Updater-Win (Windows Updates)
These preferences control how the Updater works for the Acrobat
family of products 9.2 and 8.1.7 and later. Earlier product versions used the Adobe Update Manager (AUM);
for those versions, see AVGeneral.
For a related Quick Key, see the Quick Key Library.
This preference category contains the following subfeature(s):
Updater Logging
The log file is a file generated and appended to at runtime with status, operational, and error information describing what the Updater is doing. This information helps diagnose runtime problems and should be included with any support requests. Logging behaves as follows:
- Logging cannot be disabled.
- Log file size is not limited during an update.
- Log files are appended to each time the Updater runs, there is a 1MB limit on old logs.
- Log files are only backed up once; therefore, there should never be more than two logs on the system.
Summary table
| iLogLevel |
Sets the log level to either brief (0) or verbose (1). |
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
0 |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Sets the log level to either brief (0) or verbose (1). |
| Details |
Log file size is not limited during an update. However, since log files are appended to each time the Updater runs, there is a 1MB limit on old logs. Size limit behavior is as follows: If an existing log size is bigger than 1 MB, the Updater truncates the log. Old log files are backed up once as AdobeARM-backup.
Logs reside at:
- Vista-Windows 7 (64 bit systems) %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp\AdobeARM.log
- XP (32bit systems) %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\AdobeARM.log
Set the log level as follows:
|
Updater Configuration
These preferences control when the Updater is invoked, how and when a check for updates should be made, and other behaviors.
Summary table
| Adobe_ARM |
Specifies the path to the Updater executable in the Windows Run key. |
| bDeclined |
Specifies whether to show the Opt-In dialog on Adobe Reader
startup so that the user to select automatic updates. |
| bFirstTimeAppHasRun |
Specifies whether to check for updates the first time the application runs. |
| bUpdater |
Disables automatic updates and removes associated user interface items. |
| bUpdaterShutdown |
This is an Adobe Update Manager setting which is deprecated since 9.3.2 and 8.2.2. |
| iCheck |
Specifies the Updater's update mode; for example, manual or semi-automatic |
| iCheckReader |
Specifies the Updater's update mode for Adobe Reader 10.1 and later; for example, manual or semi-automatic. |
| iDisablePromptForUpgrade |
Specifies whether the application should prompt for upgrades to the next major version (for example, 10.0 to 11.0). |
| iInterval |
Sets the time that can elapse without a successful update before the Watchdog dialog appears suggesting the user manually update. |
| iLastD |
Records the last day the Updater checked for updates; iLastY records the year. |
| iLastY |
Records the last year the Updater checked for updates; iLastD records the day. |
| tlastT_Acrobat |
For 10.1 and later, records the last date the Updater checked for Acrobat updates. |
| tlastT_Reader |
For 10.1 and later, records the last date the Updater checked for Reader updates. |
|
|
| Data type |
string: Binary value > REG_BINARY
|
| Default |
Path to AdobeARM.exe |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run |
| Summary |
Specifies the path to the Updater executable in the Windows Run key. |
| Details |
While the Updater may be invoked by user logon, whether the Updater runs is still subject to the values in
iCheck
|
iLastCheck
or
bUpdater
.
|
|
|
| Data type |
boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
0 |
| Version # |
7.0-9.3.2 and 8.2.2 |
| Path |
Updater |
| Summary |
Specifies whether to check for updates the first time the application runs. |
| Details |
This is an Adobe Update Manager setting which is deprecated since 9.3.2 and 8.2.2. Possible values include:
- 0: Don't check for updates.
- 1: Do check for updates.
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
135 |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Sets the time that can elapse without a successful update before the Watchdog dialog appears suggesting the user manually update. |
| Details |
This is an internal key that is not visible unless the admin creates it manually. When the Updater successfully obtains a manifest it records the download date. iInterval specifies the time interval that is allowed to pass from that download date to a a successful update. The default is 135 days. If the time has elapsed, a dialog appears suggesting the user might want to manually get an update from adobe.com. Possible values include:
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
9.2-10.1 |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Records the last year the Updater checked for updates; iLastD records the day. |
| Details |
By default, the Updater performs an update check every 3 days and records the year and day of that check if 1) no updates are found in the Manifest for the user's current product configuration or 2) if updates have been found and successfully installed. Prior to 10.1, the date is recorded in iLastY and iLastD. For 10.1 and later, the date is recorded in tlastT_Reader or tlastT_Acrobat. If 3 days have not passed, the Updater exits. If more than 3 days have elapsed, the Updater looks for updates.
