Unable to activte, yet own

[Gumbo289]

Hi - I bought PhotoImpact X3 from Ulead back in 2007 and of course it is now Corel. Under my data in Corel it clearly shows me as a registered user of the program and displays a 5x5x8 serial number - which the Corel activation process will not recognize. I am trying to reinstall on a new computer but it keeps rejecting me and giving me a 30 day countdown (now in day 14) to TRY. I have uninstalled and reinstalled. Attempts at trying to describe my problem to some sort of Corel Support channel seems impossible. What should I do?

[lata]

Hi

and welcome to the forums

I also have PI X3 but not had problems installing or activating using the serial number, I have re-installed a few times.
Are you installing the trial then activating or installing the purchase version?
My file is called upix3_esd_e-ESDPIX3ENPCPF.exe

I cannot remember if the serial number requires the two hyphens, or just the numbers.
They may of course go into individual boxes, if not try with and without the hyphens.

[trueblue]

Hi,

Your PIX3 isn't an update from a previous version is it? If so, it could be wanting the serial of the previous version first.
I know this happened in my case.

[Gumbo289]

Hi

and welcome to the forums

I also have PI X3 but not had problems installing or activating using the serial number, I have re-installed a few times.
Are you installing the trial then activating or installing the purchase version?
My file is called upix3_esd_e-ESDPIX3ENPCPF.exe

I cannot remember if the serial number requires the two hyphens, or just the numbers.
They may of course go into individual boxes, if not try with and without the hyphens.

Thanks for the ideas! My file is called upix3_tbyb_e_ie_ESDPIX3IETBB.exe (5/23/08) - and somehow Corel intercepts it and makes it a trial version! I went through the registry and deleted every reference to Corel. No joy - It is almost as if Corel rewrote the 5/23/08 file yet kept the date the same. Is that possible? The countdown continues.

[Gumbo289]

Hi,

Your PIX3 isn't an update from a previous version is it? If so, it could be wanting the serial of the previous version first.
I know this happened in my case.

It may be an update - I have had the program for a few years. I tried with and without hyphens and also an earlier serial I had - no luck. What's odd - when I go to my Corel listing of owned programs on their site it clearly shows my ownership along with a 5/5/8 serial number which it will not recognize during an activation attempt. It is soooo frustrating not to be able to find any way into the so called Support elements - without paying them even more money! I'm not sure what to do next - but I do appreciate all the help I am getting - THANKS!

[Ken Berry]

In the Corel listing of owned programs, does it show an earlier version of PI and more important the S/N for that?

[Ken Berry]

Thank you for sending that copy of your Corel Products page (via email). I note that indeed you already owned "Ulead PhotoImpact V11 Eng RET NA" with its own serial number. Moreover, that your X3 (new Corel version number after they took over Ulead, and it means version 13) was an upgrade on PI 11.

As already noted above, the usual procedure with upgrades at that time was that you had to have the older version installed, and when you installed the later upgrade version, it would first search for the older version in order to see that the upgrade was valid. Slightly later, Corel varied this to simply require, on installation of the later version (and with the earlier version no longer there or previously uninstalled) that the earlier serial first be entered, and then the later one. But this was part of the installation procedure, with clear questions and dialogue boxes for the two serial numbers.

If you did not get this question when you reinstalled X3, then I suspect that my guess about it using the older system of verification was indeed the case. In other words, you would need to have PI 11 already installed on your computer when you go to install X3. If X3 cannot find the earlier version, then it would, as it has, install X3 only as a trial copy.

[lata]

Hi

Clearly the file you show is the trial version. upix3_tbyb_e_ie_ESDPIX3IETBB.exe

Did you ever download the purchased version of PI X3 in addition to the trial.

I do not think it is an upgrade as the installer or activation would ask for those two serial numbers.
I may be wrong of course, I don’t suppose it matters either way, the program should ask for the earlier serial number and clearly is not doing that.

However can you find PI 11 and install that, then install X3 see what happens.
Installing the trial over PI 11is not the correct approach for an upgrade.

But search the pc for upix3_esd_e-ESDPIX3ENPCPF.exe or similar files?

[Gumbo289]

I did find upix3_tbyb_e-KEYPIX3ENPC.exe but seems to act the same. I found my original Photoimpact 11 box along with a bonus disk and a manual - but Murphey has removed the PI 11 installation disk! I am still looking. Does anyone have an idea how to contact Corel and ask them to "release" what is mine? I can get the sellers on the phone but they all "don't know" what to do to help. I hate to loose my investment and access to such a fine program but it is beginning to look hopeless short of legal action which at age 77 I have no interest in pursuing. Thanks to all of you who have shared your ideas!!!!

[lata]

Hi

I think you need to find the file upix3_esd_e-ESDPIX3ENPCPF.exe not the one relating to “tbyb” (try before you buy)

You mention PI 11 and a disc version, I assume PI X3 file was a download and not a disc version.
I will try to upload my version, however it may not work with your serial number, and certainly not if it was the disc or updated version.

However Corel have a Facebook account you could try asking there, they may provide a new download including serial numbers, if you are feeling lucky?