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Cantor
Participant
April 23, 2026
Question

Trying to install Adobe Reader 2024 Classic Track

  • April 23, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 82 views

Hi!

I'm trying to work out how to replace Adobe Reader Classic Track 2020 with a similar reader-only experience via Adobe Classic 2024 on Windows 11.  I need a silent installer.

Downloaded Acrobat 2024 Classic MUI Base exe and extracted it to a folder. Testing the MSI, it will install successfully only with default settings. If I do a Custom install and de-select "Create Adobe PDF" and "Acrobat Distiller" to try and Readerify it, it almost finishes the install and then fails with "Error 2753. The File 'acroservicesupdater.exe' is not marked for installation." before rolling back the installation.

I can do a full install and then modify that install and remove those components with no error but that seems ... less than ideal!!

Any ideas? I've already tried using AdobeAcroCleaner_DC2021.exe with no improvement.

Here's the relevant bit of the MSI log. Thanks!

Action ended 15:38:52: InstallExecute. Return value 1.
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:52:674]: Doing action: RemoveExistingProducts
Action 15:38:52: RemoveExistingProducts. Removing applications
Action start 15:38:52: RemoveExistingProducts.
Action ended 15:38:52: RemoveExistingProducts. Return value 1.
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:52:676]: Skipping action: InstallWebResourcesMini (condition is false)
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:52:676]: Doing action: InstallWebResources
Action 15:38:52: InstallWebResources.
Action start 15:38:52: InstallWebResources.
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:52:677]: MSI_LUA : Custom Action 'InstallWebResources' is running with sufficient privileges.
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:52:677]: Note: 1: 2753 2: acroservicesupdater.exe
Error 2753.The File 'acroservicesupdater.exe' is not marked for installation.
MSI (s) (38:D4) [15:38:56:914]: Product: Adobe Acrobat (64-bit) -- Error 2753.The File 'acroservicesupdater.exe' is not marked for installation.
Action ended 15:38:56: InstallWebResources. Return value 3.

    1 reply

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 5, 2026

    Hello @Cantor,


    I hope you are doing well, and thank you for reaching out. We're sorry for the delayed response and for the trouble.

    What you’re attempting (i.e., “reader-ifying” Acrobat 2024 Classic via MSI feature deselection) isn’t supported and is the root cause of the Error 2753 (acroservicesupdater.exe not marked for installation) you’re seeing.

    Instead:

    1. Deploy the package using the package’s Setup.exe (silent) + Customization Wizard (MST), and

    2. Enforce “read‑only mode” via the Adobe‑documented policy registry keys (so users aren’t prompted to sign in, and they effectively run as Reader).


    Please check these Adobe help articles and a community discussion for more details:

    https://adobe.ly/4utvEaO

    https://adobe.ly/4cVN4FK

    https://adobe.ly/4d6WFKf


    Please note that the Acrobat Customisation Wizard is the supported tool for tuning Acrobat/Reader installers (silent install options, EULA suppression, transforms, etc.). Adobe also notes that third‑party MSI modifications are not tested/supported.


    I hope this helps.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

    C
    CantorAuthor
    Participant
    May 5, 2026

    Thanks, Anand.

    I was actually using Setup.exe and an MST made with the Customisation Wizard at first, and it would roll back with that same error in the logfile.  I then discovered that even just using the MSI’s install wizard manually (to simplify things) caused the same error.

    I notice that in one of your links, someone comments that the online documentation about installing for Reader-only style use is unclear.  Perhaps something can be done about that?  And maybe the MSI file needs changing so those features cannot be unselected if they are required?  (Though it seems odd you can modify the install after to remove them?!)

    Thanks!

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 5, 2026

    ​@Cantor Thanks for the detailed information. 

    What’s happening: 
    Even when using Setup.exe together with an MST created via the Acrobat Customization Wizard, deselecting features such as Create Adobe PDF or Acrobat Distiller can cause the installer to roll back.

    This occurs because some MSI custom actions still expect certain core components to be present, regardless of feature selection. When those components are excluded at install time, dependent actions (for example, InstallWebResources) fail, and the installation rolls back.
    The same behaviour occurring when launching the MSI UI directly confirms that this isn’t related to Setup.exe vs. MSI usage, it’s due to unsupported feature deselection, not the deployment method itself.

     

    Current supported method: 

    • Acrobat Classic / unified builds do not support creating a “Reader‑only” install by removing features during installation.
    • The supported approach is to:
      1. Install the full package (using Setup.exe, without unselecting core features), and then
      2. Enforce Reader‑only behaviour post‑install, using Adobe‑documented policy settings (Reader / Reduced Mode).

    If the issue still persists, I will request to get in touch with the Enterprise support team for the custom requirement you have.

     

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

     

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