# Why can't I install Adobe Acrobat with Windows XP?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-adobe-acrobat-with-windows-xp/122267>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 4, 2002, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-adobe-acrobat-with-windows-xp/122267 "2002-08-04T04:17:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-adobe-acrobat-with-windows-xp/122267/1 "2002-08-04T04:17:08Z")

</div>

I just got a new laptop with Windows XP on it. I recently downloaded Adobe Acrobat version 5, and have had the weirdest problem with it. After I save the file on my desktop, I double click it and it says “Unpacking files” and a list of files scrolls in a little box on the top of the screen. Then nothing happens. None of the “unpacked” files are anywhere to be found on my computer. When I look at the task manager, it says that both the file that I downloaded and “setup.exe” are running, even though they clearly aren’t. Anyone else have this problem, or have any idea what I can do to fix it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-adobe-acrobat-with-windows-xp/122267/2 "2002-08-04T04:27:46Z")

</div>

Make sure that the account you are logged on with is an administrator account and not a limited account. I’ve seen Acrobat do this on Windows 2000 when you do not have the proper permissions.

Hope this helps,

MC$E

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-adobe-acrobat-with-windows-xp/122267/3 "2002-08-04T04:33:27Z")

</div>

Make sure that the account you are logged on with is an administrator account and not a limited account. I’ve seen Acrobat do this on Windows 2000 when you do not have the proper permissions.

Hope this helps,

MC$E