How to uninstall Acrobat Acrobat 8 on Vista

In the previous post, you just learned how to mess around and install Acorbat 8. Now, do you really need Acrobat 8? Yes, I need to put some of my word documents into PDF. My spreadsheet in excel too, cos some of the friend just doesn't use excel or they are using mac or something. Well, Excel has a output to PDF option. At least for MS Office 2007. So I do not really need Acrobat 8 writer at least. Let's uninstall it in this article!

Firstly, do try and uninstall using "Program Features" in vista. If that works, good for you!
For some people, it just doesn't or you did some "repair" and find that you do not have the extracted files in the previous documents and the Acrobat 8 is totally screwed up now. Now you need to uninstall it the hard way.

1. Go to "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" and delete the 2 Acrobat Links.
2. You will need to boot to safe mode of Vista next. The rest are based on Adobe article :

Remove Adobe Acrobat 8.0 registered files using the command prompt
Acrobat registers a numerous files with the operating system during the installation. These files must be removed in order to successfully remove the application. Registered files can be removed from the operating system with the shell is not running.
Press Control-Alt-Delete and choose Task Manager.
On the Processes tab, select explorer.exe and choose End Process (this will make items on your desktop disappear).Important: The Task Manager should remain open during this process
Click Yes in the warning box.
Choose File > New Task.
Under Open, type cmd and click OK.
Minimize the Task Manager.
Type cd "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat Elements" and press Enter.
Type del ContextMenu.dll and press Enter.
Type cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX" and press Enter.
Type del AcroIEHelper.dll and press Enter.
Type del AcroPDF.dll and press Enter.
Type del pdfshell.dll and press Enter.
Type exit and press Enter.
Maximize the Task Manager.
In Task Manager, choose File > New Task.
Type explorer.exe and click OK. (Your desktop should reappear.)
Exit the Task Manager.

Grant full control permissions to all installed files and folders
Give Administrators Full Control of the Resources folder and replicate permissions down to child objects.
To Reset Permission Using Windows Security
Click Start > Run, type cmd, and click OK.
Type each of the bold command below and press enter:
If any error messages are received after typing any of the below command verify the command and try again.
c:cacls "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Resources" /T /E /C /G administrators:Fexit
Important: Enter spaces between /T, /E, /C, and /G in the third line.
Remove remaining folders and files for Adobe Acrobat 8.0
Back up any personal files you want to save from the following directories, and then remove the listed folders and files:
Program Files\Adobe\
Acrobat 8.
Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\
Acrobat
Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\
FLEXnet Publisher
Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\
nppdf32.dll
Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Adobe\
Acrobat
Designer
Adobe PDF
Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\
Acrobat
Designer
Adobe PDF
ALM
Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FLEXnet\
adobe_00080000_tsf.data
Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional.lnk
Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\
Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional.lnk
Acrobat Distiller 8.lnk
Adobe LiveCycle Designer 8.0.lnk
Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\
ADGELP.INI
ADPDF8.BPD
ADPDF8.PPD
ADREGP.DLL
ADUIGP.DLL
Ps5ui.dll
Pscript.hlp
PSCRIPT.NTF
PSCRIPT5.DLL
Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\
ADGelP.INI
ADPDF8.PPD
ADReGP.dll
ADUIGP.DLL
PS5UI.DLL
PSCRIPT.HLP
pscript.ntf
PSCRIPT5.DLL
Windows\system32\
adobePDF.dll
Program Files\Netscape\Netscape Browser\plugins\
nppdf32.dll

Remove remaining registry entries for Adobe Acrobat 8.0
Remove the application registry keys from the registry, if they are available.
Note: You must be logged into the computer as an Administrator to modify your registry.
Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe doesn't support editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. For information on the Windows Registry Editor, see the documentation for Windows or contact Microsoft Technical Support. You may not have all of these files.
Important: Make a backup copy of the registry before you edit it.
Choose Start > Run, and type regedit in the Open text box; click OK.
Navigate to one of the registry keys listed below and select it in the left panel; it will appear in the registry editor as a folder.
Choose Edit > Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog box.
Repeat steps 1-3 as needed for any remaining registry entries.
Remove the following registry entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat DistillerHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat ElementsHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat PDFMakerHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe AcrobatHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Designer\8.0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\PDF SettingsHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\ALM\AcrobatProfessional-8.0-ALL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat DistillerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat ElementsHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat PDFMakerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe AcrobatHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Repair\Adobe AcrobatHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Designer\8.0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\PDF Admin SettingsHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\PDF Settings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\68AB67CA330100007706000000000030HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000003}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\68AB67CA330100007706000000000030HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\68AB67CA330100007706000000000030
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddinHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddinHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\MS Project\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddinHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\PDFMOutlook.PDFMOutlookHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\PowerPoint\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddinHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Publisher\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{191DA03B-FBE7-4579-B64D-273DC8358F1B}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{907131E3-3ECF-4027-B0EB-3324883441D1}

Complete the removal
Empty your Recycle Bin and restart your computer.