🚀 go-pugleaf

I've got both Acrobat Reader 7.0.8 and Acrobat 8.1.3. I want my browsers to use Acrobat reader when a pdf link is clicked.
Things I've tried....

In Explorer set File type .pdf to be opened by Adobe Reader, browsers still open pdf links using Acrobat.

Acrobat
    turn off preference to Display in Browser
Reader
    Run detect and repair

This seems to work until you run Acrobat and it resets everything.

I saw a link suggesting changing
HKLM\Software\Classes\Software\Adobe\Acrobat\EXE to point to AcroRd32.exe

That didn't work, even after reboot.

Is this possible or will Acrobat ALWAYS run from a pdf link in a browser if it is installed on the machine?

(in case anyone cares...I've got a Gov grant application that will only work with Reader 8.1.3 and the users need Acrobat for other uses so both applications must be on the systems. I know I can just have them download the pdf links but this generates confusion and woe...this is our current work around but I'd prefer a fix)

thanks