Lost Serial Number for Final Cut Studio/Pro

Think very carefully about what it means that you keep seeing this topic around here.

It generally means that people don't pay attention to what they're doing and often aren't very organized. When FCP is first installed on a system, the user has to enter the serial number. So, IF the user did that, they would surely know where the serial numbers are located (it's pretty hard to miss).

While this doesn't help your situation now, consider taking a more proactive role in the future. Keep all serial numbers in a database, spreadsheet or text file along with the corresponding software title and version. Keep a backup copy of that document in an off-site location (iDisk or other remote server, on a disc in a safe deposit box, etc). In case of the need to reinstall due to fire, theft, or for any other reason, all your software serial numbers will be available to you.

Those two little stickers appear in the wrong place.

They appear where they've always have since the original version of FCP (and many other Apple software titles).

-DH

Those two little stickers appear in the wrong place? What would be the right place for you?

Clarity of mind is not to be found in a new father of twins, you say. Try that one on with Apple. I bet they've never had that one before.

I find it very difficult to sympathise with those who lose something so fundamental as their serial number.

It's like a wild herd of techies in clerical garb, sermonizing as a pack. Where's a variable-speed camera when I need one? I could pitch Nature Planet on a "Gearhead Week" episode.

"Can the serial number be found somewhere else?" is a yes/no question.

The answer, for any others who stumble onto this thread looking for an actual answer is, stated simply, no.

Keith ... what are you smoking?

-DH

Nothing. My brain smells like that when I'm thinking.

Note On, I love you.

BTW a logic board replacement seems to have rendered my old Final Cut System ID obsolete. It would be nice if Apple warned about all the things that can go wrong with a logic board replacement: Time Machine doesn't recognize the old backup - I still haven't resolved that one - and now this.

this is a simple matter of storing your serial number to a $1299.00 professional application suite in a safe place.

I hate to sound pedantic but it's really that simple.

How and why has this thread achieved the dubious distinction of logging more than 1500 views?

bogiesan

if you have it running on another computer I think the serial number appears when you start Final Cut up: a window appears with Licensed to, then your name and organisation then the serial number... then version:

I got a new Mac. I used Migration Assistant. My pro apps all now ask for a serial number. This isn't really to be expected. No other applications fail from using Migration Assistant. Photoshop doesn't.

It would seem that any change in hardware means you have to type in your serial numbers for the Pro apps. It's taken me a few hours to find that out, but I think that's the case. This affects all the Pro apps. I've had the same problem with Shake 4 and Logic Studio too. But a least you know. It's not a technical glitch. There is no technical troubleshooting to be done. It's a licensing issue: this is what is supposed to happen!

Tech problems you can fix. Licensing problems, you have to endure.

You simply need to have all your paperwork and packaging in order. You get a new Mac - it's like doing your taxes. If you have upgrades that require previous discs, keep them together - separated they are worthless. If an upgrade disc doesn't ask for the licence number from the previous version, throw the previous versions away. They are just going to get mixed up and confuse things. And remember, you are only going to need this info once every 3 or 4 years, so you can't rely on memory. This is the logic I followed to ensure the last licensing debacle didn't happen again.

It's been a couple hours now. I got Logic Studio and Shake 4 fixed. I can't find the right upgrade disc for Final Cut Studio 2. I loathe myself. I loathed myself for buying a new Mac in the midst of economic meltdown, and now I loath myself for not being able to pull all my paperwork out of my ***. I'm sure I organized this really well 2 years ago, so where's the fsking 2nd serial number!!!

I used Migration Assistant.

Never, ever use Migration Assistant on pro applications.

Final Cut Studio places lots of files at system level, many in invisible folders. Those components do not copy across correctly. Clean install from the original disks.

Of course Photoshop does - I replaced the motherboard in my system and Photoshop said - RE-REGISTER RE-REGISTER. And since I'd already Registered, I needed to wait on the phone for a support person in a distant land and invoke an arcane and lengthly exchange of multi-digit numerical codes to obtain a new registration code.

WAY WAY WAY more cumbersome than anything FCP makes you do.

Patrick

Photoshop also must be deauthorized.

Migration assistant or time machine should never be used to install the professional applications.

Just the read these boards.

I didn't realize. That's a drag. Thanks very much for the info.

Do you know of any info on how to do a clean install, but leaving the media intact?
Is installing over an existing installation OK?

The time spent loading media DVDs was the reason I tried Migration Assistant this time. Actually, I normally do a clean re-install of the OS minus languages and printers, and clean re-installs and upgrades of all my apps. But storage is cheap, time is precious, and fine tuning Macs is less fun than it was 10 years ago 🙂

Thanks again for the info.