict with InDesign. Starting in Safe mode temporarily disables potentially conflicting software, device drivers (such as the CD-ROM driver and network drivers), and other items that automatically load during startup (for example, screen savers and virus protection utilities).

Additional Information

330031 : Error "Invalid Serial Number" or "...can not verify the serial number" occurs during startup or installation (Adobe Creative Suite application)