Acrobat Reader DC

[garethEds]

Hi All,

 

Does anyone have a primer for slipstreaming Adobe Reader DC updates into the base update? I've been trying all day and simply cannot find the notes I made in 2015. So I've basically forgotten.

 

I have the AcroRead.msi and an msu file for the latest enterprise download, but I cannot for the life of me slipstream it in to create a new admin installation point.

 

I am following instructions here: http://dailysysadmin.com/KB/Article/85/creating-a-managed-installation-of-adobe-reader-with-slipstreamed-updates/

 

Thanks

 

Gareth

[Arthur]

There's an easier way to do the updates. I will post some instructions a bit later (currently replying on my phone).

[garethEds]

@Arthur - legend. Thank you.

[sparkeh]

Given that updates are now cumulative you just need install the latest msi and the latest planned update (and if you fancy, the latest out of cycle update which are is cumulative to the last planned update) http://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotes/index.html

[garethEds]

Given that updates are now cumulative you just need install the latest msi and the latest planned update (and if you fancy, the latest out of cycle update which are is cumulative to the last planned update) Overview — Acrobat and Adobe Reader Release Notes

 

Yes I've tried that. I downloaded the licensed version as emailed by Adobe. I've decompressed it as outlined by Adobe and then created an admin install point - all as instructed. Then I try and put the .msp file in and it fails.

 

So somewhere I am doing something wrong.

 

Gareth

[Arthur]

@garethedmondson. Apologies for the delay getting back to you.

 

After writing the instructions for the main two deployment methods below, the second method is definitely the quickest and would be the one I recommend. The main caveat to be aware of with this is that you need to specify the full paths to the files (relative paths do not work).

 

The admin install point method you are using didn't work for me either, but the ones below do.

 

 

Method 1 (Setup.exe a.k.a. Bootstrapper Deployment)

 

1. Download the latest base release (Screenshot). e.g.
    
   

   ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/AcrobatDC/1500720033/AcroRdrDC1500720033_en_US.exe

   
    
   

2. Download the latest patch (Screenshot). e.g.
    
   

   ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/AcrobatDC/1701220098/AcroRdrDCUpd1701220098.msp

   
    
   

3. Extract files from EXE installer using the the -nos_ne switch or 7-Zip. The latter is easiest.
    
   

   AcroRdrDC1500720033_en_US.exe -nos_ne

   
    
   Note. -nos_ne will extract the files to: "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Adobe\Setup"
    
    
   

4. Download and install the Customization Wizard.
    
   

   ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/acrobat/win/AcrobatDC/misc/CustWiz1502020039_en_US_DC.exe

   
    
   

5. Open the Customization Wizard, open the AcroRead.msi (File > Open Package), make your customizations, press the Save Package button to generate the MST, then close the Wizard.
    
   Example Customizations
   
   • Suppress EULA
     
   • Make Reader the default PDF viewer
     
   • Run installation silently and suppress reboot
     
   • Remove desktop shortcut
     
   • Enable Protected View for files from potentially unsafe locations
     
   • Disable product updates, upsell and third-party services/connectors
     

 

[*]Open the Setup.ini file (in the same folder as the MSI) with a text editor. Notepad will be fine.

 

 

[*]Between the 'msi' and 'CmdLine' lines in the [Product] section of the INI, insert the line shown in red below, then save the INI. The filename of the patch should be that of the MSP you downloaded previously.

 

[Product]
msi=AcroRead.msi
[color="#FF0000"]PATCH=AcroRdrDCUpd1701220098.msp[/color]
CmdLine=TRANSFORMS="AcroRead.mst"

 

[*]Deploy using your usual deployment tool (MDT, SCCM, PDQ Deploy etc.) The command-line for installation can be just: Setup.exe

 

 

Method 2 (Patch MSI on-the-fly with MSP)

 

1. Follow steps 1-5 above.
    
    
   
2. Install the MSI, MSP and MST all in one go either using a script like the one below or directly via the command line (recommended for MDT).
    
   

   msiexec /i "\\Server\Share\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\AcroRead.msi" PATCH="\\Server\Share\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\AcroRdrDCUpd1701220098.msp" TRANSFORMS="\\Server\Share\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\AcroRead.mst" /qn

   
    
   or
    
   

   @echo off
   setlocal enabledelayedexpansion
   set SCRIPTDIR=%~dp0
   set SCRIPTDIR=%SCRIPTDIR:~0,-1%
   
   msiexec /i "%SCRIPTDIR%\AcroRead.msi" PATCH="%SCRIPTDIR%\AcroRdrDCUpd1701220098.msp" TRANSFORMS="%SCRIPTDIR%\AcroRead.mst" /qb!

   
   

 

Tagging @Geoff & @speckytecky just in case.

[jmak]

On my list to try and add in to my MDT deployment this week. Great timing [emoji3]

 

Had a go last week and decided it was beyond me...

[garethEds]

HI @Arthur

 

Brilliant - thanks for that. I've just tried the second method and it installs on my computer, but maybe I'm being thick - it doesn't create an admin install point that I can sent out.

 

I'm going to look at the first method.

 

Gareth

[Arthur]

@garethedmondson. What are you using to deploy Acrobat Reader? GPO, MDT?

[garethEds]

@garethedmondson. What are you using to deploy Acrobat Reader? GPO, MDT?

 

We use GPO deployment of an admin point msi. This is what the previous version was.

 

The second method you used above was almost similar (brief memory) of what I was doing.

 

Gareth

[Geoff]

@Arthur Looks good. Only thing I'd add is I have it as a Powershell App Deployment script which I deploy via SCCM. Plus I uninstall and reinstall the base every patch (easier to code).