Manually uninstall Acrobat Standard 7.x on Windows OS

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Overview

Adobe recommends that you use the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 uninstaller in the Add/Remove Programs utility in Windows to remove Adobe Acrobat 7.0 from the computer. Occasionally, however, damaged files or a partial installation can prevent the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 uninstaller from working correctly. And, they can cause the uninstaller to leave files or empty application folders on the system after the removal is performed. You could also notice Adobe Acrobat 7.0 missing from the Add/Remove Programs list. Or, you could find that the installer only displays the Repair and Remove options when you try to install Adobe Acrobat 7.0.

Manually removing Adobe Acrobat 7.0 ensures that all files and folders are removed.

These instructions are for removing Adobe Acrobat 7.0. If you have other/previous versions of Adobe applications installed, remove only the files below that relate to Adobe Acrobat 7.0. These steps also remove any extra content (for example, Goodies or Functional Content) installed with Adobe Acrobat 7.0. If you reinstall Adobe Acrobat 7.0, reinstall its extra content as well.

Note: It's possible that your system doesn't contain all of the files and folders listed in this document. If you do not find a listed file or folder on your system, 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 filenames, which include extensions (for example, example_filename.ini). By default, Windows Explorer doesn't show hidden files, hidden folders, or filename extensions that it recognizes.

To show hidden files, hidden folders, and all filename extensions in Windows Explorer:

  1. In Windows Explorer, choose Tools > Folder Options.
  2. Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box.
  3. In Advanced Settings, select Show Hidden Files And Folders.
  4. Deselect Hide Extensions For Known File Types.
  5. Click OK.

Remove Adobe Acrobat 7.0 using the uninstaller

The uninstaller is designed to remove everything Adobe Acrobat 7.0 installs. When you start Adobe Acrobat 7.0 for the first time, or when you modify the preferences, new folders and files can be created. To ensure the complete removal of all additional folders and files, proceed to "Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Acrobat 7.0" below after you use the uninstaller.

To use the uninstaller, do the following:

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
  2. Double click Add/Remove Programs.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • If you installed Adobe Acrobat 7.0 from the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 CD, then select Adobe Acrobat 7.0 and click Remove. Follow the onscreen instructions to remove Adobe Acrobat 7.0.
    • If you installed Adobe Acrobat 7.0 from the Creative Suite CDs, then select Creative Suite and click Remove. Follow the onscreen instructions to remove the Adobe Acrobat 7.0 component.

Note: When you run the uninstaller, you are prompted to remove, keep, or transfer activation. If you plan to reinstall Adobe Acrobat 7.0 on the same machine,  keep your activation. However, after you complete the manual removal, it could be necessary to reactivate Adobe Acrobat 7.0. If you plan to install Adobe Acrobat 7.0 on a different machine, transfer your activation.

Prepare the computer to remove Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard

Before proceeding with the following steps, print the directions. Restarting in Diagnostic or Safe mode typically disables Internet access.

  1. Delete Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher from Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
  2. Enable diagnostic or safemode for Windows.

Enable diagnostic mode for Windows XP

  1. Quit all applications.

  2. Choose Start > Run, type msconfig in the Open textbox, and click OK.

  3. Click the Startup tab and Services tab. Record all deselected items by name, as the order can change.

  4. Click the General tab, and choose Diagnostic startup.

  5. Click OK, and restart Windows.

    Note: Upon reboot, you are notified that the System Configuration Utility has changed the way that Windows starts up. Click OK, and when the System Configuration Utility appears, click Cancel.
     

  6. 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.

Reenable startup items and services for Windows XP

After completing all of the steps in this document, reenable startup items for Windows XP.

  1. Choose Start > Run.
  2. Type msconfig in the Run dialog box, and click OK.
  3. Click the General tab, and choose Normal Startup.
  4. Deselect any items that you wrote down in Step 3 of the previous section.
  5. Click Apply, and restart Windows for the changes to take effect.

