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Participating Frequently
July 25, 2007
Question

Adobe PDF Printer Missing Fix - Adobe Acrobat 8.1 - Vista

  • July 25, 2007
  • 65 replies
  • 142691 views
Adobe PDF Printer Missing Fix - Adobe Acrobat 8.1 - Vista

1. Type "C:\Windows\inf" into the search box on the start menu.
2. Locate the INFCACHE.1 file and right-click it and select Properties.
3. On the INFCACHE.1 Properties window tab to the "Security" tab and click the "Edit" button to change permissions on this file.
4. On the Permissions for INFCACHE.1 window click the "Add" button.
5. On the Select Users or Groups window click the "Advanced" button.
6. A new Select Users or Groups window will open and then click the "Find Now" button.
7. The search results are sorted alphabetically; locate the username you logon to Windows with and then double-click.
8. Under the "Enter the objects names to select..." you should see something like this YOURCOMPUTERNAME\Yourusername
9. Now click the OK button.
10. You will now return to the Permissions for INFCACHE.1 window.
11. Under the Permissions for Yourusername you need to tick "Full Control" under the Allow column. Click the "Apply" button and then the "OK" button.
12. You will be prompted with a "Windows Security" window, just click the "Yes" button and continue.
13. Delete the INFCACHE.1 file.
14. Restart your computer.
15. Open Adobe Acrobat 8.1
16. Locate the Help menu item and click Repair Acrobat Installation
17. Restart if requested to do so.

This fix worked on Windows Vista Business Edition (32-Bit).
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    65 replies

    Participating Frequently
    December 3, 2008
    Marjorie,

    See my previous message for freeware that I found to be a good workaround. It's not perfect b/c it doesn't fix the Adobe printer, but I've used the Bullzip printer to convert several times with no problems.
    Participant
    December 3, 2008
    I am having this problem with windows XP pro and adobe pro 8.1. PDF printer driver is missing. I have tried to install and uninstall many times with no luck. I am also having this problem with standard 8.
    Participating Frequently
    November 29, 2008
    I spent several days uninstalling and re-installing the Adobe 8 b/c the PDF printer didn't work. I tried the fixes listed on the Adobe forums to no avail. After much searching I found a freeware install that converts to PDF. You can find the Bullware at http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php

    This was the only thing that worked for me, but I'm up and running fine now.
    Participant
    November 29, 2008
    Thank you very much for this fix, it worked for me on Adobe Acrobat 9 Professional with Windows Vista Ultimate
    Participating Frequently
    November 23, 2008
    No joy for me. It still doesn't work!

    Is anyone from Adobe reading this?
    Participant
    November 14, 2008
    Worked like a charm for me.

    Changed permissions. Deleted INFCACHE.

    Restarted.

    Ran adobe repair mode.

    Restarted.

    Adobe PDF Printer was in the printer list now and can successfully convert word documents.

    Using Vista Home 32-bit.

    I used this to fix as part of my way of fixing the Missing PDFMaker files error.
    Participating Frequently
    November 11, 2008
    I have the problem too. I am running 32 bit Vista Home. I'm running MS Office 2000. My copy of Acrobat came with CS3 and has auto-updated and now says it's at Acrobat Pro v8.1.3. Shortly after I click the button to convert a .doc to a .pdf, I get a message stating "Acrobat Distiller has stopped working." It happens with every .doc file I've tried.

    I tried deleting the Adobe PDF printers and then adding a new one. It didn't help.

    I converted one .doc file on the Adobe web site, but I'd like to be able to convert files on my own machine.

    Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks.
    Participant
    October 16, 2008
    The original fix described in this thread by Gnavicks - 06:29pm Jul 24, 2007 Pacific seems to work for Windows Vista Home Premium Edition - 64 bit.
    Participant
    July 24, 2008
    I have windows XP media center. I uninstalled Acrobat 8 to download Acr 9 pro extended. No adobe printer was installed .
    Tried the steps given here by Steve Lionel. I was able to add the "Adobe PDF Converter" as printer. Although after the 7th step in Steve's fix, the wizard asked me to search for some files (from XP CDrom) which I was able to locate in the Windows folder-drivers folder and the system32-spool folder.
    I went to acrobat,opened a pdf file and tried to print with this printer and saved it on the desktop. A file appears, but adobe cannot open it however it activates adobe illustrator and opens in that program.
    Lots of time has gone. No solution yet.
    Appreciate any suggestions.
    Thanks

    Update!!!
    I tried printing on this printer from a webpage and it converted the webpage like charm.
    I am more than happy even if I get to use this printer to convert webpages to pdf as now I don't have to install those shady pdf converters and printer drivers.
    This is good as the fix given here works even for XP.
    Thanks for this wonderful solution.
    Participant
    May 28, 2008
    I tried everything and used everyone's advice.

    For me the problem has been that when it was send to the printer, it get stuck at spool. I changed the the pdf printer to

    Find your new printer in Printers. Right click on it and select Properties, Advanced
    Click "Print directly to the printer", click OK

    per Steve's advice and it works now.
    Good luck.