Adobe Reader

Noreen · Feb 11, 2008, 18:10:30

I've been using Adobe Reader 6 which I realise is well out of date but it still works. I was a bit disturbed by this item http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/11/adobe_reader_exploit/ and tried to install the latest version. However I don't think that it installed properly as it seemed to stall and later I couldn't open the new version or read any pdfs. I've done a system restore back to the previous version now. How should I go about this? Remove v6 and then start from scratch or update to the latest v7 which I can do from inside my existing program and then update to the latest version 8?

madasahatter · Feb 11, 2008, 18:13:50

I'd probably go the 6 to 7 to 8 way round if it's any help.

Rik · Feb 11, 2008, 18:13:57

Personally, I would remove v6, and then install v8, Noreen, or is that what you tried?

madasahatter · Feb 11, 2008, 18:14:34

Aha - only 2 answers, and two different opinions already

Rik · Feb 11, 2008, 18:15:15

That's the beauty of a forum, Mad, you'll always get differing experiences.

Noreen · Feb 11, 2008, 18:30:55

I didn't remove v6 but went to their site and downloaded the latest version of 8, during the installation it said that it was removing previous versions which it apparently did. But the installation bar seemed to stop just short of 100% and in the end I had to close it, hoping that it would work. It was installed on the desktop and in the Start Program list but neither worked. Which version do you people use?

Baz · Feb 11, 2008, 18:31:52

or try this Noreen http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

its good. I didnt use adobe a lot but when you need it, it would always give me grief. tried this and was impressed.

Rik · Feb 11, 2008, 18:35:31

I use v8, Noreen, having removed older versions supplied with machines and started from scratch. After your abortive upgrade, did you look in Control Panel > Add/Remove programs to see what was showing there? My gut instinct is that the installation had not completed, but had removed the older version and put the shortcuts in place. Was there any other software running at the time?

madasahatter · Feb 11, 2008, 18:44:20

I'm still on version 7. Haven't been bothered to try updating it yet.

Rik · Feb 11, 2008, 18:46:45

You should, ideally, if you use it online at all.

Noreen · Feb 11, 2008, 18:49:31

I've tried Foxit, Baz, and it wouldn't open some of my genealogy stuff which is essential.

No, Rik, I didn't look in Add/Remove programs. The only stuff running would be security programs. I'll have another go later on and remove v6 and install v8 from scratch. I wouldn't bother with v8 if it wasn't for the security updates as v6 does everything that I want.

Rik · Feb 11, 2008, 19:01:14

If you have a similar problem, Noreen, try opening Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del) and see if that gives you a clue, either with a not responding for the installer, or a high usage under processes.

Sebby · Feb 11, 2008, 21:14:26

If you find that you can't uninstall the old version now that version 8 has had a mess around, it might be necessary to install version 6 in order to uninstall it. I would have thought that reinstalling version 8 would work, though, assuming that it installs successfully second time around.

Noreen · Feb 11, 2008, 23:04:00

I used system restore to get me back to before v8 tried to install so I'm using v6 at the moment, Sebby.

Noreen · Feb 12, 2008, 00:33:46

I removed v6 and installed v8, it said that it installed successfully but it still won't open. I can open other items in the folder but not the program itself either on the desktop or in the folder.

Inactive · Feb 12, 2008, 00:37:19

I had a similar problem with Adobe, I just changed to Foxit, it has opened every PDF that I have thrown at it.

Noreen · Feb 12, 2008, 00:46:24

OK I'll try Foxit.

Inactive · Feb 12, 2008, 00:49:57

Nothing to lose Noreen, if it works, fine, if not, it's back to Adobe problems.

Noreen · Feb 12, 2008, 01:03:16

Foxit appears to work OK, thanks. I've been posting PDFs for Malc in the Roots thread. Would he be able to open those saved with Foxit even if he's using Adobe reader?

Inactive · Feb 12, 2008, 01:17:14

I would think so Noreen, they are in the same format.

Glad Foxit seems to be working, I prefer it to Adobe.

Rik · Feb 12, 2008, 09:20:44

Quote from: Noreen on Feb 12, 2008, 01:03:16
Foxit appears to work OK, thanks. I've been posting PDFs for Malc in the Roots thread. Would he be able to open those saved with Foxit even if he's using Adobe reader?

Did you have the full Acrobat, Noreen, or are you just talking about PDF files created elsewhere which you're saving from Foxit?

Noreen · Feb 12, 2008, 09:49:57

I'll attach a Foxit saved file to this post and perhaps someone that uses only Adobe Reader will be kind enough to check if they can open it.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Feb 12, 2008, 09:50:36

No problems, Noreen.

Noreen · Feb 12, 2008, 10:07:14

Thanks Rik, I did notice that it "appeared" to take longer to attach than the previous Adobe attachments. I've tried it with some of my commercial genealogy CDs which use Adobe Reader and it seems to work so far, this is where a previous version of Foxit had failed. As you can imagine that was no good for me.

I can't understand why Adobe Reader 8 won't open when it appeared to install without a problem, apparently In had a similar problem.

Inactive · Feb 12, 2008, 10:10:25

It opened in seconds using Foxit here Noreen.

Looks like a result.