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Last year I unknowingly bought a pirate copy of CS2 from Amazon (private seller) all was working well until I thought I would upgrade to CS5.
Loaded the new CS5 disc entered the serial number and hey presto not recognised. Spoke to a coupe of very nice chaps on the Adobe help line and they couldn't verify the serial number of my CS2 either! I am now stuck as to what to do as I can't afford a full version of CS5 and Amazon won't take back my opened CS5 software!
My question is (as money is tight after being made redundant recently) if I buy a legitimate second hand version of CS2 will I be able to use that to upgrade to CS5? or what other options do I have?
Thanks everyone, a lesson learnt, if it's too good to be true (the price of the CS2) then it probably is!
Jules 
Quote: if I buy a legitimate second hand version of CS2 will I be able to use that to upgrade to CS5
Almost certainly yes.....
Though I'm suprised the very nice guys at Adobe did not volunteer that advise.....
However you could also buy a used copy of CS3 and do the same.....
BUT you do have to be very very very carefull to buy a " Legit " Used copy of either CS2 or 3, Or you may wind up even more out of pocket.
Who ever is selling it needs to " De-comission " the copy they are selling to you, From the computer they had it installed on.......Most Important.
So as and when you do locate a used item, Double & Triple check who you are dealing with, Because there are far to many scam artists out there.
Hope you get sorted.....
Quote: I am now stuck as to what to do as I can't afford a full version of CS5 and Amazon won't take back my opened CS5 software!
I would push the issue with Amazon - you have proof from Adobe that the code you were supplied with was not legitimate and thus that the software you bought through their site is not a legal copy - or at the very least that something dodgy is occuring with one of their retailers/dealers on the site.
At the price it is sold at I can see why people would and do download cracker versions of Photoshop
Quote: I would push the issue with Amazon
Good idea to contact them, Though I suspect the stuff sold via a private entry relinquishes Amazon from any liability....
But as you say, It should alert them to the fact that they are being used by " Scumbags " to fleece people for " Pirate Goods "......!!!
The pity is that buyers tend to feel safe going via Amazon ( and they should be ) So its up to Amazon to verify these private sales, Or ban private software sales, If they can not...!!!
Just to add that it is essential that the decommissioning of the software on the seller's computer is recorded with Adobe. It's the same problem if you change your own computer and want to install your own legit software on it. You need to decommission it on the old computer first. I wish more software producers would follow the recent example set by Symantec with Norton security packages and make the basic package valid for three users at the same address (very handy of you want to use software on both a desktop and laptop).
I did hear, unofficially, that Adobe don't block registration of software on two machines but that may not be correct or universal. The problem with mass-duplicated pirate software, of course, is that it is copied hundreds of times. What is a trifle strange is that you only got hit with this when you attempted to upgrade the software rather than when you first tried to register it with Adobe.
A legit way of getting very expensive Adobe software at a much cheaper rate is to enrol for an appropriate evening class and get the "student rate".
Quote: I did hear, unofficially, that Adobe don't block registration of software on two machines but that may not be correct or universal
The official Adobe policy with Photoshop & Lightroom (and maybe other programs of theirs but I don't use them so I don't know) is that you can have the software activated on two computers that you own but you cannot use both copies at the same time.
Thanks everyone for your advice, taken onboard I found a website selling CS2 for £135 as below has anyone had any dealings with them? I am a bit nervous now about spending on the web!
http://www.softwarebuddy.co.uk/
Many many thanks
Jules
Quote: I would push the issue with Amazon - you have proof from Adobe that the code you were supplied with was not legitimate and thus that the software you bought through their site is not a legal copy - or at the very least that something dodgy is occuring with one of their retailers/dealers on the site.
I would definitely do that, and see what amazon could offer you.
Quote: Thanks everyone for your advice, taken onboard I found a website selling CS2 for £135 as below has anyone had any dealings with them? I am a bit nervous now about spending on the web!
http://www.softwarebuddy.co.uk/
Many many thanks
Jules
I would tread carefuly as they have no contact or "company" details on their website...
Whois shows private address at a semi in Luton for the domain name
Only similar name at Companies House is for a Leeds based company with a hyphen in the middle.
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