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October 26, 2009
Answered

Acrobat 6.0 and Windows 7 - is there a PDF printer driver available?

  • October 26, 2009
  • 11 replies
  • 169721 views
Hi,
I have been using Acrobat 6.0 with Windows XP fine. However, I just got a new computer that has Windows 7.
I installed Acrobat 6.0 but cannot now convert any documents to PDF on this new computer. I get this error--
"The PDF maker cannot find the Adobe PDF printer driver and to reinstall Adobe Acrobat 6.0"
However, reinstalling Acrobat 6.0 does not help, nor does the repair feature.
Is There a patch for this product? Can I download a driver for the PDF printer so that it is compatible with Windows 7?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Bill12

    The point is this, you will be lucky if AA6 will install on Win7. For VISTA, a few folks got AA7 to work, but the first certified version was AA8.1.3. The main culprit may be AcroTray with VISTA and Win7. You may be able to use AA6. If the print to the Adobe PDF printer does not work, then try the printer with the print-to-file selected. Then open the file in Distiller. That may work. I am not sure that anyone has indicated any success with AA6 on these newer systems, but with your constraints these ideas might help.

    WORD 2007 requires at least AA8.1.3 to get PDF Maker. You can still print to PDF, but not use PDF Maker in AA6 with OFFICE 2007.

    11 replies

    Participant
    September 17, 2024

    hi, i want acrobat distiller 6.0 version

     

    try67
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 17, 2024

    It's no longer available, and is extremely old. Why not use the current version?

    Participant
    May 8, 2021

    I am using the Canon Laserbase MF3220 driver on Win 10 64bit ,, it runs smoothly

    Participant
    September 25, 2011

    This discussion couple years old but I got Acrobat 6.0 to run on Windows 7. First installed Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 then installed Acrobat 6.0 ignoring compatibility issues and it runs successfully. Installing other versions of Photoshop first may also let Acrobat work. Photoshop must provide some of the missing drivers or routines needed by Acrobat 6.0 to operate on Windows 7.

    Participant
    August 12, 2011

    good post. and nice dicussion!

    Participant
    September 29, 2010

    I am working on migrating to Windows 7.  I know through experience that eventually you have to give up the ghost on some applications.

    I've used Acrobat 6.0 for a long time to create PDFs and wanted to know if it would work on W7.  From what I'm reading the answer is clearly a "No."  The bandaids presented here are just that.  Distilling docs sounds like it works, but involves more work than necessary IMO.

    I'd like to point out the fact that when it comes to software, many people have an idea that all versions should work on all future OSes.  I don't know why this is but it's been the case for the 25+ years I've been using software.  Consider a new OS to be like a new car.  You're not going to install the transmission from your old car to the new car just because it works in the old car.

    A new OS does try to accomodate recent versions of software.  But there is a limitation.  AA6 was released in 2003.  That's 7 years ago!!!  It has reached its limitation.  I'm one to say its time to give up the ghost and get new.

    First, I'll try the freebie mentioned here.  Eventually I'll upgrade to the latest version but will consider [cheaper] alternatives.

    Inspiring
    September 29, 2010

    With early versions of DOS and Windows, most things ported forward with no problem. Since XP, things have changed and many things in the OS have caused problems with older programs. I am still using a 3.1 graphics package that I prefer over everything else, but on occasion it crashes. It even works in Win7 and I am surprised. The early versions of the MAC OS required an almost completely new set of software with each update. I think that has changed and the MAC and Windows are similar in the update requirements. Some folks seem to want to rush to the latest, greatest (not necessarily the best) and keep getting in trouble because of incompatibilities. I assume you have read some of the issues with OFFICE 2010 and Acrobat. Of course, even VISTA and Win7 require additional drivers for the standard HELP to work within these OSs. Even OFFICE had that problem, and it is a MS product!

    My comments aside, I do not think that AA6 works at all with Win7. Folks have been somewhat successful with AA8 with updates. I have not heard of anyone being successful (at least not to a useful level) with anything before AA8. For an X64 system, the requirements are even stiffer. Bottom line for AA6 -- NO.

    Participant
    August 7, 2010

    I have been using Acrobat 6.0 with Windows Vista Basic for quite a while now, having given up on the conversion of M.S Office files to PDF function of the program. After various attempts to solve this problem with the PDF printer installation. I finally decide to give it one more attempt by trying your suggestion and it worked. Now I can convert to PDF directly from M.S Office applications.

    Thanks a lot

    Participating Frequently
    August 9, 2010

    Jehater, which suggestion worked for you?

    Participant
    August 10, 2010

    I downloaded and installed the free PDF printer driver available at Bullzip.com as suggested by Angelsglow. Once installed, just go to the File menu, select Print, then select Bullzip printer and hit O.K. and Save - Your file will be converted to PDF and opened in Adobe.

    Participating Frequently
    May 23, 2010

    My question is do you have to have a postscipt printer installed for Distiller to be able to read the files produced by the printer?

    Participant
    May 23, 2010

    I dont know.

    I cannot use acrobat 6.0 with my new windows 7 computer.

    I also bought low cost $49.00 acrobat 9 pro and I cant register it with the serial number. Adobe says the people that sold it to me were giving me serial numbers that were not issued by Adobe.

    I don tknow what a post script printer is.

    I got my money back but really wish i could go back to acrobat 6.0 but when try to install it says; cant install the pdf printer.

    Clark

    Inspiring
    May 23, 2010

    Then install any PS printer that is available in Win7. There are likely several from HP and other printer manufacterers. Set it up to print to file. Then simply open the file in Distiller. As I mentioned earlier, you may be able to set up a watched folder with Distiller for AA6 on Win7 to automate the conversion process. If it works, I have no clue since I do not have that configuration installed. However, it is the only automatic way I can think of with AA6. The PS driver will be necessary if the Adobe PDF printer will not install. You may lose some feature, but if it works you have a method of creating PDFs.

