Error 1321.The Installer has insufficient privileges to ...

Report · Jul 16, 2010

Aloha:

The update for Acobat reader fails on my Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit notebook PC. See error log below. Not only did the update fail, but it corrupted my current version and reader would not load due to main dll problem. I had to remove the reader and install version 8, the only other option on the Adobe downloads.

By the way, the solution in this article below does not work for Windows 7, but possibly could if someone would update the procedure.

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/403/kb403915.html

[2010-07-14 12:28:21] Adobe ARM 1.4.5.0 logging started.
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] Command Line: /PRODUCT:Reader /VERSION:9.0 /MODE:2
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] ProductCode: {AC76BA86-7AD7-FFFF-7B44-A91000000001}
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] ProductName: Adobe Reader 9.3 MUI
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] ProductVersion: 9.3.0
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] ProductRegistry: SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\9.0
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] ProductInstallDir: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\
[2010-07-14 12:28:21] Found CommandLine preference AUTO_DOWNLOAD.
[2010-07-14 12:28:55] ArmUpdate record found.
[2010-07-14 12:28:55] Newer version ARM Update is not available.
[2010-07-14 12:28:55] New file object: AdbeRdrUpd932_all_incr.msp
[2010-07-14 12:28:55] New file object: AdbeRdrUpd933_all_incr.msp
[2010-07-15 05:29:40] InstallProductMsp...
[2010-07-15 05:29:40]    file - C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Reader\9.3\ARM\AdbeRdrUpd932_all_incr.msp;C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Reader\9.3\ARM\AdbeRdrUpd933_all_incr.msp
[2010-07-15 05:29:40]    args -
[2010-07-15 05:30:04] Error 1321.The Installer has insufficient privileges to modify the file C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\ACE.dll.
[2010-07-15 05:30:04] ** Setting Error Condition:
[2010-07-15 05:30:04]    Error Code: 1500

[2010-07-15 05:30:07] Installation error code:
[2010-07-15 05:30:07] Error Code: 1603

[2010-07-15 05:30:07] Error Code: 1603

Report · Aug 05, 2010

Hi subrato:

Your latest suggestion came after I already solved the problem, so I cannot test it. However, after you read my solution it might confirm that your solution is an easier fix.

Here is what I did: I figured that the source of the problem was either Adobe software or Microsoft software. Since Adobe does not have an option to work with their Tech support, I called Microsoft support to report a problem with Windows Installer. The technician remotely accessed my PC and tried to unregister and fix installer. He then went to the Adobe site, tried to install Reader 9.3.3 and it failed with the same 1321 error code. He then downloaded and ran a tool named subinacl.exe. It ran for over 30 minutes and I was then able to install the Reader with no error. Problem solved, but no answer to what caused the corruption of permissions.

There is a similar article on this Adobe site:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/494/cpsid_49419.html

Thanks to all of you for the suggestions and especially thanks to Microsoft for excellent support.

Report · Jan 02, 2014

I have the same issue however there is no Adobe subfolder under C:\Program Files. The error message 1321 says "The installer has insufficient privilges to modify the file C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Reader\plug_ins3d\...... but there is no "Adobe" folder under C:\program files. I made sure that there are no hidden folders. I don't have previous version of adobe. My asus laptop crashed so I had to re-install windows 7 starter. My pc is clean. However, when I tried to install adobe I get an error message. I did notice that there is an adobe folder under C:\Program Data folder (but there is no Reader subfolder under Adobe). I am not sure how to solve this.

Report · Jan 25, 2014

Here's what worked for me (Windows 8.1, upgrading from 11.0.05 to 11.0.06)

Downloaded install file, left one copy in the download folder, made a copy on the desktop (this is because running the install deletes the downloaded file...this way I didn't have to go back and redownload every time there's an issue)
Right clicked the desktop file, selected "run as adminstrator"
Got the error message "1321: etc., etc." I highlighted the full path from the error message and copied it using CTRL-C. Knowing that some folks install in various directories, the install is looking at the current directory structure in the computer being worked on. Copying the path gives you the exact path the installer was looking at, which could be different than other users, and prevents typos when searching for the correct folder.
Opened File Explorer and pasted the path into the address bar
Clicked the "up" arrow to go up one folder
Right clicked the folder I just left and selected Properties
Changed "read only" to NOT read only
Closed window
Right clicked desktop file and ran as adminstrator
Successful install happened!

