why can't I download Adobe reader 8?

Thanks, Rick, that's pretty comprehensive.

roy Bridge
April 2007

INFO OBTAINED DIRECTLY FROM ADOBE TECH SITE

-- "Error 1714. The older version of Adobe [product] cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group."

Solutions

Do one or more of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Browse to the original installation .msi file for the application you are trying to install or update.

1. In the error dialog box, click Browse.

2. Navigate to the original installation files for your product version and choose the .msi file.

Solution 2: Remove all previous versions of Acrobat and Adobe Reader, and then install the application.

1. Choose Start > Run, type appwiz.cpl in the Open text box, and then click OK to open the Add Or Remove Programs dialog box.

2. Select Acrobat or Adobe Reader and click Remove.

3. When prompted, confirm that you want to remove the selected application.

4. Repeat the above procedure for all installed versions of Acrobat and Adobe Reader.

5. Restart the computer, and then install the application.

Solution 3: Attempt to repair Acrobat from the installation disc or cached installer files.

Important: If you do not have the cached installer files, and you have a downloaded version of Acrobat, you must download the installer again. This information also applies to the tryout edition of Acrobat.

To repair Acrobat:

1. Insert the Acrobat disc, locate the downloaded installer package, or navigate to the cached installer files.

Note: By default, the cached installer files are located at x:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Setup Files. If the cached installer files are not available, you must use the original media.

2. Start the installation again from this location.

3. Follow the onscreen instructions, and choose to Remove Acrobat.

4. Complete the onscreen instructions.

Solution 4: Run the Microsoft Clean Up utility before you install Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

Warning: The Microsoft Windows Installer Clean Up utility only removes registry entries created by the application installer. Files and other registry entries for the application are not removed by this utility and could cause inadvertent effects on the system if not removed. If you use this utility, you may have to reinstall other programs that use MSI (Microsoft installer). Caution is advised. Read information about the utility on the Microsoft website at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301 .

1. Download and install the Windows Install Clean Up utility.

a. Visit the Microsoft website at http://support.microsoft.com and search for msicuu2.exe.

b. Select the article "You receive the ‘This patch package could not be opened’ error message in an Office program."

c. Click the link for the msicuu2.exe utility under Resolution Step 1.

d. Save the utility to your desktop.

e. Double-click msicuu2.exe and follow the onscreen instructions.

2. Identify the version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader that is causing the issue and correctly remove it from the system using the following steps.

-- If the error is generated by the current version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader:

1. Remove all updates that do not generate an error message.

2. Choose Start > Program > Windows Install Clean Up to start the Windows Install Clean Up utility.

3. Select the current version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader and choose Remove.

4. Reinstall the current version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

5. Apply any updates.

Note: If the current version generates another error message upon removal, refer to the documentation on that issue.

-- If the error is generated when an earlier version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader prevents the installation of the current version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader:

Important: These steps require the installation media and serial number for both versions of Acrobat.

1. Remove all updates that do not generate an error message.

2. Choose Start > Program > Windows Install Clean Up to start the Windows Install Clean Up utility.

3. Select the previous version of the application and choose Remove.

4. Re-install the previous version of the application.

5. Remove the previous version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader using Add/Remove Programs, and then restart your computer.

Note: If the previous version generates another error message upon removal, refer to the documentation on that issue.

6. Install the current version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

Rick
April 2007