When you install Adobe Reader XI in your computer two processes related to it AdobeARM.exe and reader_sl.exe are automatically set to run at startup, you can notice them running under Processes tab in Task Manager. Let us see more details about these two processes before knowing how to disable or delete them.
AdobeARM.exe is Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager that checks for Reader updates and installs them when found without requiring intervention of user. Adobe Reader is configured to automatically install updates to keep you always on a secured version.
reader_sl.exe
On the other hand, reader_sl.exe is another process which has description Adobe Acrobat SpeedLauncher runs from path ‘ C:Program FilesAdobeReader 11.0Reader’ and this process shortens the time needed to start reader by preloading its components.
You can’t disable or delete this file, if you delete it, Windows configures Adobe Reader and that file will gets added to Reader folder mentioned above when you launch Reader. So forget about disabling reader_sl.exe it also doesn’t hog system resources.
Without AdobeARM.exe process Adobe Reader can function, if you think this process is eating valuable system resources then here is how you can disable it.
Disabling AdobeARM.exe
1. Open Adobe Reader, from Edit menu select ‘Preferences’ (Ctrl +K)
2. Once the Preferences panel opens select ‘Updater’ tab and select ‘Do not download or install updates automatically’ which by default set to ‘automatically install updates’.
3. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
4. Now open ‘Run’ command using Win+R and type msconfig and press Enter
5. In the system configuration dialog, click ‘Startup’ and remove tick mark for ‘Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager’, click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
Note: While we and Adobe recommend to automatically install updates, follow the steps mentioned in this article at your own risk, we’re not responsible for damage incur in your computer.