It looks more cumbersome than it is, and we shouldn't have to do this, but it's really a pretty simple fix.

Good luck!!

Report · Jul 26, 2010

I am having the same problems... It won't let me download, and I'm an admin, and I have no idea what to do.

Report · Aug 05, 2010

downloaded and ran a tool named subinacl.exe. It ran for over 30 minutes and I was then able to install the Reader with no error. Problem solved, but no answer to what caused the corruption of permissions.

There is a similar article on this Adobe site:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/494/cpsid_49419.html

Report · Aug 28, 2011

In google search "takeownership.zip" and download it.It's just a registry entry.install it.Now install adobe reader.It will show the same error 1321.Note the path of the folder in which it will show privilege problem(in my case it was C:\ProgramData\Adobe).Now go to that path and right click on that folder(in my case it was adobe folder) and select "Take ownership" option.Now hit retry in installation window.

Report · Sep 24, 2014

I was getting the Error 1321 message ("The installer has insufficient privileges to modify the file XXXXXXX") when I was trying to update Acrobat XI Standard from version 11.0.08 to 11.0.09. I use Windows 7. Here's what worked for me.

Initially, I ran the upgrade by using the Acrobat menu bar: Help / Check for Updates. It puts an upgrade icon on the taskbar, which I clicked on.
The update went most of the way through, but it then failed, and then backed out the changes it had made, and displayed the Error 1321 message.
I tried doing the update several times this way, and each time the Error 1321 message showed a different filename which it said it could not modify.
I then tried to download the update myself - from http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=1&platform=Windows
After downloading the acrobat 11.0.09 update file to a folder on my hard drive, I right-clicked on it, and chose "Apply".
The update process again went most of the way through, and again displayed an Error 1321 message - but this time, the process paused, and asked me if I wanted to "Retry" - I chose to retry, and the process carried on.
After a couple more pauses when I clicked "Retry", the process continued successfully to the end, and update to 11.0.09 was successfully installed.

It seems the Error 1321 was a transitory problem, and the second approach I used gave me a "Retry" option, which was necessary for the process to be able to continue to the end. I hope this information helps others to be able to successfully install the update.

Report · Sep 26, 2014

Tony Adobe,

You win my "Best Person of the Day" award!

I have been concentrating most of the day on trying to install the update to Adobe Acrobat 11, and running into one error message after another. (And that's after making minor attempts off and on for several weeks now.) Just when I thought I had tried everything, I found your answer, which finally solved the problem for me.

Thank you very much.

Report · Sep 27, 2014

I'm glad to hear the approach worked for you.

Thanks for taking the time to feed back.

Report · Jul 24, 2015

I've been having the same issue with an update to Acrobat 11 (on a Windows7 machine) and ignored it for a while but finally decided to deal with it today and found this very helpful thread. After reading the thread, I figured that it may have to do with permissions so I right clicked on the file where install was failing (in my case, acrodistdll.dll), clicked the security tab and gave my user profile (not my admin profile) full control then tried again. This time it failed at another file- progress!. I then went back and right clicked on the Adobe folder (I only have Acrobat) and gave my user profile full control to the folder and tried the install again- success! Hope others find this helpful as it is much faster than many of the other solutions that have been offered. After the install, I set my privileges back to their original state.

Report · Jul 29, 2015

These type of problem generally arises when you try to update or install any program and your device is not able to provide that program to administrator control so that the program is unable to write some data on disk therefore such problems evolve.

Read How To Fix Error 1321 Installer has insufficient Privilege to Modify the file.

Report · Nov 17, 2016

This is an old thread, but I recently had the same exact issues. I tried the resolutions above with no luck. I do however have an entirely different fix I wanted to share.

Seeing as how this had to do with writing to the registry, I went back to my CCleaner backups of when I cleaned my registry. I went back to the most recent cleaning (a couple months old) and found some Acrobat entries. I copied the REG file, isolated those specific entries, saved and closed the file, double clicked it to add those back into my registry and Presto!! After trying to run the update again, this time it worked. Hope that might help someone.