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"Cannot use adobe reader to view pdf in your web browser" error in Windows 7 and Acrobat pro 8.1.7

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
October 22, 2009
44 replies
286472 views

I get the error "Cannot use adobe reader to view pdf in your web browser. Reader will now exit. Please exit your browser and try again" in Windows 7 x32 and Windows 7 x64 with Acrobat pro 8.1.7. This happens when trying to open a PDF file in Internet explorer 8.0.760 or when I open a PDF in Quickbooks 2008. If I answer ok or cancel the file opens normally. If I open acrobat 8 first then the pdf files open as expected. I also tried a copy of Acrobat reader with no difference in the outcome. Since this happens on two different computers one fresh copy of windows 7 x64 the other an upgrade to windows 7 x32 and they used to work before the change to windows 7, I assume there is some kind of incompatibility with windows 7 and acrobat. Is this a known issue and will it be fixed in an update to acrobat in the near future?

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Correct answer Bernd Alheit

For Windows 7 you will need Adobe Acrobat 9.1.

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LarryCasey

Participant

After years of living with this problem, I finally found an easy solution!!

This page contains a simple .reg file that fixes Adobe's PDF preview handler on 64-bit versions of Windows.

Open RegEdit and go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}

There should be an existing AppID value, incorrectly set to {6d2b5079-2f0b-48dd-ab7f-97cec514d30b}

Change the AppID value to {534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}

Credit--> http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/index.html and Maximum PC December 2009 issue page 26

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jrfendrick

Participating Frequently

Thanks for the information, but this does not cure the issues I am experiencing with opening PDF's in a web browser with Windows 7 64-bit. This may very well cure other issues involving preview handlers on 64-bit Windows, but I think the browser issues are related to the browser plugin and its compatibility with Windows 7, and not preview handlers. After applying both registry edits discussed in the article, and then rebooting, I still get the "Cannot use Adobe Reader..." when trying to open PDF's in Firefox and IE8 on Windows 7 x64.

I did not experience this problem on Vista x64 - only 7 x64. Is this issue limited to 64-bit Windows 7, or are users also experiencing it on 32-bit Windows 7?

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billrp

Inspiring

The original posting in this thread says the problem is in Win7 32 bit. None of the "fixes' posted in this thread have fixed the problem for me.

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jrfendrick

Participating Frequently

I've also been experiencing this same issue, for about three months now. (http://forums.adobe.com/thread/480371?tstart=0). I'm not exactly an expert in these things, but I'm guessing the issues track back to the nppdf32.dll plugin. For Firefox, it has not been updated since 8.1.3. For Internet Explorer, the plugins appear to be from 8.1. I opened nppdf32.dll with a hex editor, and although I couldn't find much of anything of any use to me, I did find the error message we're all seeing buried in the code. Perhaps all that needs done is an update to the browser plugins?

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Anonymous

Had the exact same problem on my computer running Windows 7 and Acrobat Pro 8.1. I also have both Firefox and IE 8.

The solution that worked for me was really simple, just open Firefox and in the Tools menu, choose Internet options, goto the programs tab and change the associated action for PDF files to Use Adobe Acrobat 8.1.

This solved the problem both in IE and Firefox. Hope this helps.

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blakmoon71

Participant

tvandersluijs - I'm sorry if that screwed up your machine however:

1. What version of Adobe Reader are you using because as you can see the registry entry is for Adobe Reader 9, if ur using Adobe Reader 8 then u need to specify ur version as PAllens entry suggested - "E.g. "C:\Program files\Adobe\Acrobat [version]\Reader\AcroRd32.exe""

2. I've used this solution significantly because I have come across this specific issue for multiple users.

3. All the registry entry does is tell Windows what program to use by default to open/view PDF documents.

My intention wasn't to screw up ur machine or anybody elses as I said I've used this solution many times however what I've should gave is the disclaimer to backup ur registry before u make mods so u can revert back in case. Also the ony other thing I can think of is that this solution was for Windows XP using registry editior 5, I'm noticing that the title of this thread is Windows 7.

