I am trying to run Adobe Acrobat on Debian 13 GNOME with Wine, but face the following error:

```bash
wine AcroRdrDCx642600121662_en_US.exe
```
```
wine: could not load kernel32.dll, status c0000135
```
Jul 1, 9:52am

The error wine: could not load kernel32.dll, status c0000135 typically indicates that Wine is not properly installed or configured on your Debian 13 system. This error can also occur if Wine is missing critical dependencies or if the architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit) is mismatched.

Let’s troubleshoot step by step:

1. Verify Wine Installation

Run the following command to check if Wine is installed and its version:

bash
wine --version

If Wine is not installed, install it using:

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine

2. Install Wine Dependencies

Wine requires several dependencies to function correctly. Install them with:

bash
sudo apt install wine64 wine32 libasound2-plugins:i386 libsdl2-2.0-0:i386 libfreetype6:i386 libdbus-1-3:i386 libsqlites3-0:i386

3. Check Architecture Support

Adobe Acrobat is a 64-bit application. Ensure your system supports 64-bit Wine:

bash
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine64

If you need to run 32-bit applications, also install:

bash
sudo apt install wine32

4. Initialize Wine Prefix

Wine uses a "prefix" (a directory acting as a virtual C: drive). Initialize it for 64-bit:

bash
WINEARCH=win64 WINEPREFIX=~/.wine64 winecfg
  • If you want to use a 32-bit prefix instead, use WINEARCH=win32.

5. Reinstall Adobe Acrobat

After setting up Wine, try reinstalling Adobe Acrobat:

bash
WINEARCH=win64 WINEPREFIX=~/.wine64 wine AcroRdrDCx642600121662_en_US.exe

6. Check for Missing DLLs

If the error persists, Wine may be missing kernel32.dll. You can check and override DLLs using winecfg:

bash
winecfg
  • Navigate to the Libraries tab and add kernel32 (native, builtin).

7. Use a Clean Wine Prefix

Sometimes, a corrupted prefix causes issues. Create a new one:

bash
rm -rf ~/.wine
WINEARCH=win64 winecfg

Then retry installing Adobe Acrobat.

8. Alternative: Use PlayOnLinux or Bottles

If Wine is still problematic, consider using PlayOnLinux or Bottles to manage Wine prefixes and installations more easily:

bash
sudo apt install playonlinux

or

bash
flatpak install flathub com.usebottles.bottles

9. Check for Known Issues

Adobe Acrobat is not officially supported by Wine. Check the WineHQ AppDB for compatibility reports and workarounds for your specific version.

Final Notes

  • Debian 13 is very new (as of July 2026). If Wine is not yet fully compatible, consider using a stable release like Debian 12.
  • Adobe Acrobat is proprietary and may not work perfectly under Wine. Alternatives like Evince, Okular, or Foxit Reader (via native Linux packages) are recommended for PDF viewing/editing.
Jul 1, 9:52am

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