    February 14, 2010

    I have Acrobat 6 as well and just upgraded to windows 7. Can't afford Acrobat Version 9 either. From what I understand, only Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL, ULTIMATE or ENTERPRISE editions can you run most Windows XP productivity programs in Windows XP Mode(separate download). At least that's what I read here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-modeI wonder if that will help you. I unfortunately only have STARTER edition.

    *The following text is copied and pasted from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-xp-mode

    Windows 7 Feature has a Windows XP Mode

    It's the best of both worlds: The new Windows XP Mode lets you run older Windows XP business software right on your Windows 7 desktop.

    Designed primarily with small- and medium-sized businesses in mind, Windows XP Mode comes as a separate download and works only with Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise. Windows XPMode also requires virtualization software such as WindowsVirtual PC. Both are available free on the Microsoft website.

    To download Windows XP Mode or learn about its system requirements, visit the Windows Virtual PCwebsite.

    Windows XP Mode, available for the Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7, helps prevent older business programs from becoming obsolete.

    Message was edited by: Murie

    Participant
    June 4, 2010

    I have Windows 7 Starter on an Acer netbook and all I do to get to the XP SP3 mode is right click on properties for the icon which is the software program I cannot run in W7, and then  click the tab "Compatibility" and then check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for" XP SP3

    Participant
    November 21, 2009

    I am on the same boat. Before I purchased Windows 7, I thought I made sure it supported all my software's that run perfectly on XP. After all Microsoft said, upgrade for XP is a clean install and advised customers to collect all setup disks to reinstall application from groundsup. I did. Now; Adobe Acrobat 6.0 does not work, so are many other software's such as Autocad 2006, Maple Math software version 10. I am not in to software fashion trend. I feel Microsoft did misled me to believe that its windows 7 upgrade supports all my XP applications. Either Microsoft effectively addresses compatability as was in XP or I will be headed for class action. On top of that, windows 7 just came out not more than a month ago and it is already full of patches and repairs.


    This is one product that is anti-scientific equipment as well. It supports none of the drivers nor applications written for IEE488 where as XP and 2000 did not have trouble supporting. We are not all in to fun and games. Windows 7 may good for play about, but it is far from being business and science friendly.


    Although I do have accsess to Adobe Acrobat 9 through educational institute, personaly I like Acrobat 6.0. It worked on XP and it better work on windows 7 or money back.


    I also want to see Microsoft allow me custom install so its muble and jumble 8GB worthless game and play data is not sitting on my hard drive. That way I get to install just bare bone windows 7 that supports just what I want, not what Microsoft wants. Microsoft need to recognize many industrial hardware's and their applicatinons are complex and need window to be flexible and friendly.

    Participant
    April 15, 2011

    Your compatability argument is total BS!  If I bought a car from 1901, I could still run it on the road today and get to my destination.  In fact, the amish STILL ride their buggys to town.  Neither the Roads or the Transportation Vehicles took 1 or 2 years to become obsolete.  Additionally, isn't it convenient that my MS office suite from 2003 is STILL working with Windows 7 just fine in 2011, but my Adobe Acrobat 7.0 has become unworkable with the upgraded operating system.  I agree with the woman in the other post that we should move to a class action suit against MS as it appears to be the only thing the business world understands.

    An operating system is and should be the transportation roadway, not a ROADBLOCK to digital transportation.  I can still run my vehicle on a dirt roadway TODAY, I can still read a book written on paper a thousand years ago, I can still fly an older plane in the skys today.  All satisfactory, granted all be it a little slower, but I can still get to where I want to go.  There is NO EXCUSE NOT to design a digital system that promotes compatability.  The fact that the DVD world has moved to Blue Ray as an argument for upgrading in the digital world has to do with only one thing - planned obsolesence at the expense of the public to make money.  Not to mention that we are talking about the difference between luxury and necessity.  Systems of necessity are robustly built to be used for many years with multiple types of vehicles.

    Participant
    August 12, 2011

    Error: Your book has either degraded beyond recognition, been obscured by black mold, or you have upgraded to a different language within the past 1,000 years. For solutions please consider: Finding a digital copy of the book, hiring a translator. If these solutions fail, consider changing human nature by writing with a lot of capital letters.

    Bill12Correct answer
    Inspiring
    October 26, 2009

    The point is this, you will be lucky if AA6 will install on Win7. For VISTA, a few folks got AA7 to work, but the first certified version was AA8.1.3. The main culprit may be AcroTray with VISTA and Win7. You may be able to use AA6. If the print to the Adobe PDF printer does not work, then try the printer with the print-to-file selected. Then open the file in Distiller. That may work. I am not sure that anyone has indicated any success with AA6 on these newer systems, but with your constraints these ideas might help.

    WORD 2007 requires at least AA8.1.3 to get PDF Maker. You can still print to PDF, but not use PDF Maker in AA6 with OFFICE 2007.

    Participant
    October 27, 2009

    I tried using the "Print to file" option, and this works. I found it to be a bit annoying to manually distill every file, so I added a "watched folder" in distiller, and also set it up to view the resulting pdf. This works great, even if the files have the standard .prn extension (so you don't have to remember to type .ps in the filename for every file you print). In effect, this is the same as printing directly to the Adobe PDF printer, except the file has to be stored in the watched folder, instead of the desired (in my case, at least) project folder. While it is still a bit annoying to have to move the file manually, I think this approach minimizes the burden to an acceptable level. Now I only need to figure out a way to hide the distiller icon in the taskbar.

    In any case the method works, with or without any added degrees of automation.

    Participant
    May 4, 2010

    I cant understand this. How are you doing it?