Inspiring

Answered

Update Reader 11.0.23 to "what"? And how?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
April 24, 2018
7 replies
18290 views

Windows 7 32-bit on legacy laptop.

Basically happy with Reader 11.0.23 and have no need to upgrade to anything. But, as this version is no longer supported, if I upgrade, which Reader version is the least demanding (smallest footprint and memory use) and most similar to 11.0.23? Best update version for someone not looking for more features?! And should I install "over" or 1st remove the old version before installing the new one?

Thanks!

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Correct answer CBA2

Upshot: After trying Reader 2017 and Reader DC (both current) I decided to revert to Reader 11.0.23 .. even though Reader XI is no longer supported by Adobe.

Why? Because 11.0.23 (imho) has a superior UI, is doing what I want it to do and it can easily be configured w/o the Tools and Sign buttons in the tool bar! And the "upsell" cloud service pressure introduced in Reader DC (continuous track) and to a lesser extent in Reader 2017 (classic track) is just too much for my taste.

So, why spend time/efforts to remove "features" I neither want nor need? If Reader DC was easily configurable (w/o a Wizard) to allow for update control and the removal of any/all tools (sign ins) I don't want or need, I may give it another try. We'll see...

Thanks to all for your feedback/answers.

C

CBA2AuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Upshot: After trying Reader 2017 and Reader DC (both current) I decided to revert to Reader 11.0.23 .. even though Reader XI is no longer supported by Adobe.

Why? Because 11.0.23 (imho) has a superior UI, is doing what I want it to do and it can easily be configured w/o the Tools and Sign buttons in the tool bar! And the "upsell" cloud service pressure introduced in Reader DC (continuous track) and to a lesser extent in Reader 2017 (classic track) is just too much for my taste.

So, why spend time/efforts to remove "features" I neither want nor need? If Reader DC was easily configurable (w/o a Wizard) to allow for update control and the removal of any/all tools (sign ins) I don't want or need, I may give it another try. We'll see...

Thanks to all for your feedback/answers.

DaaBoss

Participant

Unfortunately, many companies produce and support products like Adobe Reader, as if their target users had it open ever single day. Sorry, most of us only use Reader less than every week or month. So few of us want the burden of forced learning, for things that have zero or negative value. Constant updating means we are constantly frustrated trying to learn why features we depended on, were removed or changed, with zero notice, (notice that we had time or interest to reading).

For this reason, we must learn how to use Adobe products without being subjugated to experience what Adobe's target, daily users and therefore, prospective customers. So, we must support ourselves as best we can. Because of this, here's a little survival guide to any critical, but seldom used products from Adobe or others:

Understand, that if you auto-update, most every time you encounter the UI, features and appearances will change, sometimes substantially. Any personal "customizations" will likely be lost, or changed completely, from what you originally intended. Updates mean constantly learning how changes will affect you, or how you can work around them. Got a new PC? Good luck installing your old software that appears the same, since often it will be impossible to even download old versions. So, unless you prepare ahead of time, prepare to spend time with "better new versions".

Make few "optional changes", or these will cause more wasted time later. When installing on a new PC, you must manually many identical changes, assuming they still exist or haven't been moved. Remember, anything you add, like digital signatures that were available in v-11 of Reader might disappear completely, (or become paid-only features, as I believe occurred in DC versions).

Download and keep the latest installable EXE or MSI versions of your application. Separately, keep the latest (or last) update to that EXE installable version, (that works without any interim updates that could be required). If it is a critical app, try a fresh EXE install and then update it on a spare PC, to ensure this still works, when you change PCs.

Keep detailed install notes, which might include invoice numbers, versions, links, serial numbers if any, and license keys. Without these notes, getting a new PC for any reason, may mean days of work to configure your new PC in some semblance of a good work environment. Also, keep links like this forum handy, and include them in your notes.

Whatever you do, turn off-auto-updating if possible, and resist the urge to just install the updates without a little research. Dell and many other hardware and software companies do not necessarily recommend updating without a good reason. This is also why any experienced IT manager never update to the latest versions, at least when it is first released. Remember, guinea pigs and mice are designed to die and die often, in the name of "progressing the science", (or verifying the safety of a release?). But, observing this exposure is all to the benefit of the researcher or developer, not the poor expendable animal.

Security concerns are of little importance for most users if you know what specifically might be(come) dangerous. For instance, Reader can "open links", and you can open attached files embedded in the PDF. This creates a constant source of whack-a-mole updates for Adobe's devs that require frequent updating. So just don't click on, trust, or rely on any links or attachments inside a PDF.

Use an alternative easier to use program as a faster option for just reading PDFs. Most PDFs I read directly in the browser, by Chrome, Firefox, etc. Even emailed attachments in GMail will open in a browser window for quick viewing (with few options). For downloaded PDF files, I use the totally free open source [product removed], and set Windows to use that by [Product URL removed] default. That way, I can easily see and open 25 PDF files, then click and select which to view.

When I need to sign something electronically, fill in a form, or make changes, I open up Reader V-11. Editing isn't easy, but at least you can do it. (Hint = Choosing white as the font creates a movable resizable whiteout block to cover any text, using just the text tool).

Here is a summary of what you need for V-11 Reader, as of today. These links can (and will eventually) disappear at any time.

