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John29468553ducd
Participant
April 18, 2023
Answered

Adobe Acrobat does not open (two instances in task manager)

  • April 18, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 2558 views

I have used the Aero cleaner program to fully remove both Reader and Acrobat. rebooted the computer then installed either and then tried to launch PDF file. 

If I have Acrobat or Reader open, the pdf opens as expected. If I set windows to use a different default program for pdf viewing, no issues. I only get this behavior, when I launch a pdf from the file. No error presented. Just two copies of the program are listed under Background Processes.

I have a .dmp file from taskmanager of the one of the programs hanging.

 

 

Correct answer John29468553ducd

It appears that protected mode was started. One solution would to have been to whitelist the %temp% directory from Adobe's protections. The other was to modify the SQL commands launching the pdfs.

Old command:

client_host('cmd /c start ' || v_filename);

New command:

webutil_host.nonblocking('cmd /c ' || vfilename);

 

 

3 replies

D
davehumphrys
Participating Frequently
February 24, 2025

I have the exact issue, my PC did a windows update and now  Reader hangs for quite some minutes then the pop up says there are 2 instances running. I have un installed, reboted - a fresh install and it still does the same. - I have to use Gooogle to open these right now for work. - I do not understand the white listing shown here. - please show me how to do this fuction. Many thanks for you Help here.

 

J
John29468553ducdAuthor
Participant
February 24, 2025

In my case, I was opening a generated PDF from an SQL database; Acrobat didn't have the needed permissions to open the files that were created on the fly. I will also note that my issues were only related to the PDFs that I was opening from the SQL source. all other PDF files opened as expected.

D
davehumphrys
Participating Frequently
February 24, 2025

Thanks John, - So this is different, I apriate your input - all the best.

J
John29468553ducdAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
April 25, 2023

It appears that protected mode was started. One solution would to have been to whitelist the %temp% directory from Adobe's protections. The other was to modify the SQL commands launching the pdfs.

Old command:

client_host('cmd /c start ' || v_filename);

New command:

webutil_host.nonblocking('cmd /c ' || vfilename);

 

 

R
Rodog28906367xbmz
Participant
February 23, 2025

Hi John,

I am having this issue in right now. Im a bit too computer basic to understand what your doing above with command lines. Can you help at all or explain any further? I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling acrobat and it hasnt fixed things.

Thanks in advance

 

    J
    John29468553ducdAuthor
    Participant
    April 18, 2023

    I will also add that local administrators do not have this issue, local computer users are primarly affected.

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