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di_ny
Inspiring
September 2, 2020
Question

Error opening this document. Bad parameter.

  • September 2, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 4649 views

I used a Windows cleaning program to get rid of junk on my laptop. After I did, I can't click on a PDF to open it. I receive the error "There was an error opening this document. Bad parameter."

 

I can open Acrobat Reader DC then open a file without problem. I did run the Repair Installation in Adobe Acrobat DC but it still has this error. I know that I can uninstall and reinstall Acrobat then the problem will go away until I clean my Windows again but I would like to be able to fix the problem instead so that I don't need to uninstall and reinstall when I run the cleaner.

2 replies

gudguy1a
gudguy1a
Participating Frequently
April 23, 2025

Hello di_ny

This is DEFINITELY late for you and lleberruyer but I had the same BLASTED, FRIGGIN' problem as well.
Did not at first trust the solution but I found the same link on another site and decided to "EXPLICITLY" follow it, line for line.
We HAVE to do the COMBINE PDFs - I just used another one pager XLSX or Word file, something like 10 lines of content.
It actually helped, so I'm passing this along to everyone, as far as possible, go to their link:

And follow the steps, I mean - REALLY follow the steps... in  Solution 1: Combine the PDF with another PDF

Once done, it creates a file called:

  • Binder1.pdf

Afterwards - MAKE SURE to rename it to whatever you want....  

THEN - make sure to delete the extra PDF content that was combined into your original PDF.

And of course, you should do what you set out to do originally — delete the unwanted PDF pages in the document….

 

What ~Amal shared with you is what I found elsewhere, which worked.

Amal.
Community Manager
Amal.Community Manager
Community Manager
September 3, 2020

Hi there

 

We are sorry for the trouble.  As described you are getting the error 'There was an error opening this document. Bad Parameter'

 

Would you mind sharing the version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Adobe Acrobat and make sure you have the latest version 20.12.20043 installed. Go to Help > Check for Updates.

 

For more information please loook at the help page https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html

 

You may also look at the similar discussion https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader/there-was-an-error-opening-this-document-bad-parameter/td-p/11355466?page=1

 

Thanks

Amal

    L
    lleberruyer
    Participant
    March 30, 2024

    Same error with Adobe Acrobat Pro Fully up to date.

    Not really an answer to the issue

     

     

      Amal.
      Community Manager
      Amal.Community Manager
      Community Manager
      April 1, 2024

      Hi there

      Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that

       

      The “Bad Parameter” error occurs when Acrobat finds some problem with the underlying structure of the tags in the PDF file

      Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check. If the file is stored on a shared network/drive please download it to your computer locally and then try again.

      What is the version of the Acrobat DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 24.01.20615 installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

      Additionally please go through the help page https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/bad-parameter-while-deleting-pages-in-acrobat.html and see if that works.

       

      Let us know how it goes.

       

      ~Amal

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