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Q: Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro refuses to install on El Capitan (new laptop)

I just purchased a new 13" MBP and started installing my Adobe CS5 on it from my original DVDs. It required me to download a Java program to get Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator to work but they're all OK.

 

When it came to Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, though, it just won't work. It appears to install, but when I attempt to open the program the only thing I see is the "Acrobat" name in the upper left - no other menu items, and there isn't a dropdown from "Acrobat" either. The only way to leave the program is to do a "Force Quit".

 

I thought that the DVD could be the problem so I uninstalled Acrobat 9 Pro and downloaded it from the Adobe website (after restarting). Same result.

 

At no time was an Adobe Acrobat serial number requested, either when using DVD or after downloading from Adobe directly. I've edited my security setting to "allow apps downloaded from anywhere".

 

I'm truly stumped - surely if PS, ID and Illustrator work then Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro should work.

 

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)

Posted on Nov 26, 2015 3:21 PM

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Q: Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro refuses to install on El Capitan (new laptop)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by filip.mond,Helpful

    filip.mond filip.mond Mar 2, 2016 1:07 AM in response to Roxpat
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 2, 2016 1:07 AM in response to Roxpat

    I had the same behaviour.

    When you open Acrobat for the first time, you are asked to install Extras (plugins).

    Just disable "Adobe PDF Viewer Safari Plugin".

     

    160302-0001.png

    If you are already copied "Acrobat 9 Pro" folder on your HD and you tried to open the Acrobat, "Install Extras" window is not popup again, it ends with just name "Acrobat" in header as you wrote.

     

    I was able to get this window again by two ways:

    A - Run "Acrobat Uninstaller" and than copy Acrobat folder from DMG again or

    B - Run Acrobat by right click (or ctrl + left click) on app icon and select "Open"

    (Don't use double click as usual.)

     

    Now you should see "Install Extras" window.

    Uncheck "Adobe PDF Viewer Safari Plugin" and press "Continue".

    Serial number window should popup in a few seconds.

    Finish process.

     

    Issue is related to a new OS X, not to your new laptop. I was able to successfully install Acrobat on iMac.

  • by benwiggy,

    benwiggy benwiggy Mar 2, 2016 4:24 AM in response to Roxpat
    Level 4 (1,430 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 2, 2016 4:24 AM in response to Roxpat

    Acrobat 9 (and other old versions) do have problems installing on El Cap. You could try to copy the apps from your old Mac or backup, and get them to Repair themselves.

     

    But really, you need to consider using newer software. (Not necessarily by Adobe, if you don't want to pay them monthly forever.)

     

    It's worth noting that the next version of OS X (10.12), which will be released later this year, will not run the Java SE 6 that you need for old Adobe CS installers.

  • by suzan753,

    suzan753 suzan753 Mar 28, 2016 1:21 PM in response to benwiggy
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mar 28, 2016 1:21 PM in response to benwiggy

    Mucho Kuddos, this helped me. You have no idea how much I would  love to give you one BIG HUG right now. Thank you EVER so much for your help, I was at my wits end!

  • by DeeinNJ,

    DeeinNJ DeeinNJ Apr 8, 2016 6:02 PM in response to suzan753
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 8, 2016 6:02 PM in response to suzan753

    I had this same problem and this worked for me. THANK YOU!, filip.mond

     

    I had to replace the hard drive in my iMac and reinstall CS5. I was freaking out that I couldn't install Acrobat and did the same thing as Roxpat, downloading Acrobat from the Internet thinking the files on the CD were damaged. I read other forums where they said Acrobat 9 wasn't compatible with El Capitan (I have 10.11.3). I didn't want to spend more money for Acrobat Pro X because I just shelled out for a new hard drive and now I need to buy a new scanner because HP doesn't make the needed software that is compatible with this OS (sigh!). I wasn't even sure Acrobat XI (which would be compatible with my new OS) was compatible with CS5, so you can see why my head was spinning.

     

    I am so thankful for forums like this.

     

    While researching all of the compatibility issues with El Capitan and older Adobe software, there was quite a fuss about the "cloud" versions of the software. My two cents re: cloud software... for part-time freelancers who don't rake in tons of bucks, paying monthly for a subscription to use Cloud software when there may not be any jobs in a given month gives new meaning to the term "starving artists"

  • by sstann,

    sstann sstann Aug 8, 2016 7:35 AM in response to filip.mond
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 8, 2016 7:35 AM in response to filip.mond

    Thank you SO much !  worked for me

  • by zmtiger,

    zmtiger zmtiger Sep 1, 2016 10:38 AM in response to filip.mond
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Sep 1, 2016 10:38 AM in response to filip.mond

    Thank you filip.mond

     

    Just installed new hard drive and El Capitan (from Mavericks).  Could not get Adobe Acrobat 8 to load.  Unchecked all the offered plug ins.  Bam!  back in business.

     

    I use PDFpen Pro (8.0.2) for most pdf tasks.  This old version comes in handy for testing operability of pdf's, as well as reducing the file size.  Adobe just seems to do this better for me than other software.

  • by TrinityGal3,

    TrinityGal3 TrinityGal3 Sep 1, 2016 5:40 PM in response to Roxpat
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 1, 2016 5:40 PM in response to Roxpat

    Hey Guys, I have this same problem, except I tried the fix a few months ago, and it worked perfectly.
    Today I was working on Photoshop and had to get the extended version, which to do so, I had to ask photoshop to forget my serial [delete it fro my HD]. When I did, it did it for my whole Design Suit programs [Obviously]... which I din't think much of it, because I thought I could run it again. However, when I tried to do all the same steps, using my normal serial number, and unchecking all the boxes [I get one for printing and one for Safari], it still would not open. It just shows ACROBAT at the very top of my screen, to the left, but no File, Edit, etc... And nothing runs on it. Nothing opens still. Please help! I am running Mac OS 10.11.6

  • by TrinityGal3,

    TrinityGal3 TrinityGal3 Sep 30, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Roxpat
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 30, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Roxpat

    I also had this same issue with Acrobat 9 Pro, and my OS 10.11.6 [El Capitan]
    However, after doing a Reset to Factory Settings in my machine and I tried flip.mond's awesome suggestion, [which I had tried back in July when I first installed my CS4 in my new iMac], I would only have Acrobat showing on the top menu bar as well, with nothing else running, and having to Force Quit it.

     

    After ton's of trials, uninstalls and reinstalls, system clean ups and a bunch or head scratching I realized that the window that was popping up about the missing plugins looks a bit different than flip.mond's.

    Here is what I had showing:

     

    image57.50 PM.png

     

    I decided to try my luck and see what would happen if I clicked Cancel instead of unchecking the Safari Plugin box and clicking Continue [Since I tried that and it didn't work].

    The same window appeared a second time, and I clicked Cancel again [a second time]... and Voila!
    I was on the road to a proper set up! Now it is back up and running beautifully!

     

    I thought I'd share here in case anyone else is having the same issues as me due to new updates on El Capitan.

  • by MaxWhoFromFrance,

    MaxWhoFromFrance MaxWhoFromFrance Oct 4, 2016 12:20 PM in response to TrinityGal3
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 4, 2016 12:20 PM in response to TrinityGal3

    Thanks TrinityGal3 ! It also works on Sierra !!!!!