[slodave]

When you install and Adobe prouct (most products today), they register themselves on install - "Would you like to activate this product online". When you install an Adobe product, it profiles your computer and sends an inventory of your computer when you activate the product. When you clone the drive and then launch Adobe on the cloned drive, Adobe checks your hardware against its profile. If it detects a new hard drive, it says that system settings have changed and that you need to enter in the serial number again. It can be a pain in the rear!

To deal with Adobe products, you have to first run the program on the old setup (hard drive). For Photoshop CS3, go to Help->Deactivate... It will ask if you are sure and that if you deactivate, you will need to reactivate later (much like when you first installed the program).

Acronis is fine. I personally use Norton, but that's what I am used to.

The short question is:

Do use use any Adobe products other than Adobe Reader? If yes, than you need to deactivate the programs. If no, then don't worry about it!