My signature is unreadable.

[barryc24835328]

Suddenly my digital signature is corrupt.  I've uninstalled and reinstalled Acrobat XI Pro, but still the signature is unreadable.  I've deleted all digital signatures and recreated one and the same thing happens when I try to sign a document.

Does anyone know how to fix this issue??

[barryc24835328 · Accepted solution]

So, I used the cleaner tool to remove Acrobat.  Then I manually removed all Acrobat folders that I could find on the drive.  Then I searched the registry and removed all entries for Acrobat.  After that I rebooted and reinstalled Acrobat, downloaded and installed the update and after a final reboot, all is well with my signature.

I appreciate your helpful suggestions.  Especially for the cleaner tool, even though it doesn't really remove all traces, it helped.

[Adorobat]

Hi barryc,

As per the issue description mentioned above, you are facing issue with digital signature appearance in Acrobat XI, is that correct?

Could you try changing the "text properties" for digital signature by clicking the drop-down ( standard text) next to appearance

Click create new appearance > and try chaging the options under "Digits". Does that help?

Below is a screenshot:

Let us know if you need any help.

Shivam

[barryc24835328]

Unfortunately that didn't fix the issue.  It did change the details of the signature to readable text, but my name was still garbage characters.

[Adorobat]

Hi barryc,

Try resetting preferences for Acrobat using the steps given in this link: How to reset Acrobat Preference settings to default.  reboot the machine after resetting preferences and check if that resolves the isuse.

-Shivam

[barryc24835328]

Shivam:

Thanks for the response, but no luck with moving the preferences folder.  Still have the same signature issue.

[Adorobat]

Hi barryc,

Could you try replicating the issue in a new user account by creating a new user account on the machine,  login into that account, launch Acrobat from there and check if this behavior continues?

-Shivam

[barryc24835328]

When I opened Acrobat after creating a new user account, I had to create a signature in Acrobat.  I created a signature for the new user and it worked as it should.

How do I completely remove Acrobat 11, so I can do a clean install for my normal user login.

[Adorobat]

Please try following troubleshooting steps on your user account:

1- Download and run cleaner tool on the machine to uninstall Acrobat:Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs

2- Reboot the machine

3- Download and install Acrobat from here: Download Acrobat XI, Acrobat X

4- Reboot the machine again and check.

You need your Acrobat serial number to complete the installation.

-Shivam

[barryc24835328]

Followed your instructions and uninstalled Acrobat using the tool, rebooted and reinstalled Acrobat.  Rebooted the machine and tried the signature.  Still gives me garbage characters.  The signature file must be getting corrupted somehow??

[Adorobat]

Hi barryc,

Reinstalling Acrobat using cleaner tool should have removed the signature file for Acrobat as well. Could you let us know if you are signing Acrobat using a certificate from a certificate authority or with self-signed one? If using CA, try creating a self-signed id using the steps given here and check: Digital IDs in Acrobat

Shivam

[barryc24835328]

I'm using a self signed certificate in Windows certificate store.

I'll try creating a new PKCS#12 id and let you know if that works.

[barryc24835328]

Created a new PKCS#12 signature and it came up with the same unreadable characters as before.

[Adorobat]

Hi barryc,

It seems the issue is related to the user account on the machine. Try the steps given in the following help document for the same:

Troubleshoot unexpected behavior in specific user account

-Shivam

[barryc24835328 · Accepted solution]

So, I used the cleaner tool to remove Acrobat.  Then I manually removed all Acrobat folders that I could find on the drive.  Then I searched the registry and removed all entries for Acrobat.  After that I rebooted and reinstalled Acrobat, downloaded and installed the update and after a final reboot, all is well with my signature.

I appreciate your helpful suggestions.  Especially for the cleaner tool, even though it doesn't really remove all traces, it helped.

[Jon26409116ljdu · Accepted solution]

Move or delete everything in the C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Adobe\Acrobat folder, if you are using Windows. Close and restart Adobe Acrobat Reader/ Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Try to sign again, using digital certificates. See if it works.

[Jorge27803210yxzn]

This solved the issue for me without reinstalling Adobe, thanks!

[Luis32984327frem]

It also worked for me.  Thanks!!

[Aleksandar382194883i8n]

Thank you!

This solution worked for me too!

[Alvaro38936711atqo]

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!! It worked!!

[orion42]

Hi, 
I had the same issue, but the suggestions in this topic did not solve it. 
However, I found the solution in another thread: 
Solved: Appearance of electronic signatures destroyed (pro... - Adobe Support Community - 12838539
In short, in C:\Windows\Fonts there is a shortcut to the MyriadPro font used by Adobe for the signature that points somewhere else (in my case was another software). 
I deleted it, cancelled the files in the cache folder of C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Local\Adobe\Acrobat\DC\ and also a couple of old file font list (AdobeSysFntXX.lst AdobeCMapFntXX.lst in my case XX was 21 and 22, with 23 the latest version, also recreated into the cache folder later). 
Before staring this procedure, close adobe and other software that might interfere, possibly remove also the existing corrupted signature, and then after restarting Adobe, it should work! (at least in my case it did)