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Installing Adobe Reader 9.4 on all the computers in your network
Prepare Adobe Reader 9.4 Files
Download Adobe Reader 9.4 full installation AdbeRdr940_en_US.exe from Adobe Reader 9.4
Download Adobe Reader 9.4.1 patch from Adobe Reader 9.4.1 update
Download the Adobe Reader Customisation Wizard CustWiz90_en_US.exe from Adobe Reader Customisation Wizard
Run AdbeRdr940_en_US.exe. When the installer stops at the first prompt asking you where the destination directory is, open the folder %homepath%\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Reader 9.4\Setup Files
Note: If you are on a Windows Vista or Window 7 machine, the path with be a bit different - %homedrive%\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Adobe\Reader 9.4\Setup Files
Copy all the files in this folder to a new folder eg C:\AdobeReader9.4
Cancel the Adobe Reader 9.4 setup program.
Apply Adobe Reader 9.4.1 Update
Copy the Adobe Reader 9.4 patch 1 into the folder c:\Adobe Reader 9.4
Open a command prompt and cd into c:\AdobeReader9.4
Run the command msiexec /a AcroRead.msi /p AdbeRdrUpd941_all_incr.msp
When the Adobe Reader 9.4.1 -Setup window appears, click Next and Click Install. The installer will now run, updating the Adobe Reader 9.4 files to 9.4.1. When it is done, click Finish.
Customise Adobe Reader 9.4
Install the Adobe Customisation Wizard 9
Run the Customisation wizard and open the AcroRead.msi from c:\AdobeReader9.4
Customise the installer to suit your preferences. For example, I set the following options:
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Installation options: Make Adobe Reader default viewer, Install silently, Suppress Reboot
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EULA: Suppress display
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Online & Acrobat.com Features: Disable all updates, Disable Purchase Acrobat, Disable Product Improvement Program, Disable all Acrobat.com access
Once customised to your liking, Click Transform -> Generate Transform. Save the .mst file in the same folder as the Adobe Reader files (eg c:\AdobeReader9.4)
Optional: At this point I would open the .msi file with Orca, apply the .mst and add the property "DISABLE_AIR_SHARE = 1" This will disable the installation of adobe air (which I prefer to deploy separately)
Deploy Adobe Reader 9.4
Copy the folder c:\AdobeReader9.4 to your msi deployment share, and add the msi (don't forget to add the mst too!) to the software deployment GPO
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Comments
question though, where in orca do you disable the air installation?
Open the msi with ORCA, apply the transform that you got from the Customisation wizard, then click on the property table (on the left column in ORCA). Then add a new property called DISABLE_AIR_SHA RE and give it the value 1
Travis
I am too trying to get rid of the AIR update service and it is a pain, we dont allow users to download and install updates however it prompts even with a registry setting. If i left it out completely can you see this having any adverse affects? also do you have a procedure similar to this for the deployment for Adobe AIR? Thanks for your help so far with this procedure!
your article has greatly helped me to deploy Acrobat Reader 9.4 correctly.
Thank you!
Best regards from Germany,
Jonas
informatikr.de
"Adobe Reader 9.4.1 requires Internet Explorer 6.0 or greater"
I have Internet Explorer 8 installed. This has happened on every PC in our office. Any ideas.
I suggest you give Adobe Reader X a go - I've written notes here: http://www.bdts.com.au/tips/48-msi-packaging/122-deploy-adobe-reader-x.html
Since migrating to Windows 7 clients, I have been using X instead, and haven't had any issues with IE6 compatibility
Travis
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