Adobe Reader 11.0.10 update adds Run-Once entry for Speed Launcher

You can always uncheck Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager (AdobeARM.exe) in msconfig to keep it from starting at every boot.

And set Adobe Acrobat Update Service to manual or disabled in services.msc.

Adobe has nasty habit of changing settings for those 2 items with every update. So I routinely check their status whenever I get a Reader update (on the date and time of MY choosing).

Ron,

There's something different this time, in the 11.0.10 update.   I'm using WinPatrol (rather than MSConfig).   Under StartUp, I have Adobe ARM disabled.  And I've also adjusted the Adobe Acrobat Update Service to Manual (from Automatic).

It's the Adobe Speed Launder RunOnce startup entry --- which generates a random number command name (like 1418389807) --- that keeps coming back.   I've tried disabling it, and I've tried deleting it.

If I let it run once (or if it does so even though I've disabled it!), I get a message from Scotty that (having run once), it's been removed from the Startup list.   But then, another one comes back in its place!

Something is very fishy here.

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Additional info/comments:

1) The problem seems to occur on x64-bit versions of Windows, but not on 32-bit versions.   [On 32-bit versions, Scotty is able to DISABLE the Speed Launcher entry... it doesn't keep regenerating.]

2) On one x64-bit system, it now looks like I was successful in disabling various Adobe startups [like ARM] using CCleaner (Tools/Startup) [CCleaner showed it as being enabled, despite WinPatrol's assertion that it was disabled].   I will have to try this on a second system later today to confirm this indeed works.

WinPatrol has acknowledged the issue:   http://www.winpatrol.com/adobe.html

You can change the Reader update options on Reader toolbar:   Edit>Preferences>Updater>Do NOT...   

Been there, done that.   In fact, that was one of the first things I tried.

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And/or I don't use WinPatrol so I just don't see this happening.

If it weren't for WinPatrol, I'd never realize anything was happening in the background.   Basically, each time I booted up on x64, WinPatrol would pop up to advise me that a RunOnce entry was added... or had been removed  (only to re-appear on a subsequent bootup) [I received both types of notices].   So if you don't have WinPatrol, you wouldn't notice any of this.

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Are you running on a 32-bit system?  If so, by my analysis, you might get the run-once ONCE, but not repeatedly.

Also, since you use MSConfig as your startup, that might have handled things properly (as CCleaner seems to have done).

Interesting...

I'm also using Reader XI 11.0.10 too, but I'm not having this problem. Maybe that's because I told Reader never to check automatically for updates when it installed. And/or I don't use WinPatrol so I just don't see this happening.

I searched the registry and don't find any RunOnce that's related to Adobe (there are a couple for IE10.

You can change the Reader update options on Reader toolbar

Edit>Preferences>Updater>Do NOT...   

 Note: This option is at very bottom of Preferences list so you have to scroll down to see it, perhaps intentionally?  

Yes, 32-bit Win 7 Pro. And I just use msconfig to see/manage what launches at startup.

Any idea about Win 8/8.1 ?

Not using any Win8 systems, so I can't say what's happening there.

But just now, on a second Win7x64 system --- where Speed Launcher was repeatedly coming back despite [it and ARM] being DISabled in WinPatrol --- I was finally able to conquer it by disabling ARM via CCleaner.

Still get the WP alert at start up this morning, and a bit later this showed up on the screen.

A script in this movie is causing Adobe Flash Player to run slowly. If it continues to run your computer may become unresponsive. Do you want to abort the script.  YES   NO  I chose NO and nothing happened.

At the time I was listening to online radio and reading the Denver Post online...no movie involved. I have no idea what caused this, but I am thinking simply uninstalling Flash Player later and see what might happen. What about Adobe Reader and Adobe Air? Are these really needed?

If you want to open any .pdf files, you need SOME program that can work with them.   Adobe Reader was/is the original "standard" associated with .pdf files.

As Reader has become bloated, and often comes bundled with unwanted junkware, alternative programs came into existence.   One of the first was FoxIt Reader.   Unfortunately, FoxIt also went the way of including unnecessary junkware.

The newest --- and apparently "clean" alternative --- is Sumatra Reader.   It's Corrine's current recommendation for a .pdf Reader.

You don't need all of these... for the most part, any one should suffice.   My personal CHOICE has been to keep Adobe's Reader, to guarantee me 100% compatibility with .pdf files.   But if you wish, feel free to try the others.

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As for other Adobe products, such as AIR (and Shockwave), only certain programs make use of them.   So if you don't have one of these programs on your system, you don't need them.  (As it happens, I have one program which requires AIR, so I have no choice but to keep it.   It's not a standard program, so it's not worth mentioning here.)

Sumatra has worked well as a my sole pdf reader for XP and Win 7 for quite a while now. It has given me no grief, has no bundled junkware, is a light program and can be updated internally. The current version is 3.0.

I uninstalled Adobe and Foxit Readers for the reasons ky331 cited.

Win 8 has built-in pdf reader, but it's wimpy.

I use free Nitro Reader when I'm not using Adobe, but there haven't been any updates for a while, so starting to wonder if it's got unpatched security holes..??

I believe Nitro pdf came pre-installed on one of my systems....

So what is best way to turn off this pest? Should I use CCleaner? How would I go about shutting it down there?. After looking at WinPatrol just a bit ago, Bret said perhaps it is best just to get rid of it. I might try that.

Dale,

Sorry for the delayed reply... when I tried to respond yesterday, something wasn't working right.

Open CCleaner.   On the left, click on TOOLS.    Then (in the middle) click on STARTUP.   Make sure the WINDOWS column is displayed.   Move your cursor to highlight Adobe ARM.   Then click the DISABLE button (on the right).

Hopefully, that should take care of it.    (You may need to disable or remove the random-number program entry in WinPatrol).  

Thanks David, that seems to have done the trick. Happy Holidays to you and yours..