Software Deployment

Dude, if you're just updating the settings you can change the .mst through the customization wizard and redeploy. If you deploy a newer version of adobe reader you can use the same .mst file

Adobe's update features can be disabled in the customization wizard, i reccommend you do this for your .mst file. standard users won't be able to update the installs anyway - so no WSUS type features.

Adobe release major versions every few months and then .msp patches in between. You need to keep an administrative installation and update that using the .msp file. check this link out for a howto i've bookmarked myself for reference http://www.404techsupport.com/2009/06/26/how-to-apply-patches-msp-to-group-policy-deployed-software-msi/

I always uninstall old versions then redeploy the new version as opposed to "upgrading" through GPOs by the way; uninstall what you installed!!

Thanks for the response, yea that is pretty much how we have been doing it recently.

however the update service in the Customization wizard is purely for the ability to download updates, since adobe launched AIR it seems to just download and prompt automatically, could you give me a bit more information on how it is done?

Thanks

Mine hasn't installed with Air; I got my original package from having filled out a distribution licence and the download link they give you from doing that.

In Adobe Customisation Wizard, in the Online and Acrobat.com Features I have all Acrobat.com features disabled and disabled all updates.

There are details here http://itninja.com/link/adobe---adobe-air for adobe Air and disabling updates and EULA suppression under notes including a VB script and some commandline parameters which may help.

I have managed to avoid recent Adobe releases but would it be fair to say that the words "enterprise", "adobe" and "AIR" should never be used in the same sentence, other than one which also includes the words "pole", "touch", "a six foot", "even with" and "don't"?

I downloaded 9.4, customized it in the customization wizard and saved the transform.

I ran this little script to install it:

net use p: \\SERVER\SoftwareInstalljf
msiexec.exe /q /i p:\Reader94jf\AcroRead.msi /TRANSFORMS=p:\Reader94jf\jcpl.mst
net use p: /delete

When I ran it there were no errors, but several of the changes I wanted were not there like no shortcuts on the desktop, some of the online things like buy acrobat, etc. It did accept the EULA and some other things.

Anyone have an idea about this? Should I have uninstalled 9.3 first? How do I do that?

Thanks.

Jane

Ditch the slash preceding the 'TRANSFORMS' property declaration.

As an aside, I wouldn't recommend installing from drives mapped "on the fly". You'll inevitably hit problems when the time comes for the package to resolve its source location. Use UNCs.

You are an ANGEL -- Thanks so much.

Jane

Got my package ready - outrageous - does anyone know how to disable ARM.. it is the only thing that is holding back my deployment, i have been looking all over, ive got the updater service disabled but ARM still downloads and prompts for updates. any help is greatfully received.

Scenario: Acrobat reader version 8.x and 9.x have been manually installed on 110 PCs throughout our enterprise. In all instances the PCs do not have the latest greatest version of Reader 9.4.0 installed. We want to get 9.4.0 installed on all of these computers using GPO and AD to deploy.

I am under the impression that the full 9.4.0 installation package that I downloaded from Adobe after signing the agreement has the ability to upgrade reader from version 7.x, 8.x, and 9.x to 9.4.0. However, when I customized the package using the Adobe Acrobat Customization Wizard I do not see anything that mentions upgrading previous versions.

I applied my transform file and created the GPO per the official "Adobe Acrobat 9 Deployment on Microsoft Windows Group Policy and the Active Directory service" documentation. On my lab computer I had version 9.3.4 installed. When I applied the GPO and rebooted it appeared that the installation was taking place. When I logged on to the computer I was shocked to see all that had happened was the removal of Acrobat Reader. I then removed the GPO from the PC and rebooted. I then reapplied the GPO and rebooted yet again. This time 9.4.0 installed with my customizations.

The Question: How do I go about upgrading all the versions of reader that we have out there to the latest greatest? I know I'm missing something, but I'm not sure what it is.

Thanks,
Schultz

All,

This is a bit off subject, but like many of you, I am deploying Adobe Reader 9.4 centrally using the GPO. I created the mst and assigned the software and tested it on a few machines. We have 4 major machine models, including the Dell GX 780, GX 620, E6500 and the Sony S560. I have a network share with full rights given to the "domain computers" group in both sharing and security. I tested the GPO using a test OU with just the GX 780 and E6500 test computer initially. It worked great - had absolutely zero issues. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I tested it on the GX 620 and the Sony S560. Upon viewing the gp result for those two test machines, I received the 1612 error "Software Installation failed due to the error listed below.The installation source for this product is not available. Verify that the source exists and that you can access it." Each of these machines have a separate image (using ghost methodologies), but they are extremely similiar. I built them with the Win7 OS at close to the same time and they are just a few variations. I have tried so many different solutions to get this working on the GX 620 and Sony, and it just comes back with the same error time after time. Ive checked all the logs and made sure my permissions were good, but I cant figure why it would work on two other PCs on the same network and the same domain, but not these two. The 620 and Sony ARE the two oldest images, but it just doesnt make much sense to me. If anyone has seen something like this or has an idea of where else to look / troubleshoot, please let me know. I'm not hugely experienced with group policy, but ive done my fair share and this one just really confuses me. I am planning on rolling this out company wide and just want to make sure its a complete solution. On side note, I also packaged a java update and it worked as well for the first two and then not the second two. It has to be a permission issue.

thanks for your time,

Jeff

Here is a blog with a step-by-step instructions, including a link to a video which demonstrates using the customization wizard and then deploying the newly created .MST.

http://www.adminarsenal.com/admin-arsenal-blog/bid/44281/Adobe-Reader-9-3-3-The-Adobe-Customization-Wizard

Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded and installed for free simply by going to adobe.com, clicking on the buttons to download the reader and letting it install automatically.