disabling PDF web browser in Adobe Reader

Since Acrobat 6 almost (90+%) of the settings for Acrobat have been moved from HKLM to HKCU. For larger distributions this becomes problematic as each user account on a particular machine need to have the setting pushed to them. Making setting changes/updates post rollout difficult. Also, if 'Detect and Repair' ever rears it's Tiamat head - all bets are off with regards to how the installation will end up when it's done. This issue will continue to be problematic due to the battles between IT control of the desktop, appropriate default OS security controls, Application and OS developers thinking they know 'what's right', End Users breaking their machines by trying to 'fix' things and end users wanting to just do their own thing.

To be fair, this is not all Adobe's fault - but that tiny littke 'M' company up the cost has a lot of 'splain'n to do. And our end users sometimes don't help. :)

In general, use the InstallShield Tuner / Customizer whenever possible - look for my entries in the Ask the Expert's area for more detail on corporate rollout.

Hopping off my soapbox....

To answer your question -

In Reader, the Regpath is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\7.0\Originals
Name : bBrowserIntegration
Type : REG_DWORD
Data : 0 - unchecked
Note: bBrowserIntegration missing indicates 'Checked'

Why is this? I could only hazard to guess... the word obfuscation comes to mind, though.

For those of you interested in Acrobat - the path is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\7.0\Originals

Funny thing - the product is Adobe Reader - the registry path is Adobe Acrobat (it's old name). I guess marketing doesn't have all the control :)

With the above info, you should be able to go a long way to break... errr... modify the product install to suit your tastes.

I hope this helps.