Using a serial number you didn't purchase is a violation of Adobe’s End User License Agreement (EULA), which can be a major liability for businesses and freelancers. How to Properly Activate Adobe CS5
If you have the physical DVD box, the 24-digit serial number is usually located on a sticker on the back of the disc sleeve or the box itself.
Many veteran designers find the classic layout more intuitive. The Problem with Public Serial Numbers
Most sites promising "free" serial numbers are fronts for malware, trojans, or phishing scams that can compromise your personal data.
Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher are excellent one-time purchase alternatives that feel very similar to the CS5 workflow.
If you still have an old machine where CS5 is installed and working, you can use "Product Key Finder" software to reveal the encrypted serial number from the registry or system files. Moving Forward: Modern Alternatives
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