Software Deployment

Welcome to the forum...
Can you also check if you do not find any registry key under "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products" referring to Acrobat 7?
Hope this helps!!

When I try to delete the key, the regedit doesn't allow it. Cleearly, the account you're using doesn't have sufficient permissions to edit the registry. Use one that does.

So how do I get rid of it. Any ideas? Download the Windows Installer SDK, find the MSIZap utility and run it for the Product Code {AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002}:

MSIZAP TSWMG! {AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002}

I looked under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products and there is no Acrobat 7 anywhere, only Acrobat 8 (which is installed and working fine)/

The only "Windows Installer SDK" I can find in Microsoft is for 2000--nothing for XP. I am willing to take your suggestion, but want to be sure I am using the correct utility.

That's the one I use, day to day. When extracted, the files will be dated November 1999. The latest version is here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6A35AC14-2626-4846-BB51-DDCE49D6FFB6&displaylang=en (for now - you how MS *loves* to futz with its resource locations...) If you use this, remember that it's for v4.5, so documentation etc may refer to Installer functions which your installed flavour may not have.

However, you might be better off going the whole hog and d/l the Platform SDK. There's all sorts of goodies therein. http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platformsdk/sdkupdate/XPSP2FULLInstall.htm

I really don't want the whole package, just enough to solve my problem. But the first link you give seems to be bad, and the SDK thing is a little confusing to me. Perhaps you could give me a link for the simplest way to get the ZAP thing download. Sorry for the trouble.

There is nothing wrong with any of the links Ian provided, just hit the Download button from the Windows Installer 4.5 SDK link.
The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility can also be downloaded from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301/en-us

I was able to install the 4.5 SDK tools. (The link had to be copied manually to work, that was all.) But before running, I searched the registry for {AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002} before installing, but all could find was one that ended in 003}. Is it okay to ZAP this one?

ORIGINAL: jwheisig
Is it okay to ZAP this one?What's the value for DisplayName?

The AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000003 is Acrobat Distiller 8, so that won't go. So how could that value come up in an error message if it is no where in the registry?
I am beginning to wonder whether I should simply reinstall Acrobat 7 and then uninstall it. I hate to think what that would do to Acrobat 8, however.

Run MSIZap against the original GUID. BTW, it sounds like you're doing this on a Production machine?!? I'd advise taking an image back-up before doing anything, unless you're happy to rebuild the machine if it all goes TU.

Run MSIZap against the original GUID. Sorry, but I really don't know what this means, let alone how to do it. Could you walk a little slower for me, please?

James,

Ian has already given you the answer in his first reply in this thread!

The SDK installation folder should have a folder called 'Tools'. In there, you'll find the MSIZap utility. So run it using the command line I detailed:

MSIZAP TSWMG! {AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002}

I'd do that in a command prompt so that you can see its output.

I backed up my HD and then ran the command from the command prompt. Here is what came up:

"MsiZap requires admin privileges to run correctly. The W option requires that the profiles for all of the users be loaded."

I checked, and I do have administrative privileges. I have no idea what the profiles remark refers to...

ORIGINAL: jwheisig
I checked, and I do have administrative privileges.Really? I can't see how you can have if the tool says you haven't. Log in as the local administrator and try again.

I went to the subdirectory where MsiZap is located and entered the command. It still says I don't have administrative privileges. I looked under Computer management -> System tools -> Local users and groups -> Groups and both the Administrator and the User I use are listed as having privileges. I tried logging in as administrator, but that was no help. Same error message about not having "administrative privileges." I poked inside of "Group Policy Editor" but I really don't know what I am looking for there.
I am sorry for all the trouble. Suddenly I feel like such a novice...

I think your w/s is royally screwed if the local administrator account has no rights! I cannot imagine any circumstance where Group Policy might disallow access to the entire system from that account, other than a monumental foul-up.

If you want to tie down what's going on, a process/file/registry monitor like ProcMon is your only hope. If this were me, I'd simply rebuild the machine: life's too short.

both the Administrator and the User I use
how about doing as Ian suggested & actually logging in using the local admin account & not the "user i use". There have been instances of apps actually looking to see that you are logged in as administrator & not a user with admin privileges...

Er...he did. I tried logging in as administrator

Besides, I don't think MSIZap would be that picky.

Just an observation here, but MSIZAP will report

[font="courier new"]"MsiZap requires admin privileges to run correctly. The W option requires that the profiles for all of the users be loaded."

as the last line of it's "help" screen if the syntax of the msizap command is wrong or if an invalid GUID is being specified. This is irrespective of whether the user has admin rights or not.

Perhaps the OP neglected to mention that that there was a whole load of other usage related information output to the screen as well as the last line originally quoted ?

Regards,

Spartacus

Er...he did.
[:)] my bad...

ORIGINAL: spartacus
Just an observation here, but MSIZAP will report

[font="courier new"]"MsiZap requires admin privileges to run correctly. The W option requires that the profiles for all of the users be loaded."

as the last line of it's "help" screen if the syntax of the msizap command is wrong or if an invalid GUID is being specified. This is irrespective of whether the user has admin rights or not.Well held, Graham. I'm willing to place a sizeable wedge on that being the case.

@James, try the original command line without the 'W' switch.

The same error message comes up, even without the W. What is more, I tried it only with the T and the same thing happened.
I took the suggestion and ran ProcMon. I searched for the offending key at the time the error message came up and found this:

806403 10:09:12.5151062 AM Explorer.EXE 584 RegQueryValue HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\AppMgmt\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002} NAME NOT FOUND Length: 144

Maybe this will be some help?

A red herring, I'm afraid. IIRC, this is just Windows looking to see if Explorer.EXE has a Group Policy GUID (i.e. was it deployed via GP). Since it shows 'NAME NOT FOUND' the answer is 'No, it wasn't'. I routinely have this key excluded in my ProcMon instances.