Optimus Template

If you feel this tip has saved you time or effort, please consider buying us a cuppa coffee to keep things going!

Installing Adobe Reader X (10) on all the computers in your network

Prepare Adobe Reader X Files

Note: you need need to have a distribution agreement to download the Adobe Reader X Enterprise version. You can obtain one from here: http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/distribution.html

Download Adobe Reader X Enterprise full installation AdbeRdr1013_en_US.exe from the link you receive when you apply for the distribution agreement.

Download the Adobe Reader Customisation Wizard CustWiz1000_en_US.exe from http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4950

Run AdbeRdr1013_en_US.exe. When the installer stops at the first prompt asking you where the destination directory is, open the folder C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Setup\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001}\RDC

Copy all the files in this folder to a new folder eg C:\AdobeReaderX

Note: You may find that you do not have permission to read or copy the files from the ProgramData folder - to overcome this, right click on the RDC folder and edit the security permissions. I set "everyone" having "full control". Once you have applied these settings, you should be able to copy the files.

Cancel the Adobe Reader X setup program.

Create an admin installation of Adobe Reader X by opening a command prompt, navigate to c:\AdobeReaderX and run

msiexec /a AcroRead.msi

When prompted, create the installation in a new folder.

Update Adobe Reader X Files

The files copied in the previous section include the adobe reader 10.0.1 installation and the 10.1.3 patch.

To apply the Adobe Reader X patch 10.1.3 to the setup file, open a command prompt, navigate to the folder where you created your admin installation above  and run the following command:

msiexec /a AcroRead.msi /p AdbeRdrUpd1013.msp

An installer window will appear - step through this program By clickin Next, then Install. Accept the User Account Control Popups (if they appear). Click Finish.

You now have an administrative installation of Adobe Reader X that has been patched to 10.1.3.

Customise Adobe Reader X

Install the Adobe Customisation Wizard X (CustWiz1000_en_US.exe)

Run the Customisation wizard and open the AcroRead.msi from c:\AdobeReaderX

Customise the installer to suit your preferences. For example, I set the following options:

• Installation options: Make Adobe Reader default viewer, Install silently, Suppress Reboot
• EULA: Suppress display
• 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:\AdobeReaderX)

Optional: At this point I would open the AcroRead.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 X

Copy the folder admin installation folder to your msi deployment share, and add the msi (don't forget to add the mst too!) to the software deployment GPO

Troubleshooting

Access denied opening PDF files

Adobe Reader 10 has a new "protected mode" that will prevent some pdf files from being opened, particularly from distributed file systems. The customization wizard does not let you disable this feature by default - I found that a simple reg edit can disable the feature at login. Create a .reg file like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\10.0\Privileged]
"bProtectedMode"=dword:00000000

and add it to the login script; ie:

regedit.exe /s \\server\netlogon\AdobeReader10.reg