removing adobe reader/acrobat

[merlin]

a friend of mine had a problem opening a PDF file , so she decided to remove and reinstall adobe reader.

she used add/remove to get rid of the original program, and thought it was gone.

so after downloading version 8.0.2 ,she tried to install,but it says there is another copy of reader and acrobat installed.

it says in add/remove that there is a reader, but it won't uninstall from there
going to windows explorer > C drive > and down, it does not show anything to do with adobe

also done a search and it does not find any adobe

so can someone please say how to uninstall these programs,  so that she can reinstall reader 8

googling has been tried, but it only comes up with "buy" programs, as this is only going to be used once its hardly worth it

[Rik]

I've never had a problem with removing Reader, Bob. Try running CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/

[Noreen]

Have a look here, there may be something to help you. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=uninstalling+adobe+acrobat+reader&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

[David]

a friend of mine had a problem opening a PDF file , so she decided to remove and reinstall adobe reader.

she used add/remove to get rid of the original program, and thought it was gone.

so after downloading version 8.0.2 ,she tried to install,but it says there is another copy of reader and acrobat installed.

it says in add/remove that there is a reader, but it won't uninstall from there
going to windows explorer > C drive > and down, it does not show anything to do with adobe

also done a search and it does not find any adobe

so can someone please say how to uninstall these programs,  so that she can reinstall reader 8

googling has been tried, but it only comes up with "buy" programs, as this is only going to be used once its hardly worth it

As you know Im not the brightest when it come to pcs but I had a problem and just used the usual method change/remove,no problems and reinstalled it within minutes with no problems.Hope this may help you locate the problem, 

[cavillas]

Sometimes when removing Adobe reader you have to remove the folders, after the uninstall, from program files and also from documents and settings within user names followed by removing entries from the registry.  CC will not always remove those registry entries.  The simplicity of windows hides a multitude of sins at times and uninstall is one of the most nefarious.

[Rik]

The sins of the parent windows are wreaked on the children, eh Alf.

[vitriol]

To the OP, have you tried foxit reader?

Here

[Sebby]

I also recommend Foxit. It's much quicker than Adobe Reader.

[vitriol]

yeah its blinding fast compared to Adobe, why, why, why do companies think that you want to see a splash screen?

[Rik]

They don't. OTOH, they hope you'll put up with one.

[Noreen]

Another vote for Foxit.

[madasahatter]

And another 

[LesD]

a friend of mine had a problem opening a PDF file , so she decided to remove and reinstall adobe reader.

she used add/remove to get rid of the original program, and thought it was gone.

so after downloading version 8.0.2 ,she tried to install,but it says there is another copy of reader and acrobat installed.

it says in add/remove that there is a reader, but it won't uninstall from there
going to windows explorer > C drive > and down, it does not show anything to do with adobe

also done a search and it does not find any adobe

so can someone please say how to uninstall these programs,  so that she can reinstall reader 8

googling has been tried, but it only comes up with "buy" programs, as this is only going to be used once its hardly worth it

Merlin your friend is not alone with this one. 

I had a very similar issue with one out of five machines at work that are essentially the same hardware and software build.   

The fix took a bit of finding but there is one of that I am certain. This was some months ago now so the detail has left me. I am pretty sure there was article about the issue either on the MS or Adobe websites.

I have just been a Googling and found this: (see post #9)

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.59b4f053

Where you should find the following information (but check the link out for yourself first)

Basically the fix if this:

1) In Start- Search Box type "Command Prompt" and enter (don't type quotes)
Right click and select "Run as Administrator"
Then type and enter:
fsutil resource setautoreset true c:\
you should get message "operation completed successfully."


As an aside, I put up with Abobe Reader but sometimes when I go to Shutdown my machine an "End program" pop-up appears and it is invariably to do with Adobe. I think it comes when I have opened a PDF in a web page. This niggle is not restricted to my own machine either because I have come across the issue at work too.

BTW Don't read too much on the Adobe Forums it could put you off completely.

[Ray]

Another Foxit user here. 

[MoHux]

Foxit for me too!!

[Rik]

BTW Don't read too much on the Adobe Forums it could put you off completely.

Though it's good for Photoshop advice.