I did not receive a user guide in the box and I need the product number to install the PrintMaster Platinum I bought it from Staples today.

Since the retail box for PrintMaster Gold 2.0 does not include a printed manual, the Product Key will be printed on the back of the small inserted paper which includes installation instructions.

When PrintMaster 2.0 is purchased from as a 'DVD in sleeve', the Product Key will be located on top of the Installation disc

Check this link for the step by step way in installing this software but this is for 'PRINTMASTER' PLATINUM VERSION 17 but dont worry its just have the same procedure in installing the 'PRINTMASTER' PLATINUM VERSION 16, this is the link
http://support.broderbund.com/fix.asp?isid=44677&prog=1294820935&printer=1

Hope that helps.........

You can access the manual within PrintMaster 2012. Once you open PrintMaster click "HELP" on the toolbar and select "User Guide". Provided you have Adobe loaded on your computer this should bring up a pdf version of the manual. Once it has opened you can choose to save the file to another location such as your desktop so it will be easier to find when you need it.

You can try version 15 in compatibility mode:

Troubleshoot Compatibility
This can help with some (but not all) programs/drivers:
1) Uninstall the program if it's already installed. Then when you install/reinstall it instead of double clicking on the install file right click it and select "Troubleshoot Compatibility"
2) Then click "Try Recommended Settings" and in the next window click "Start the Program" to install it.
3) After it installs see if it works correctly. Please note - some programs may not be able to run in Windows 7.
More details about how to make older programs run in this version of Windows:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows

insert the disks and find the read me files..the serial number may be there

Check you numbers. The Broderbund site supports Platinum 17 and 18, but not 16

Unfortunately, the 'New' PrintMaster 2011 will not import any older PrintMaster .sig files created prior to PrintMaster 2.0. This means that over 1,100 projects I have,going back to 2004 are now useless. Did they even consider this before coming out with the new version? Is this the way that Broderbund treats long time customers of their product? Apparently so...so I will no longer be using any of their products from now on. I don't see any excuse for their actions.

Today I tried installing the same software with the registration key #. It kept saying the number was not valid as well. I typed in "O"s instead of zeros. When I typed in the zeros the software allowed you to go through with the installation process.

I just installed my PrintMaster Platinum 2011 today on my Mac. Your registration key # is printed directly on the DVD. If there are any zeros in the number and you think they're "O"s, it will say it's an invalid number. I had typed in "O"s and it said that. When I typed zeros it went through to the installation process. Hope this helps!

Make sure you can see all the files. (My computer --> Tools --> Folder Options ---> View (tab) --> <Select 'Show hidden files ...' option.
Find the folder you have indicated. C:\DOCUME~1\Jan\LOCALS~1\Temp\{A35C2323-3CEA-405C-9569-EF5DDE930B2F}

Delete that flder.
Restart the computer and reinstall the software.