Manually remove Adobe Reader (8.x on Windows)
What's covered
- Overview
- Before you begin
- Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 using the uninstaller
- Preparing the computer to remove Adobe Reader 8.0
- Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 registered files using the command prompt
- Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Reader 8.0
- Remove remaining registry entries for Adobe Reader 8.0
- Complete the removal
- Adobe Captivate demos of selected procedures
Overview
Adobe recommends that you use the Adobe Reader 8.0 uninstaller in the Add/Remove Programs utility in Windows to remove Adobe Reader 8.0 from the computer. Occasionally, however, damaged files or a partial installation may prevent the Adobe Reader 8.0 uninstaller from working correctly or may cause the uninstaller to leave files or empty application folders on the system after the removal is performed. You may also notice Adobe Reader 8.0 missing from the Add/Remove Programs list or find that the installer only displays the Repair and Remove options when you try to install Adobe Reader 8.0.
Manually removing Adobe Reader 8.0 ensures that all files and folders are removed. Please note that these instructions are for removing Adobe Reader 8.0. If you have other/previous versions of Adobe applications installed, then be sure to remove only the files below that relate to Adobe Reader 8.0. These steps also remove any extra content (for example, Goodies or Functional Content) that you may have installed with Adobe Reader 8.0. If you reinstall Adobe Reader 8.0, you will need to reinstall its extra content as well.
Note: Your system may not contain all of the files and folders listed in this document. If you do not find a listed file or folder on your system you should proceed to the next file or folder on the list.
Before you begin
Some of these procedures require you to locate hidden files and hidden folders. Some procedures require you to locate files by their full file names, which include extensions (for example, example_filename.ini). By default, Windows Explorer doesn't show hidden files, hidden folders, or file name extensions that it recognizes.
To show hidden files, hidden folders, and all file name extensions in Windows Explorer:
- In Windows Explorer, choose Tools > Folder Options.
- Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box.
- In Advanced Settings, select Show Hidden Files And Folders.
- Deselect Hide Extensions For Known File Types.
- Click OK.
View an Adobe Captivate demo of this procedure.
Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 using the uninstaller
The uninstaller is designed to remove everything installed by Adobe Reader 8.0. When you start Adobe Reader 8.0 for the first time, or when you modify the preferences, new folders and files may be created. To ensure the complete removal of all additional folders and files, proceed to "Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Reader 8.0" below after you use the uninstaller. Before attempting to manually remove Acrobat use kb400654, "Troubleshooting general uninstallation issues for Acrobat and Adobe Reader (8.0 on Windows)" to determine there is not general system issue preventing the uninstaller from completing successfully.
To use the uninstaller:
- Choose Start > Control Panel.
- Double click Add/Remove Programs.
- Do one of the following:
- If you installed Adobe Reader 8.0 from the Adobe Reader 8.0 CD/DVD, then select Adobe Reader 8.0 and click Remove. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove Adobe Reader 8.0.
- If you installed Adobe Reader 8.0 from the Creative Suite CD/DVDs, then select Creative Suite and click Remove. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the Adobe Reader 8.0 component.
Note: When you run the uninstaller, you will be prompted to remove, keep, or transfer activation. If you plan to reinstall Adobe Reader 8.0 on the same machine, you may want to keep your activation. However, after you complete the manual removal, you will most likely need to re-activate Adobe Reader 8.0. If you plan to install Adobe Reader 8.0 on a different machine, you should transfer your activation.
View an Adobe Captivate demo of this procedure.
Preparing the computer to remove Adobe Reader 8.0
Before proceeding with the following steps we highly recommend printing the directions. Restarting in Diagnostic or Safe mode typically disables internet access.
- Delete Adobe Reader Speed Launcher.lnk from Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
- Enable diagnostic or safe mode for Windows.
To enable diagnostic mode for Windows XP:
- Quit all applications.
- Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open text box, and click OK.
- Click the Startup tab and Services tab. Record all unselected items.
- Click the General tab, and choose Diagnostic startup.
