How to Fix Acrobat X Data1.cab Corrupt Error on Windows 10
Question details
The user is unable to reinstall Acrobat X due to a corrupt Data1.cab file and an MSI Error 1603.
- Product
- Acrobat X (Adobe CS6)
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to reinstall Acrobat X after a Windows 10 update caused the existing installation to stop working.
- Observed behavior
- The installation process fails, returning MSI Error 1603 and a message stating that the Data1.cab cabinet file is corrupt or cannot be read.
Ensure you have your original Adobe CS6 or Acrobat X license key available, and verify that you are logged into Windows 10 with an Administrator account.
Reinstall Using a Fresh Installer in Compatibility Mode
Download a complete, uncorrupted installer and run it using Windows Compatibility Mode to bypass legacy OS conflicts on Windows 10.
Acrobat X is a legacy software program that predates Windows 10. Running its installer directly can cause compatibility issues, and using old optical discs often results in unreadable cabinet (CAB) files.
Download a fresh copy of the Acrobat X installer from the official Adobe website, or copy the entire contents of your installation media to a local folder (e.g., your Desktop).
Right-click the extracted setup file (setup.exe) and select "Properties" from the context menu.
Navigate to the "Compatibility" tab, check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for:", and select "Windows 7" from the dropdown menu.
On the same tab, check the box that says "Run this program as an administrator". Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
Double-click the setup.exe file to begin the installation process.
Completely Remove Existing Installations Before Reinstalling
Use an official cleanup tool to remove conflicting leftover files from the failed update or previous installations.
Use WPS Office as a Lightweight PDF and Office Alternative
If older PDF software like Acrobat X is no longer compatible with Windows 10, consider switching to WPS Office. It includes a powerful, built-in PDF editor alongside Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alternatives, providing a seamless, free, and lightweight solution for modern operating systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the MSI Error 1603 during Acrobat installation?
MSI Error 1603 is a generic Windows Installer error. In the context of Acrobat X, it typically occurs because the setup file (Data1.cab) is corrupt, unreadable due to scratched media, or blocked by insufficient system permissions.
Can I still use Acrobat X natively on Windows 10?
Acrobat X is a legacy product and is not officially supported on Windows 10. While it may run using Windows Compatibility Mode, you might experience ongoing performance issues or software conflicts after Windows updates.
How do I extract an installation file to a local folder?
If your installer is in a compressed ZIP format or located on an external disc, right-click the file or drive, select "Extract All" or "Copy", and choose a location on your local drive (like your Desktop) to save the contents before running setup.exe.
Does WPS Office support editing PDF files?
Yes, WPS Office comes with a robust built-in PDF tool that allows you to read, edit, annotate, merge, and convert PDF documents, making it an excellent alternative to legacy standalone PDF software.
