Adobe PDF Reader Add-on - IE11

We are experiencing this as well, multiple users and it is very frustrating for them to constantly "disable and re-enable" this add-on. Also since moving to IE 11, we are getting an error stating "There is a problem with Adobe Acrobat/ Reader. If it is running, please exit and try again. (1014:1014). The people getting this error only have Reader DC installed, not Acrobat or a combination.

From a security stand point, It isn't plausible to "disable malware scanning on active X controls" as some have suggested to correct this. We use many internal applications that do not work with other browsers, so that isn't an option either.

Our organization is experiencing the same thing. I've opened a case with Adobe (0187127610) but they seem less than interested in helping to find a resolution. The case was opened on 10/13 and after being escalated once through the chat session I was told they would escalate and call back in 48-72 hours. I left a note after 4 days because they had not contacted me yet and then I was told to expect a response to my note in 24-48 hours. On 10/23 I missed their call and got a voicemail and email instructing me to call them back at 1-800-833-6687. I promptly called them back and there are no choices in their phone tree to reference an open case and any support choices direct you to visit their online forums. I opened my case notes and explained that I could not contact them back at the number they provided, that is the last exchange I've had with them.

TL;DR

Opened case with Adobe Support...they don't care

Ran into the same problem while deploying IE11 through SCCM. Even freshly imaged machines with no Adobe updates experience this issue. We implemented a band-aid fix: GPO deletes the problematic reg key every 90 minutes. Opened a ticket with Microsoft support and they're stumped so far. It's definitely user-based as it works for some users but not all when they use the same machine to go to the same website. Has anyone contacted Adobe Support directly for their input?

Folks, wanted to point you towards a possible solution I found since this thread helped point me in the right direction. I stumbled upon this post: (Acrobat Reader XI addon gets disabled periodically in Internet Explorer within Windows domain - Server Fault) Turns out it may be an issue with SCEP. You may need to look at a policy that deletes the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000} key from the registry for people already affected as well as sets "Don't run antimalware programs against ActiveX controls" to Enabled in Computer Configuration/Policies/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Internet Explorer/Internet Control Panel/Security Page/Trusted Sites Zone (or any zone you really need it for). If you only set it for Trusted Sites, it wont fix it everywhere obviously but it would at least fix it for sites you push out as Trusted Sites. Certainly hope this helps those affected. I killed way too much time trying to figure this out.

Does anyone have any update on this issue?  We are seeing this exact scenario at our organization and went through basically the exact steps mentioned above, prior to finding this post.  Since the last post was in April I am not sure if there is any update or not.  DC is still the newest reader so it seems that there may not be anything new but I just thought I'd ask.

Hi guys,

this is for adobe reader 10-11 not tested on DC.

don't know if this helps and it stills needs some testing, but I've been looking at this issue and found that machines which its occured on have the adobe reader addon sit in manage add-ons in "all Add-ons" but machines its not affected on, as yet are ones that have the adobe reader in "Run without permission".

The registry entry that i found when its in "All add-ons" is

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}\iexplore] - (NOTE - check your class ID as it might be different to this one, you can check this by double clicking on the addon)

"Type"=dword:00000001

"Flags"=dword:00000004

"Count"=dword:00000060

"Time"=hex:df,07,04,00,02,00,1c,00,0b,00,1d,00,1e,00,a8,03

"Blocked"=dword:0000002c

To Change it to "Run without permission" Remove This entry.

Also check this entry is not in the registry as this is the disable command.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}]

"Flags"=dword:00000001

"Version"="*"

However if there's an entry in [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}] which does not have the above entries (disable commands) then this is the cause of the the problem.

the only thing i can't work out is why its reaccuring, because when you disable the add-on it puts the entry above in which adds the entries in the bad entry, then when you enable the addon its removes the entry completely.

As i said still testing but hope this info helps .

Just wanted to throw my hat in the mix.  Same group policies applied as above, sccm deployments, upgraded all machines to dc and the problem remains.  The only fix for us is to disable and re-enable, but since our users dont have access to the manage add-ons menu through group policy it becomes a real problem.  If I find anything out Ill let you guys know.

hello,

We are experiencing the exact same issues you are having where the only fix is to disable and enable the Adobe PDF Reader Add-On in the browser.

Whats the Answer from Adobe? No Answer, No Problem!!?!!

Thanks for Infos.

Hi,

We're experiencing the same issue and have spent many hours on the phone with Adobe trying to resolve. Our users currently use the Disable/Enable to briefly resolve the issue but like you've mentioned it can return within hours/days/weeks. We did find that setting the IE option "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting" to enable resolved the issue for a period of months but it has now returned. We did manage to find a website that caused the issue so were able to recreate the problem but this is no longer the case.

Thanks

Hello,

We are experiencing the exact same issues you are having where the only fix is to disable and enable the Adobe PDF Reader Add-On in the browser.  We are using IE 11 on Windows 8.1 with Group Policy settings in place as well.  It doesn't happen all the time and after the Add-On is disabled and enabled, it can work for a day or for several weeks before having to disable and enable it again.  I do have several sites listed in the pop up allow list as well as other group policy options defined.  I will have to go through mine and compare what you have listed above against what I have.  When I do that, I will report back.