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Participating Frequently
May 30, 2023
Question

Difficulty Installing Acrobat 8

  • May 30, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 7792 views

I just replaced a dead Windows 10 computer with a Windows 11 vrsion.  Windows 11 will not allow me to isntall my Acrobat 8 program without accessing a file from a Vistw OS.  I have neve had a Vista OS.  HOw do I install on my computer?

3 replies

Participant
July 11, 2024

Here's what I did.  Get the 64 bit AdobePDF.dll from the data.cab file (it'll be called AdobePDF.dll_64, delete the _64 part of the name).  Install 8 as administrator, when it asks for the .dll, use the 64 bit one.  Don't try to run it yet.  Install the 8.1 patch.  Set 8 to run in Windows 7 compatibility mode, then set to run as administrator.  Run it and enter the activation code (I had this from a previous phone activation, I don't know if Adobe can still do this).  It'll run fine now.  You can remove the "run as administrator" setting at this point.

Participant
July 11, 2024

You don't have to install the 8.1 patch, I had it running before I did that.  I installed it as it fixed something I use that was broken in the 8.0 release, although I don't remember what that was at this point.  I just install the 8.1 patch and know all is good. 🙂

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 30, 2023

The Acrobat 8 activation servers have been discontinued a while ago. You can no longer activate and use it, I'm afraid.

Participating Frequently
May 30, 2023

That is disappointing.  What is a good option now that I will boycott Adobe for this planned obsolence?  I tend to vote with my dollars against compaies who mistreat thier loyal clientele.

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 30, 2023

There are two issues here: Acrobat 8 and Windows 11 and the shutting down of the license server. For the first issue, you can hardly blame Adobe. Use an older version of Windows and Acrobat 8 will run just fine. One way to do that is to run a virtual macine with e.g. Windows 7 on top of your Windows 11. That will work. 

The second issue should not be an issue: Adobe released an updated installer that would work without the need to contact the obsolete license server. I cannot find any information on Adobe's site anymore, but you should be able to contact Adobe's support and as long as you can show proof that you have a valid license, they should be able to help you out. 

Karl Heinz  Kremer
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 30, 2023

There is a good chance that Acrobat 8 is too old to run on Windows 11. Support for Acrobat 8 ended in November 2011. That was long before Windows 11 came out. I had to stop using Acrobat 9 because I could no longer run it on any modern operating system. 

Participating Frequently
May 30, 2023

If Adobe has abused its clients, like us, what do you use as a pdf editor?  Given the fact that Adobe killed a program I have loved for years, I will no longer use Adobe.

Participating Frequently
May 31, 2023

What 17 year old commercial software do you use that will run on a current OS without the need to upgrades?


I am a dinosaur. I still use Office 2003 because it works perfectly and I know it so well I can type in the dark.  I detest learning all new programs and new skills to navigate.  I buy new computers ONLY when the old ones die and cannot be revived.  I replace software only when the OS creators kill off my old but wholly useful and utterly reliable programs are rendered useless.  I can be dragged kicking and screaming inot new technology, however, at my age, and my semi retired status it is excruciately painful and I avoid pai whenever and wherever posible.