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.

  1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
  2. Click Restart, and then click OK.
  3. When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press F8.
  4. Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press Enter.

  5. Use the arrow keys to highlight an operating system, and then press Enter.
    Note: See the Microsoft website for additonal information about this process.

Reenable the startup items for Windows 2000

After completing all of the steps in this document, reenable startup items for Windows 2000.

  1. Restart the computer.

Remove Adobe Acrobat 7.0 registered files using the command prompt

  1. Acrobat registers a numerous files with the operating system during the installation. It's necessary to remove these files to successfully remove the application. You can remove registered files from the operating system with the shell is not running.

  2. Press Control-Alt-Delete and choose Task Manager.

  3. On the Processes tab, select explorer.exe and choose End Process (items on your desktop disappear).

    Important: The Task Manager remains open during this process
     

  4. Click Yes in the warning box.
  5. Choose File > New Task.
  6. Under Open, type cmd and click OK.
  7. Minimize the Task Manager.
  8. Type cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX" and press Enter.
  9. Type del AcroPDF.dll and press Enter.
  10. Type del pdfshell.dll and press Enter.
  11. Type exit and press Enter.
  12. Maximize the Task Manager.
  13. In Task Manager, choose File > New Task.
  14. Type explorer.exe and click OK. (Your desktop should reappear.)
  15. Exit the Task Manager.

Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Acrobat 7.0

Rename the Distiller DLL files before attempting to remove the folders. Change the filename extension from .dll to .old for the following files.

Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Distillr\

  • adistres.dll
  • AcroDistDLL.dll

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 7.0

Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat

Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\nppdf32.dll

Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Adobe\

  • Acrobat
  • Designer
  • Adobe PDF

Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Macrovision\SafeCast\Product Licenses\

  • B2883000.dat
  • BD6FA000.dat

Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\

  • Acrobat
  • Designer
  • Adobe PDF

Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\Adobe Acrobat 7 Standard.lnk

Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\

  • Adobe Acrobat 7 Standard.lnk
  • Acrobat Distiller 7.lnk

Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\

  • ADGELP.INI
  • ad2kregp.dll
  • ad2kuigp.dll
  • adpdf7.bpd
  • adpdf7.ppd
  • Ps5ui.dll
  • Pscript.hlp
  • PSCRIPT.NTF
  • PSCRIPT5.DLL

Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\

  • ADGelP.INI
  • ADPDF7.PPD
  • ADReGP.dll
  • AD2kUIGP.DLL
  • PS5UI.DLL
  • PSCRIPT.HLP
  • pscript.ntf
  • PSCRIPT5.DLL

Windows\system32\adobePDF.dll

Program Files\Netscape\Netscape Browser\plugins\nppdf32.dll

Remove remaining registry entries for Adobe Acrobat 7.0

Remove the application registry keys from the registry, if they are available.

Note: Log in to 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. It's possible that you don't have all of these files.

Important: Make a backup copy of the registry before you edit it.

  1. Choose Start > Run, and type regedit in the Open textbox. Click OK.

  2. Navigate to one of the registry keys listed below and select it in the left panel. It appears in the registry editor as a folder.

  3. Choose Edit > Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog box.

  4. Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary for any remaining registry entries.

Remove the following registry entries

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Distiller

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Elements

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat PDFMaker

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Distiller

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Elements

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Repair\Adobe Acrobat

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\CommonFiles\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-000000000002}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\CommonFiles\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-100000000002}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe Systems\Common Install\Shared Service\B2896000

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-000000000002}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard - V

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-100000000002}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Installer\Features\68AB67CA33010000ABE7010000000020

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Installer\Products\68AB67CA33010000ABE7010000000020

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Installer\Patches\8E768F6B290FE5C4ABE7CA07B58AFE54

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\MS Project\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\PDFMOutlook.PDFMOutlook

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Publisher\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin

Complete the removal

Empty your Recycle Bin and restart your computer.

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