How to Fix Acrobat MSI Installation Error: Microsoft C++ Will Not Download
Question details
The user is unable to complete an Adobe Acrobat MSI installation because the Microsoft Visual C++ prerequisite fails to download, resulting in a serial number error upon completion.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Installing Adobe Acrobat using an MSI deployment package.
- Observed behavior
- The Microsoft Visual C++ prerequisite fails to download automatically during setup. If the installation is forced to complete, the software throws a serial number error.
Ensure you are logged in with administrator privileges on your computer and have verified your exact Adobe Acrobat edition, version, and matching license serial number.
Manually Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
Bypass the automatic download failure by manually downloading and installing the required Visual C++ packages before running the Acrobat MSI installer.
MSI installers rely on external network connections to download missing prerequisites. If the connection times out or the server link is outdated, the installation will fail. Manually installing the component resolves this dependency.
Check the Adobe enterprise documentation provided with your installer to determine the exact version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable required for your Acrobat release.
Navigate to the official Microsoft download center and download the corresponding Visual C++ Redistributable package (x86 or x64, depending on your system architecture).
Right-click the downloaded C++ executable file and select 'Run as administrator'. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation and restart your PC.
Once the PC has restarted, launch the Acrobat MSI package again. The installer should now detect the prerequisite and proceed smoothly.
Verify Installer Version and Serial Number Match
Ensure that the serial number being used exactly matches the Acrobat edition and release version to prevent post-installation serial number errors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat MSI installer fail to download the C++ redistributable?
The MSI installer uses background network scripts to fetch prerequisites. This process can fail due to strict network firewalls, outdated MSI packages pointing to dead links, or server-side issues. Manually downloading the package bypasses this problem.
Why am I getting a serial number error after forcing the installation?
This usually occurs if the serial number entered does not match the specific edition (e.g., Acrobat Standard vs. Pro) or version year of the installer you used. You must use the exact installer tied to your license.
Do I need the 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Visual C++ package?
It depends on both your operating system and the specific Acrobat installer architecture. Generally, it is highly recommended to install both the x86 and x64 versions of the Visual C++ Redistributable on a 64-bit system to ensure full compatibility across all applications.
