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December 4, 2012
Question

Adobe Reader msi file lock behavior

  • December 4, 2012
  • 5 replies
  • 1637 views

Currently when running the install silently and the installation is unable to modify a file due to a file lock it's default behavior is to back out and exit\abort. Is there a way to have the installation retry rather than immediately exiting? I suppose this may be more of a question for Microsoft since Adobe's install is an msi but I figured I would ask here anyways.

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5 replies

EnterpriseHelp
Inspiring
December 4, 2012

Yes, look at MS's MSI properties. It could help to have more info about the file type and nature of the lock. For example, if the lock is due to a PDF open, install failure is certain.

Ben

December 4, 2012

See my post http://forums.adobe.com/message/4895858#4895858. Basically, in some cases Mcafee's on-access scanner is scanning the file the same time the installer is attempting to modify it which results in the installer reporting permission issues on the file and backing out then exiting . With that said, in this case it's not an application that the user is interacting with that is locking the file, e.g. Adobe Reader is open or IE has a pdf open which is using the Reader plugin. If the installer was able to retry there is a very good chance the on-access scan would be complete and there would no longer be a conflict. In this specific case it would be ideal if I could specify to retry x number of times before exiting.

EnterpriseHelp
Inspiring
December 4, 2012

Seems like this would be an issue for any software installer that would need to replace or change a file. What do others do? I don't know.

ben