Why can't I install Photoshop Elements 8 on my computer?

Question

I currently have Windows 7 - I purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 at Best Buy over a week ago and still can't install the software.  I've contacted Adobe Support more than once.  My experience has been HORRIBLE.
1.     I went online and verified that my system meets all of the requirements for this program.
2.     I went through every single trouble shooting item I could find.  This has taken me approximately 2 days.
3.     I called Adobe Support and spoke with someone who couldn't understand what I was saying and kept telling me that he could not help me because i bought this through a 3rd party online service - no, I didn't... I bought this from Best Buy!  I had to repeat this more than 4x before he finally understood what I was saying.
4.     He suggested I download the trial version from the Adobe website.  (I'm thinking, why would I do this when I paid $100 for the actual software?)  But I tried it anyway.
5.     Since I've downloaded the trial version, it's been working OK - but now I'm trying to enter my serial number before my trial ends and it's pulling up as an invalid serial number!
6.     I go back to Best Buy to return this so I can just purchase the program online - they will not take it back and says I have to go through Adobe... (sigh)... here we go again.
7.     I call Adobe again, spoke with someone else who was having a difficult time understanding me.  I explained everything above - he told me I have to uninstall my trial version and install the program with the software... THIS DOES NOT WORK!  (Which is what I told him in the beginning of the call)
Does anyone have any input on how I can attempt to install this on my computer, or am I really out $100 on my very first Adobe product?  I'm beginning to lose faith in this very troublesome experience... =(  I would love to speak with someone who can understand what I am asking and what kind of help I am looking for.  I just need to be able to install the software with a valid serial number, or instructions to just return this product all together.
Please help!

Answer 1

Hi Rosera,
This is bad and I am sorry to hear that you are running into these issues.
Let me connect with you, so right now, the current state is that you have installed copy of PSE 8 in trial on your windows 7 machine, and when you are trying to enter the serial number from your PSE 8 Box, it is saying the serial number to be invalid?
It might sound pretty obvious, but please make sure that you are entering the serial number correctly and of PSE 8(in case you bought a PEPE box)?
Have you tried the steps mentioned below by Barbara?
If possible, you can send me the serial number through PRIVATE MESSAGE and I can check it on my end that whether the serial number is indeed invalid or that the issue is with your machine?
Regards,
Ankush