FlexibleFactory

I like to keep my PC in good working condition. This means limiting the number of startup items and shell menu items that invariably sneak onto one’s PC when installing software from less reputable manufacturers.

If I want a toolbar, I’ll install it, thanks. If I want extra shell items hooked into my rightclick menus, I’d like to ask for them. I certainly don’t want some management buffoon deciding that the best way to up the number of installs of their pet project is by sneaking it in like a trojan on the back of some other product.

I installed the trial version of Illustrator the other day on my PC. Now I have something called AdobeDriveCS4 appearing in my right-click Explorer menus. I don’t want it. I didn’t ask for it. Adobe didn’t tell me it was going to be installed and now it’s there slowing down my machine. No worries… I’ll just uninstall it, right? Nope, there’s no uninstaller available, nor do Adobe publicise how one might get rid of this sneaky trojan.

The thing is, I’d quite like to carry on using Illustrator, and I don’t even know if uninstalling it will get rid of the parasite programs that hide within its monster 1GB (1GB???) installer.

Adobe… this sucks. The public decided a long long time ago that this is a bad idea. How long will it take for your management to catch up with us?

I’ll certainly think twice before I absent mindedly install any other Adobe products.

For the record:

Windows 64bit removal

regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Drive CS4\ADFSMenu.dll"

Windows 32bit removal

regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Drive CS4\ADFSMenu.dll"

Let’s have a page telling this, or even better the option not to install it in the first place. Adobe, if you really, really must install such crap then at least have the decency to provide an uninstaller.

The pity is, I don’t even know what Drive CS4 is. Now I guess I never will.