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This article may contain a link to the Windows Installer Cleanup utility (MSICUU2.exe). If you were directed to this article to solve a problem by using the Windows Installer Cleanup utility, please contact your software manufacturer for installation support on the product, or see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article for steps to troubleshoot uninstallation issues with products that use Windows Installer:

2438651 How to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you install, uninstall, or upgrade a program on a Windows-based computer

Symptoms

When you try to install Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader in Windows Vista, you receive an error message that resembles one of the following.

Message 1

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable. Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package 'Adobe AdobeApplication.msi' in the box below.

Message 2

Error 1714. The older version of Adobe [AdobeApplication] cannot be removed. Contact your technical support group.

This issue occurs when you try to install one of the following products:

  • Adobe Acrobat 6

  • Adobe Acrobat 7

  • Adobe Acrobat 3D

  • Adobe Acrobat 8

  • Adobe Reader

Cause

This issue can occur if the current installation of Acrobat or of Reader is corrupted.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use one or more of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Install the original version of Acrobat or of Reader

Use the AdobeApplication.msi file to install the original version of Acrobat or of Reader. For example, to use the Acroread.msi file to reinstall Adobe Reader 8.0, follow these steps:

  1. In the box that contains the error message, click Browse.

  2. Locate and then double-click the Acroread.msi file.

    Note Typically, the Acroread.msi file is located in the Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Setup Files\{GUID} folder. In this example, the GUID placeholder represents a string that resembles the following:

    xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxxNote You may have to insert the installation media to locate the AdobeApplication.msi file.

  3. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to complete the installation.

  4. If it is necessary, try to install the upgrade again.

Method 2: Uninstall earlier versions

Uninstall earlier versions of the application, and then install the version that you want. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start Start button , type Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click Appwiz.cpl in the list of files that are found.

  2. Double-click the version of Acrobat or of Reader that you want to uninstall.

  3. Click Yes if you are prompted to confirm that you want to uninstall the program.

    Note If you are prompted to confirm that you want to run the run the program, click Allow.

  4. Click Yes to restart the computer.

  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for all earlier versions of Acrobat or of Reader.

  6. Restart the computer.

  7. Install the version of Acrobat or of Reader that you want.

Method 3: Repair the installation of Acrobat or of Reader

Repair the current installation of Acrobat or of Reader. For example, if you want to repair Adobe Reader 8.0, follow these steps.

Note You may have to insert the installation media to locate the AdobeApplication.msi file. If you installed a downloaded version of Acrobat or of Reader, you may have to download the installer files again.

  1. Locate and then double-click the Acroread.msi file.

    Note Typically, the Acroread.msi file is located in the Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Setup Files\{GUID} folder. In this example, the GUID placeholder represents a string that resembles the following:

    xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

  2. Click Next, click Repair, click Next, and then click Install.

  3. Follow the prompts that appear on the screen to complete the installation.

  4. If it is necessary, try to install the upgrade again.

Method 4: Use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility to remove the files and the registry settings that make up the Windows Installer configuration information for Acrobat or for Reader. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start Start button , type Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click Appwiz.cpl in the list of files that are found.

  2. Double-click the version of Acrobat or of Reader that you want to uninstall.

  3. Click Yes if you are prompted to confirm that you want to uninstall the program.

    Note If you are prompted to confirm that you want to run the run the program, click Allow.

  4. Click Yes to restart the computer.

  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each version of Acrobat or of Reader that you want to uninstall. For example, if the error that is described in the "Symptoms" section occurs when you try to upgrade an earlier version of Acrobat or of Reader, uninstall the earlier version.

  6. Download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility. For more information about how to download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    290301 Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

  7. Click Start Start button , type Msicuu2.exe in the Start Search box, and then click Msicuu2.exe in the list of files that are found.

  8. Click the version of Acrobat or of Reader that you want to remove, and then click Remove.

    Note If the error that is described in the "Symptoms" section occurs when you try to upgrade an earlier version of Acrobat or of Reader to the current version, remove the earlier version. If the error occurs when you try to install the current version, remove the current version.

  9. If the error that is described in the "Symptoms" occurs when you try to install the current version of Acrobat or of Reader, go to step 10. If the error that is described in the "Symptoms" section occurs when you try upgrade a earlier version of Acrobat or of Reader, follow these steps:

    1. Reinstall the earlier version of Acrobat or of Reader.

    2. Click Start Start button , type Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click Appwiz.cpl in the list of files that are found.

    3. Double-click the version of Acrobat or of Reader that you reinstalled in step a.

    4. Click Yes if you are prompted to confirm that you want to uninstall the program.

      Note If you are prompted to confirm that you want to run the run the program, click Allow.

  10. Install the current version of Acrobat or of Reader, and then install any updates that are available.

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