How to Uninstall Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Using Command Line
Question details
The user needs to silently uninstall Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro using the command line via Endpoint Manager, but the msiexec command is failing silently or opening an interactive dialog.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Deploying a silent uninstall script across a network using Endpoint Manager.
- Observed behavior
- The msiexec uninstall command fails to execute quietly, either aborting silently or incorrectly displaying an interactive dialog box.
Ensure you are logged in with administrative privileges and verify the exact MSI product code (GUID) for your specific installation of Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro.
Test and Execute the msiexec Uninstall Command
Run the uninstall command interactively to verify the correct product code before applying quiet parameters for Endpoint Manager.
When removing enterprise software via Endpoint Manager, incorrect product codes or missing permissions often cause msiexec commands to fail. Testing the command interactively first ensures the GUID is correct and identifies any missing deployment parameters.
Press the Windows Start Key + R, type 'regedit', and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall to locate the exact GUID for Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro.
Hold down the Windows Start Key and press X. Select 'Command Prompt (Admin)' or 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)' from the context menu.
Type 'msiexec /x {Your-Product-Code}' (replace with your actual GUID) and press Enter. Confirm that the standard uninstallation dialog appears and processes without errors.
Once the product code is confirmed, modify the command for your Endpoint Manager script by adding silent switches: 'msiexec /x {Your-Product-Code} /qn /norestart'.
Uninstall via WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation)
Use the built-in WMIC utility to locate and call the uninstall method directly by the software's name.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the msiexec /qn command still show a prompt?
This usually happens if the MSI package was customized with specific UI levels or requires an external transform (.mst) file to handle user configurations. Check your deployment package to ensure no custom dialogs are overriding the /qn silent switch.
How do I find the exact product code for Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro?
You can locate the product code by opening the Registry Editor (regedit) and searching for 'Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro' under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\. The key name will be the GUID needed for the command line.
Can I use PowerShell to uninstall the program silently?
Yes. Open PowerShell as Administrator and use the following command structure: Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -match 'Adobe Acrobat'} | Invoke-WmiMethod -Name Uninstall. This removes the software without invoking msiexec directly.