The last and most current value may be written to HKLM or HKCU. Because the Updater doesn't need elevated privileges to initiate a check or download updates, it will write to HKCU. However, on systems where elevated privileges are required, it writes to HKLM. Therefore, when checking and troubleshooting the last check date always verify the values in both locations.
This value is not customizable as the value is written at runtime.
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
9.2-10.1 |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Records the last day the Updater checked for updates; iLastY records the year. |
| Details |
See iLastY.
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
For 10.1 and later, records the last date the Updater checked for Reader updates. |
| Details |
See iLastY.
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
For 10.1 and later, records the last date the Updater checked for Acrobat updates. |
| Details |
See iLastY.
|
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
2 |
| Version # |
9.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Specifies the Updater's update mode; for example, manual or semi-automatic |
| Details |
The update mode is a machine level setting that cannot be set on a per user basis. This setting configures both Acrobat and Reader until 10.1. After 10.1, use
iCheck
for Acrobat and
iCheckReader
for Reader. Fully automatic and silent updates are introduced for Acrobat with 11.0.01. Possible values include:
- 0: Do not download or install updates automatically.
- 1: Unused.
- 2: Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them.
- 3: Automatically download and install updates.
- 4: (11.0 and later) Notify the user downloads are available but do not download them.
|
| GUI mapping |
Preferences > Updater > Check for Updates panel |
|
|
| Data type |
boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
0 |
| Version # |
10.1 and later |
| Path |
ARMUser |
| Summary |
Specifies whether to show the Opt-In dialog on Adobe Reader
startup so that the user to select automatic updates. |
| Details |
The value is set to 1 if the user chooses Cancel and has
selected a preference other than automatic. The Opt-In dialog does
not appear again if:
- This key's value is 1.
- The preference is already set to automatic.
- The Updater feature is disabled and locked in HKLM OR the existing preference is manual.
Possible values include:
- 0: Do not show the Opt-In dialog.
- 1: Do show the Opt-In dialog.
|
| GUI mapping |
Opt-In dialog's update checkbox. |
|
|
| Data type |
integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
2 |
| Version # |
10.1 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Specifies the Updater's update mode for Adobe Reader 10.1 and later; for example, manual or semi-automatic. |
| Details |
The update mode is a machine level setting that cannot be set on a per user basis. This setting configures Reader since 10.1, but note that the key is not created until a value is specified via the UI. Before 10.1, use
iCheck
. Possible values include:
- 0: Do not download or install updates automatically.
- 1: Unused
- 2: Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them.
- 3: Automatically download and install updates.
- 4: (11.0 and later) Notify the user downloads are available but do not download them.
|
| GUI mapping |
Preferences > Updater > Check for Updates panel |
|
|
| Data type |
boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
10.1.2 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\(if Vista|Win7: Wow6432Node)\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM |
| Summary |
Specifies whether the application should prompt for upgrades to the next major version (for example, 10.0 to 11.0). |
| Details |
If updates have been disabled (bUpdater = 0), then upgrades
are also disabled. The feature also requires that the update settings are set to "automatic."
- 0 or null: No effect.
- 1: Disable the ability of the application to automatically upgrade
from to a higher major version.
|
|
|
| Data type |
boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
|
| Default |
null |
| Version # |
9.2 and 8.1.7 and later |
| Lock Path |
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\(product name)\(version)\FeatureLockdown |
| Summary |
Disables automatic updates and removes associated user interface items. |
| Details |
This setting interacts with
bDeclined
.
- 0: Disables and locks the Updater. Overrides any bDeclined value.
- 1: No effect.
|
| GUI mapping |
Setting bUpdater to 0 disables the user interface items Preferences > Updater and Help > Check for updates. |
