When attempting to uninstall Adobe Reader 8.1.1
by way of the Control Panel - Add or Remove, I
receive the following error message:

"This patch could not be opened. Verify that the patch
exists and that you can access it, or contact the
application vendor to verify that this is a valid
Windows Installer patch package."

I would like to download Adobe Reader 9.0; however,
it is necessary to first remove the above edition
before this can be successfully be performed.

I have limited tech experience; however, I can
follow step-by-step instructions.

I would be most grateful for any help you might
provide me....


Thank you
cordially
geoheid



Some computer specs:

Operating System: Windows XP
Ver. - (Windows XP Professional
Service Pack - (2)
Computer Make: custom

Processor: 2.40 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.402 MHz.
Memory: 2048 MB.
Hard Drive: 120 GB.
Screen Resolution: 800 by 600
Web Browser: IE 7
E-Mail Client: Outlook Express 6
* This computer is a Desktop or Tower.
* I connect to the Internet using a High
Speed connection. (DSL)

Download & install the Windows Install Cleanup utility from microsoft. Follow the usage instructions on the web page. I'm assuming that you have tried using windows add/remove programs? Look for any entry that has adobe reader in it (there might be more than one). Click on the entry & then click remove. Hopefully that'll take care of your problem.

"This patch could not be opened. Verify that the patch
exists and that you can access it, ..."

Is it patch or path?

If path, open My Computer or Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe. If you find the Adobe directory (folder), and the Reader is the only Abobe element you use, delete the Abobe directory from C:\Program Files.

Then attempt the install of Reader 9.

As an alternative to Adobe Reader, I recommend Foxit Reader; Foxit Software It's a much better program, also free, without all the overhead/bloat of Adobe Reader.

If further clean up of Add/Remove Programs entries are required, there are ways.

Post back with your results and any further questions.

I also recommend Foxit reader. Seems to have all of the functionality of adobe reader (or the most important stuff), installs smaller (<10 mb as compared to ~200 mb for version 9), & takes up less ram when in use. Also Adobe reader likes to run a little program all of the time & nags about updates.