The purpose of this thread is to identify EASIEST way to create/obtain an MSI file of the LATEST VERSION of Acrobat Reader (currently 10.1.3 as of 7/19/2012) to be deployed via GPO. I am not concerned with customizations of Reader settings as I have accomplished this already using Group Policy.
It sounds so easy, but I have found it to be quite frustrating and extremely time consuming to figure this out.
Here's what I have so far:
To download the full installer from Adobe, you must first apply on Adobe's website to distribute Reader:
http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/rdr_distribution1.html
Once you submit the request, a short time later you'll get an e-mail with a link to download the full exe file of reader 10.1.3.
Here's a link that explains how to extract an MSI from this exe:
http://blogs.adobe.com/dmcmahon/2010/06/16/how-to-extract-an-msi-file-from-the-exe-
Even with following those steps, I do not end up with an MSI file which will install 10.1.3.
To try another route:
There is also an Adobe FTP site. If you navigate down into the Reader 10.1.0 folder there is an MSI file. Good - but it's the old version.
You would think that if you navigate into the 10.1.3 folder there would be an MSI there as well.
Unfortunately there is not. However, there is an MSP file found in the misc folder:
I have tried several methods that are supposed to combine the MSP file with the MSI file - they have not worked.
I have also tried several methods of modifying MSI files, and using the Adobe Cusomization wizard downloadable here: http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4950
I am unable to end up with a deployable MSI file for Reader 10.1.3.
It's amazing that it's so complicated to deploy the latest version of Adobe Reader to my users.
Does anyone have a comprehensive answer to this simple problem? I do not want a link to a document with 20 pages explaining the theory of MSP files. I am looking for a concise, step by step method to obtain an MSI for 10.1.3 quickly and easily.
Thanks!