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royow
Participating Frequently
August 2, 2010
Question

Unable to set default program for .pdf

  • August 2, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 27758 views

CURRENT PROBLEM:

As show in print screen, when i attempt to set default program nth happens at all. The only way i can open any .pdf file now is by 1st opening adobe reader 9 and select the .pdf file manually

INITIAL STAGE OF PROBLEM:

Problem started after upgrading to windows 7 from vista. Windows 7 is able to recognise adobe reader 8 as a valid default program since it is in windows.old. Thus the default for .pdf is adobe reader 8 (it was installed in vista).

Subsequently, installing adobe reader 9 isof  no use as it will be ignored and windows 7 will only continue to use adobe reader 8 as the default reader when i try to open a .pdf file, unless if i manually opened adobe reader 9 and selected a .pdf file manaually

However, I am unable to uninstall adobe reader 8 as the "program and feature" can only identify adobe reader 9 and does not think that adobe reader 8 exists.

ATTEMPTs TO SOLVE:

Thus, I removed windows.old by using the disk cleanup. However, I am still unable to set adobe reader 9 as the default reader. Instead, .pdf are no longer accessible/"open-able" unless I 1st opened adobe reader 9 and then selected a .pdf manaually.

I've attempted reinstalling and restarting comps etc, they dun seem to help. I suspect the OS is now only able to recognise adobe reader 8 from windows.old as a valid program directory due to some registry issues since it was initally set as the default when i 1st upgraded the OS. Now that adobe reader 8 is removed, there might be some corrupted registry somewhere that needs to be set right again?

Really need help with this. Thanks a million.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    W
    walkerkarl
    Participant
    March 30, 2012

    I had the same problem.

    I'm using WIndows 7, so here's how I fixed it...

    1. Uninstall Adobe from your system.

    2. Go to C/SwSetup and install Adobe 8 from there.....

    3. Go to C/Program files/Adobe/Reader 8.0/Reader/and copy the AcroRd32 file and save it in the same folder as "AcroRd32.exe and exit the folder.

    4. You can now go to control panel/programs/default programs/make a file type always open in a specific program and click it.

    5. Scroll down to pdf and click choose program.

    6. Select AcroRd32.exe from the Adobe folder location and click "Ok"

    7. Click on the pdf file and it will open in Adobe reader.

    pwillener
    pwillener
    Legend
    March 31, 2012

    walkerkarl wrote:

    copy the AcroRd32 file and save it in the same folder as "AcroRd32.exe

    Very confusing instructions; there is no AcroRd32 file without an extension.

    The file association should automatically be set after you reinstall the Reader.

    D
    derliebesmuskel
    Participant
    August 3, 2010

    Having the EXACT same problem!

    I'm currently using vista, but had a system crash several months ago. I reinstalled Vista, but kept the "old" install to save my personal files. When I pulled everything out of the old install and deleted it, my .pdf files were no longer associated with a default program. Now, any attempts to set Reader as the new default have no effect. When trying to "open with" and "set default" the .exe file for reader doesn't seem to be reconizable to windows. Very annoying having to open adobe then select the file I want manually.

    pwillener
    pwillener
    Legend
    August 2, 2010

    See this post how to associate .PDF with your current Adobe Reader: http://forums.adobe.com/message/3013395#3013395

    P.S. does Reader 8 still show in Add/Remove Programs?

    R
    royowAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    August 2, 2010

    Hi, thanks for advise but it doesnt work after i've tried it. i think the problem isnt with microsoft recognising .pdf files but rather recognising reader 9 as a valid program. any other things i might be able to try?

    R
    royowAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    August 2, 2010

    oh yeah.. maybe i was beig clear, reader 8 was NEVER in the add/remove option ever since i've upgraded my OS to windows 7. but it was set as the default program to open .pdf files with for some reason.

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