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morb!d
Participating Frequently
September 21, 2021
Question

32-bit Adobe Acrobat DC automatically upgrading to 64-bit // Please Advise Solution

  • September 21, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 20450 views

Hi All,

 

I manage multiple Terminal Servers with Adobe Acrobat DC installed as the default PDF Reader.

Majority of these servers run 32-bit Office and 32-bit LOB Applications that are causing various incompatibility issues with 64-bit Adobe Reader.

For example: Preview of PDF within 32-bit Outlook does not work with 64-bit Adobe Reader installed.

MYOB AE is not compatible with 64-bit Adobe Reader at all (has worked for years but not since last updates and MYOB Partner Support have confirmed incompatability).

The solution is seemingly simple...uninstall 64-bit Adobe Acrobat DC and install 32-bit Adobe Acrobat DC. Unfortunatley, the software constantly updates itself to 64-bit and this is causing a wide range of issues and very disgruntled users.

I have tried disabling the update task in task scheduler as well as stopping/disabling the windows update service and when I check later....they are back up and running and Adobe is 64-bit!

I have now completely deleted the update service and scheduled task but have no confidence this will hold.

Can someone please advise on how I can install 32-bit Adobe Acrobat Reader and keep it as 32-bit?

Thanks in advance.

2 replies

Country Consulting
Country Consulting
New Participant
September 24, 2021

I had the same thing happen to me and came looking for answers, only to find your post about the exact same issue. Terminal Server with MYOB AE, having Adobe seemingly update itself to 64-bit. I'm glad I'm not the only one, I usually feel alone with these kinds of issues.

M
morb!dAuthor
Participating Frequently
September 25, 2021

Thanks for DM'ing me the registry settings to allow preview on 64-bit Adobe on Office 32-bit.

Unfortunately, this is only part of the solution as our customer base use MYOB also which this does not resolve.

For everyone else out there, I have resolved this issue and so far successfully implemented on multiple customer RDS Servers.

Uninstalling 64-bit, restarting, installing 32-bit and then end/stop scheduled task, update service and then changing the Mode value to 0 in registry. Additionally, the registry setting to remove Update from GUI also put in place.

A
Adobe Employee
Ankit K Gupta
Adobe Employee
September 25, 2021

@morb!d  if there are other compatibaility issues as well, then instead of completely disabling updates, you have option to only disable auto switch 32 to 64bit. Follow the following steps.

1. Uninstall 64-bit Reader installed on the machine.

2. Restart the machine (optional step)

3. Create the key to block the upgrade

  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
    "bUpdateToSingleApp"=dword:00000000
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
    "bUpdateToSingleApp"=dword:00000000

4. Install 32-bit Reader from https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/ 

  • select OS  & langage from drop down
  • select 32-bit Reader from drop down and then install 32-bit Reader.
 

Likes

 
A
Adobe Employee
Ankit K Gupta
Adobe Employee
September 23, 2021

Hi @morb!d 

 

This issue seems like due to incompatibility of 32bit outlook preview with 64bit acrobat. I have DMed you a workaround for the same. Please try that and let us know if that resolves the problem.

 

Ankit,

Adobe Acrobat Software developer

    Country Consulting
    Country Consulting
    New Participant
    September 24, 2021

    Would I also be able to get this workaround?

    A
    Adobe Employee
    Ankit K Gupta
    Adobe Employee
    September 24, 2021

    @Country Consulting  DMed you the steps.

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