🚀 go-pugleaf

'Adobe Reader 9' updating problem resolved.

Problem first noticed sometime back when 'Adobe Reader 9' would try to automatically update itself to version '6.0.2'. When the update was unsuccessful, 'AR9' would display a dialog box alerting the user to intercede and resolve the issue. The alert dialog box named 'Adobe Updater' displayed text 'Cannot overwrite C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator (Wkgp)\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Updater6\Insta.... Delete the file and click Retry, or click Change Location and choose a different download location.' The alert instructions were unsuccessful in resolving the problem.

Upon the suggestion of a respondent to this forum topic, malware protection software (i. e. - anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, etc.) was disabled. Doing this did not resolve the problem. Next step taken was rebooting system into 'Safe Mode with Networking'. Once system finished booting, 'AR9' was opened. Then an attempt to update was performed by clicking menu 'Help' and submenu 'Check for Updates...'. This time I was presented with an 'Adobe Updater' dialog box that permitted the update to proceed. Can't remember or reproduce (now, because 'AR9' is already updated) the 'Adobe Updater' dialog box that allowed the update to continue to completion. I do recall having to check a box selecting the desired update and then clicking a button to start the download. The download was 19.6 MB and it took a little time to finish even with a highspeed connection.

Once the download was completed, with the system still booted in 'Safe Mode with Networking' and attempt was made to see if 'AR9' would update or if it was now up-to-date. Neither was the case. It was suspected that 'AR9' had failed to update successfully. While still in 'Safe Mode with Networking' two things were noticed (an added folder and a missing file). In folder 'C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator (Wkgp)\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Updater6\Install' there are now two folders named 'AdobeUpdater' and 'reader9dr-en_US' and no separate files. Both folders 'AdobeUpdater' and 'reader9dr-en_US' are empty (contain no content - folders or files). Whereas before the update, folder 'C:\Documents and Setting\...\Install' contained only one folder named 'AdobeUpdater' and no separate files. The one folder 'AdobeUpdater' was not empty. It contained file 'Adobe_Updater.exe'.

At this point it was thought the update had failed, as there was no indication that the update actually took place (that is - no dialog box stating the update was successful, even though broadband modem leds showed activity during the download of 19.6 MB). This was observed while system was still in 'Safe Mode with Networking'.

Not encouraged with the results of updating 'AR9' in 'Safe Mode with Networking', the system was booted in 'Normal Mode' to see what would happen. After system finished booting in 'Normal Mode', 'AR9' was opened and an attempt to update was tried. User was given the option to select the desired download file and to initiate the download (just as was done before when system was in 'Safe Mode with Networking'). Downloading activity was observed on the broadband modem leds (again just as before). But this time when the download was completed an option to install the download was presented (which wasn't offered when in 'Safe Mode with Networking'). The install proceeded when button was clicked (this time writing activity was observed on the system harddrive). When installation was done notification was given that the update completed successfully.

Just to check to see it the update was actually successful, another update was performed, but this time an 'Adobe Updater' dialog box was presented with text 'There are no updates available at this time.'. This same dialog box also has 'Quit' and 'Preferences' buttons that the user can click for the desired action. 'Properties' for 'Adobe_Udater.exe' show current version to be '6.0.2.1471', which is the latest update available and verifies the update was actually successful.

As a note, the folder 'C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator (Wkgp)\Local Settings\Application Data\Adobe\Updater6\Install' still contains only two folders and no separate files. The folders are 'AdobeUpdater' and 'reader9dr-en_US' and both are empty.

In conclusion, apparently there was something on the system that originally prevented the update to commence and complete. This limitation (whatever it was) eliminated when the system was in 'Safe Mode with Networking'. With the system in 'Normal Mode' the 'AR9' updates successfully as if there was never a problem with updating. If anyone has any insight as to what was causing this problem, please post. Not being a programmer, it amazes me that the Windows operating system, attendant processes and applications all work together as well as they do. And in my case that's most of the time.

Anyway all is well and working now. Thanks to the respondents for their helpful suggestions.