- Click OK, and restart Windows.
Note: Upon reboot, you'll be notified that the System Configuration Utility has made changes to the way that Windows starts up. Click OK, and when the System Configuration Utility appears click Cancel.
- Right-click icons in the Notification Area (called the System Tray in earlier versions of Windows) to close or disable any startup items that are still active.
View an Adobe Captivate demo of this procedure.
To reenable startup items and services for Windows XP:
After completing all of the steps in this document reenabled startup items for Windows XP.
- Choose Start> Run.
- Type msconfig in the Run dialog box, and click OK.
- Click the General tab, and choose Normal Startup.
- Deselect any items that you wrote down in Step 3 of the previous section.
- Click Apply, and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.
To enable safe mode for Windows 2000:
Note: Windows 2000 does not have the MSConfig utility for disabling start items. You can manually disable the items or obtain the MSConfig utility for Windows XP.
- Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
- Click Restart, and then click OK.
- When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press F8.
- Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press Enter.
- Use the arrow keys to highlight an operating system, and then press Enter.
Note: Please refer to the Microsoft website for additional information about this process.
To re-enable the startup items for Windows 2000
After completing all of the steps in this document reenable startup items for Windows 2000.
- Restart the computer.
Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 registered files using the command prompt
- Acrobat registers a numerous files with the operating system during the installation. These files must be removed in order to successfully remove the application. Registered files can be removed from the operating system with the shell is not running.
- Press Control-Alt-Delete and choose Task Manager.
- On the Processes tab, select explorer.exe and choose End Process (this will make items on your desktop disappear).
Important: The Task Manager should remain open during this process
- Click Yes in the warning box.
- Choose File > New Task.
- Under Open, type cmd and click OK.
- Minimize the Task Manager.
- Type cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX" and press Enter.
- Type del AcroIEHelper.dll and press Enter.
- Type del AcroPDF.dll and press Enter.
- Type del pdfshell.dll and press Enter.
- Type exit and press Enter.
- Maximize the Task Manager.
- In Task Manager, choose File > New Task.
- Type explorer.exe and click OK. (Your desktop should reappear.)
- Exit the Task Manager.
View an Adobe Captivate demo of this procedure.
Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Reader 8.0
Back up any personal files you want to save from the following directories, and then remove the listed folders and files:
Program Files\Adobe\
- Acrobat 8.0
Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\
- Acrobat
Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Adobe\
- Acrobat
Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\
- Acrobat
Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
- Adobe Reader 8.lnk
Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\
- Adobe Reader 8.lnk
Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\
- nppdf32.dll
Program Files\Netscape\Netscape Browser\plugins\
- nppdf32.dll
Remove remaining registry entries for Adobe Reader 8.0
Remove the application registry keys from the registry, if they are available.
Note: You must be logged into the computer as an Administrator to modify your registry.
Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe doesn't support editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. For information on the Windows Registry Editor, see the documentation for Windows or contact Microsoft Technical Support. You may not have all of these files.
Important: Make a backup copy of the registry before you edit it.
- Choose Start > Run, and type regedit in the Open text box; click OK.
- Navigate to one of the registry keys listed below and select it in the left panel; it will appear in the registry editor as a folder.
- Choose Edit > Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog box.
- Repeat steps 1-3 as needed for any remaining registry entries.
Remove the following registry entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Repair\Adobe Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\
S-1-5-18\Products\68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A80000000002}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\
68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\
68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{358E6F10-DE8A-4602-8424-179CA217F8EE}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
{9C6A861C-B233-4994-AFB1-C158EE4FC578}
Complete the removal
Empty your Recycle Bin and restart your computer.
Adobe Captivate demos of selected procedures
The Adobe Captivate demonstrations below illustrate selected procedures described in this document. For more information about viewing this demo, see Viewing Captivate Demos in Knowledgebase Documents (TechNote 403894).
Show hidden files and hidden folders
Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 using the uninstaller
Enable diagnostic mode for Windows XP
Remove Adobe Reader 8.0 registered files using the command prompt
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