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Title

Error "The file AdobePDF.dll is needed" | CS3 on 64-bit WindowsProducts affected

Issue

When you try to install Adobe Creative Suite 3 on a 64-bit version of Windows, the installer returns the error message, "The file AdobePDF.dll on Windows Vista CD-ROM is needed." You are given the option to browse to the file.

Reason

Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional is installed with the Design Premium, Design Standard and Web Premium versions of Creative Suite 3. Although Adobe has tested Adobe Acrobat 8.0 (Standard and Professional) on Microsoft Windows 64-bit operating systems running on a 64-bit processor machine, there are known limitations. For more details, see Additional Information.

Solution

Windows Vista 64-bit

In order for Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional to be supported, the application will need to be updated after installation.

  1. When the error occurs, click Cancel to exit the dialog and continue with the installation.
  2. Install the Microsoft has Hot Fix as documented in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #930627 available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930627.
  3. Update Acrobat to version 8.1 or later. The Acrobat update is available on the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/.

Windows 7 64-bit

Manually extract the file "adobepdf.dll_64" from the data1.cab file before installing Acrobat. When the prompt appears, navigate to this file and select it.

  1. Navigate to the folder that contains the setup.exe file for your Acrobat 8 installation.
  2. Locate the file "data1.cab" and open it (this may require a third party compression utility, such as WinZip).
  3. Inside the content listings, locate the file "adobepdf.dll_64" and copy it to your desktop.
  4. Run the installer setup.exe and when the prompt appears, choose browse and select the file you copied to the desktop.
    Note: If the file cannot be selected, change the file type drown down in the dialog box to "Files of All Types", or rename the file to "adobepdf.dll" by removing "_64" from the end of the file extension.

Additional Information

Because the Adobe PDF printer is not supported on 64-bit operating systems, the 64-bit version of the AdobePDF.dll does not get extracted during installation. Thus, the installer is unable to locate it. While Acrobat is installed, the Adobe PDF printer will not be installed. Following the update procedure above will address the issue.


Doc ID
(kb401731)

Last updated
2011-02-04

Products affected

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