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Anonymous

Don't Worry blakmoon71. (yes I am using version 8, or I was using version 8... read on... read on....)

It could not get any worse anyway, right ?

And it actually helped at the end.

First I could not use Reader 8 or 9 having the "cannot use adobe reader to......" error.

After your so called fix, it was totally screwed.

So I did a uninstall of 8. Restarted, did a clean of my register with CCleaner, did another restart, started Windows 7 into save mode, did another clean of my register with CCleaner, did a restart.

Then I installed Adobe Reader 9 for windows 7.

And guess what !

The problem is gone !

No more "Cannot use adobe reader to view pdf in your web browser" error !

Wowowowooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally it is gone. Don't know if the error would be gone if I installed reader 8 again. But for now I'm a happy person.

So blakmoon71, thank you very much after all !!

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billrp

Inspiring

And I'm sure if Adobe would ever have a fix for this bug it would be to first do a reformat and reinstall of Windows.

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blakmoon71

Participant

I have this issue several times on various users PC's. What I've done to resolve is the following Registry import:

1. Create a .reg file using Notepad

2. Copy the following in document (all in between the hashmarks) or use registry doc i attached to this response

--------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\acrobat\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Reader 9.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\acrobat\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\acrobat\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\acrobat\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Reader 9.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe /u \"%1\""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat\Exe]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Reader 9.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe\""

-----------------------

3. Save as something like AdobeFix.reg

4. Run regedit and import this entry into your registry then restart PC.

AdobeFix-reg.zip

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Anonymous

People don't use blakmoon71 sollution unless you are working on a test machine.

On my machine it totally screwed my adobe reader.

I get more errors than ever, and no more pdf viewing inside a webbrowser.

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P__Allan

Participating Frequently

You could try a "modificated" version of blackmoons suggestion:

1) In Windows Explorer change the default application for the file type pdf to the Adobe Reader.

2) In the registry edit only this key "[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Adobe\Acrobat\Exe]" manually

to the full path to the Adobe Reader.

E.g. "C:\Program files\Adobe\Acrobat [version]\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

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buschmi2

Participant

I simply registered the product and the error went away... I tried all of the above fixes but registering seemed to be what fixed it. Be sure to restart your browser afterwards.

C

captain-morgan

Participant

Here is the workaround/fix.

1. Open Acrobat 8.1.7

2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Internet

3. Uncheck "Display PDF in Browser"

Now when you click on a PDF link in a browsing session it will launch Adobe Acrobat Pro in a separate window to view the PDF instead of trying to view it inside of Internet Explorer.

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Anonymous

Sorry, that is not going to work.

I am a developer in SAP Webdynpro and I have to open PDF forms within the webpage. ( I interact with a server backend)

So it might work for some of us. But not for me.

Thanxs

V

vladhazz

Participant

Easy fix:

1. Open Acrobat 8

2. Go to Edit > Preferences > Internet

3. Uncheck "Allow fast web view"

...

vlad

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Anonymous

Thanxs Vlad,

But..... that doesn't work. Maybe after a restart.... but I have no high hopes.

To bad !

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Anonymous

Same problem here.

None of the above sollutions helped. To bad.

I hope there will be a sollution soon as I really need version 8 to test my SAP Interactive forms (PDF within SAP Webdynpro)

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billrp

Inspiring

This is annoying - we need to keep this thread alive, maybe someday Adobe or someone will have an answer. I even installed Acro-Reader 9.x with my Acrobat 8.x, and I still get the "Cannot use Adobe Reader..." message. This is not good.

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P__Allan

Participating Frequently

You're right Bill.

Most internet advices on the issue regards an alternative browser and/or an alternative reader.

E.g.: "Several users have been able to quickly an easily work around this issue by installing and using an alternative PDF reader. One good choice is the free Foxit Reader."

Maybe You could do the testing with Foxit Reader. Or I may suggest PDF-XChange Viewer.

http://download.cnet.com/PDF-XChange-Viewer/3000-10743_4-10598377.html