FIRST INSTALL AdbeRdr11010_en_US.exe AND THEN UPDATE WITH THE MSP FILE
NOTE -- SOME SAY YOU MUST CLEAN THE REGISTRY, (AFTER UNINSTALL/REINSTALL), OR IT WON'T UPDATE

1. ADOBE READER V-11 - LAST EXE VERSION - 2014-12-14 - V-11.0.10
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/11.x/11.0.10/en_US/
AdbeRdr11010_en_US.exe 72.3 MB 12/4/14, 7:00:00 PM

2. MANUALLY APPLY ADOBE READER V-11 UPDATER TO 11.0.23 - 2017-11-06
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/11.x/11.0.23/misc/
AdbeRdrUpd11023_MUI.msp 38.0 MB 11/6/17, 7:00:00 PM --<<< MUI = Multi Language U I [Ok, but why is it smaller??]
AdbeRdrUpd11023.msp 46.2 MB 11/6/17, 7:00:00 PM -<<< USE this file, NOT the MUI file if you want only the US version

3. Turn off Auto-Updating, (OR disable it some way [by searching this forum if required]).

C

CBA2Author

Inspiring

Following my trial run of Adobe Reader 2017 I have now installed Acrobat Reader DC, using installer AcroRdrDC1801120035_en_US.exe. After a manual update I now have version 2018.011.20038. The Font Pack was downloaded/installed after a prompt (resulting from an Asian PDF sample). That's the background.

As Reader DC is available only as Continuous Track (afaik), in line with my earlier comments, I have done this to avoid automatic updates. Remember, I want to control when/if to update!

1) I disabled the Startup entry (HKLM:Run) Adobe ARM "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"

2) I disabled the Adobe Acrobat Update Task "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"

3) I changed "AdobeARMservice" from Automatic to Manual

Then, in the registry, I looked up this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Reader\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AC0F074E4100}

Under the key (where {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033- 7B44-AC0F074E4100} is specific to my installation), I changed the Mode DWORD value from 3 to 0 and the Check DWORD from 48 to 0.

We'll see what happens. I'll play with DC for a while as I also want to eliminate Tools (on the Toolbar).

C

CBA2Author

Inspiring

Postscript: in my above "summary" of changes I forgot to mention that I also modified the Check DWORD from 48 to 0 (under same key) to stop Reader DC to check for updates. Hence, the summary has been amended!

The Mode DWORD values, by the way, are as follows (afaik):

0 = Do not download or install updates automatically.

1 = Do not download or install updates automatically.

2 = Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them.

3 = Automatically download and install updates.

4 = Notify the user downloads are available but do not download them.

L

LeoUpdaterX

Participating Frequently

You would also need to set Mode to 0 in the registry (s) below-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Products\[GUID] 64Bit OS

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Products\[GUID] 32Bit OS

Be advise that by disabling automatic updates you put your system at risk.

jane-e

Community Expert

There is a short video here by Claudia McCue to help you get up and running:

Learn what all you can do with Acrobat Reader DC.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Yes. The Windows Classic version is MUI only and bundles the asian font packs. Acrobat 2017 Release (Classic Track base release) — Release Notes for Acrobat DC Products

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I'd have to go looking for it. It is not easy to find as it is intended for big companies who have a redistribution license and run machines disconnected from the internet. I would strongly discourage using it otherwise, to be honest. In today's environment, security weaknesses can turn into security attacks in a matter of days. If your reason to give up XI is the lack of security patches, then running Classic without the last year's security patches is worse than useless.

C

CBA2Author

Inspiring

I travel in places where I connect via very slow Internet (even dial-up) or even a satellite link. Thus, background updating is not something I like...! If you can find a Classic DC let me have the link.

Bernd Alheit

Community Expert

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/Acrobat2017/1700830051/

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

"Are there any DC versions still on Classic track and if so where can I download same? " That doesn't really mean anything. DC is the family name for all the current Acrobat/Reader products (which therefore includes Classic and Continuous). Classic has features left out (the ones which connect to Adobe services), and no auto-update. Classic and Continuous are otherwise identical at their release date, after which Continuous slowly diverges until the next classic release date. You won't see a difference.

C

CBA2Author

Inspiring

"That doesn't really mean anything. DC is the family name for all the current Acrobat/Reader products (which therefore includes Classic and Continuous)..."

To paraphrase, your reply doesn't mean anything (to me) .. unless you tell me where I can find and download a Classic DC version. Suggestions?

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Just as Reader 11 replaced Reader 10, Reader DC replaced Reader 11. There is no choice of product based on footprint, features etc. There is a choice of continuous (auto update, recommended) and classic (update on demand, features come more slowly, recommended only for enterprises doing centralised deployment).

You can think of it as Reader 15, Reader 17, now Reader 18, except that these are all the same product and updates run continuously through them.

Reader DC will, by default, uninstall Reader 11 on Windows.
Be aware that the app is completely redesigned; budget for time relearning it.

C

CBA2Author

Inspiring

Thanks. I typically prefer to be 1-2 versions (supported) behind the current one. If I install Reader 15 or 17 Classic, would that be a feasible way to go? I think both these versions are still supported. I do not need any Cloud services. Less is more in my case!

I have downloaded AcroRdrDC1801120035 (120+ MB) for offline installation. Does this package include the Asian & Extended Font Packs or do I need to download them separately as I did for Reader XI? Hard to believe I need 120+ MB just to open a few PDFs...