Adobe Reader disappearing

[Denis5F9C]

- corporate environment

- domain-joined computers

- local users do not have admin rights

- Reader DC is deployed to all machines as part of standard image

- no software blacklist

- nothing in GPO related to Adobe reader

Adobe Reader DC has been disappearing from computers around my network.  Multiple locations, multiple users - no common threads there.    It works, and then one day people find that the computer is defaulting to opening PDFs with one browser or another, and Reader DC is totally gone from the computer.  Easy enough to download and reinstall, but what is causing it to vanish?   

[Dov Isaacs]

Possibly some overly agressive antivirus software setup at the corporate / domain level that silently deletes the application?

There is nothing in Adobe Acrobat Reader that allows for self uninstallation. Nor is this a symptom that we have heard of at all from others.

[Denis5F9C]

Thank you for the reply.

Our antivirus is McAfee, applied to all machines. We're not aware of any
other software disappearing on any other machines.

[Bernd Alheit]

Have you lost all files at C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC ?

[Denis5F9C]

Yes.  Adobe entirely disappears, as if it was never there (which it was).

[Leigh243826298afk]

Just to say that I'm glad in a way to have stumbled across your unfortunate happenings, as otherwise I would be doubting my sanity levels and wondering if I'm seeing things.

But yes, I've experienced the same.

Home environment, new Dell laptop for my wife 14 months ago, Windows 10. Definitely installed Adobe Acrobat Reader, checked it was working ok, my wife uses it all the time for multiple uses, including every month mid-month for a magazine she organises printing for.

And tonight, trying to open a PDF boarding pass (double clicking) in order to print it. No Adobe Acrobat Reader. Windows asking which app to open the file with. No sign of Adobe Acrobat Reader in: Settings-Apps, C:\Program Files, Windows Menu App List. Gone. Vanished.

Sure, (re)downloaded it, (re)installed it, (re)set as default app again, and it's all fine again...

[Petr270625121pzi]

I've experienced the same. Only Adobe disappearing. Anybody knows why is this happening?

[Darryl29937142bk34]

My Adobe has come up missing as well. The folder is there but nothing in it. However, its a blessing because I have found a much better PDF editor. "Bluebeam" is a far better package. Adobe is super sketchy.