Acrobat failed to connect to DDE Server

[CMeisinger]

I have a user who is unable to open any PDF's using Acrobat Reader X he has the latest version and is using Wind

ows XP SP3.  When he tries to open any PDF he gets the error "Acrobat failed to connect to

DDE Server" any help with this is much appreciated!

Thanks,

Chris

[dave_m_k]

Good day Chris,

I'm not sure if you're having diffuculty w/ Acrobat or w/ Reader.  Regardless, this issue is most commonly related to file associations.

As the user to do the following:

1. Locate a PDF on the system via Search (any PDF will do)
2. Hold down the Shift key and right-click the PDF file > Select 'Open with..'
3. Select either Acrobat or Adobe Reader (depending on which application is actually installed)
4. Check the box at the bottom of the dialog box that says 'Always open with..'

If the issue persists after trying this, repair Acrobat or Reader.  This can be done via the Help > Repair menu option.

Regards,
David
Acrobat Community Manager
Adobe Systems

[CMeisinger · Accepted solution]

Thanks David,

I did check the file associations and did a repair and uninstall/re-install and nothing worked but it turned out to be an issue with turning on a security policy in Symantec Endpoint that was causing Adobe to not open so I had to remove that policy in order for Adobe to work again.

Thanks,

Chris

[dave_m_k]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for letting us know that it's working properly now!  Glad to know the solution.

Thanks,

David

Acrobat Community Manager

Adobe Systems

[rvsoest]

I have the same problem. Opening a pdf inside a browser doesn't work. Opening a pdf either in Acrobat Reader X or Acrobat 9 Pro. Sometimes a pdf opens after more than 5 min! But even than Acrobat freezes, the top showing "File", "Edit" etc. disapears!  I uninstalled any security programs with firewalls; no changes. Uninstalling and reinstalling doesnt work. Making pdf's with any software is no problem. I use Windows XP running Adobe CS4. Any help?

[Florian_Wolf]

Hi Chris,

Are you able to remember what to do with your Endpoint Protection?

I'm having exactly the same problem. Perhabs a central exeption would solve this problem?

Regards

Florian

[CMeisinger]

It turned out to be a policy

in the Symantec Endpoint Secrutiy I think I had tried turning on the NAC and it caused the issue so when I turned the policy off the user was able to open the pdf's again.

[Guest]

Adobe Reader function returned after rebooting - but it came up slowly. Now I'm worried. I've been using Windows 7 for a year with Spyware Doctor without problems. I haven't done anything to the machine and I haven't installed anything new for months.

Where did this "Acrobat failed to connect to DDE Server" spring from?

[waltermouse]

I have just today begun having the same problem. Adobe Reader X on Win 7 pro 64bit SP1

Can't be Symantec. I use MS Essentials security.

Can't make any changes via Adobe Reader, either, because it won't open -- even when I try to launch directly from the target EXE file.

This is making a LOT of PDFs unreadable and I am not happy.

[enaygee]

If you just want to read PDFs, try installing a PDF reader like Nitro PDF Reader or Foxit Reader. Both of these read PDF files. Just google their names.

I got the same error using Acrobat Pro 9. I can't figure out why Acrobat needs to connect to a DDE server.

Good luck

[kendrickj35800888]

Good afternoon,

I hope all is well. My organization is running into the same issue with us trying to open .pdfs and getting the "Acrobat failed to connect to a DDE server" error message. Our issue is occurring with us using our vendor applications and trying to open the .pdf within that application. We use a Windows 7, 64-bit environment. We also use IE9 and adobe acrobat version 10.1.13. Any help on this issue is greatly appreciated as this is affecting one of our bigger departments and I have troubleshooted the best I could with no good results.

Thanks,

Kendrick Jones

[govid70209405]

windows 7 download

[Guest]

I started to get  the same problem today.

I tried the <shift> "open with..." Doesn't work.

I think Adobe should provide an answer immediately. Most of my files are in Acrobat!!

[WeiHelen]

Hi, artanksame issues here. I did repair install, and it still can not open a PDF file.  I use Adobe Acrobat XI Pro. It show an error message as " Adobe failed to connect to a DDE server". Even Adobe "LiveCycle Designer ES4 has the same error message. they all works good before.  The DDE server causes many adobe PDF application not work.  Please help! I have many projects need to be done.

[GambyBrenda]

I need help with this as well.  Every time I update, this problem occurs.  I've used a plugin fix before but I can't find what I need online.  Why is this always a problem with updates?

[Florian_Wolf]

Disabling the NAC wasn't the solution for my DDE server error.

The adobe support hotline told me to have a look at the folder permissions. All looks like it should be at my servers.

Anybody else here having another idea?

[Guest]

I just got an Adobe upgrade and the problem has gone. What the...!

[CMeisinger]

Was it just the usual upgrades that happen from time to time?  If so then good!

[Guest]

Yup.

[CMeisinger]

Whacky...I will have to try testing with Symantec policies again and see if there's anymore issues.  Thanks for the info.

[Florian_Wolf]

Thank you peter. I also updated the terminal servers and will see what happens next week.

[SA_TIPSA]

Did the updates solve your problems?

I am also experiencing this on a terminal server,2k8r2. Both acrobat pro and acrobat reader have the latest updates. Reader is set at default for reading pdf files.

The problem occured after installing the latest updates in acrobat pro. There is no symantech or sophos security systems installed, even windows firewall is disabled.

Any sugestions?

[Guest]

The problem disappeared as soon as I loaded the latest (at the time) update.

I don’t use Symantec and Windows Defender was “OFF”.

[waltermouse]

I have just today begun having the same problem. Adobe Reader X on Win 7 pro 64bit SP1

Can't be Symantec. I use MS Essentials security.

Can't make any changes via Adobe Reader, either, because it won't open -- even when I try to launch directly from the target EXE file.

This is making a LOT of PDFs unreadable and I am not happy.

[PorterbleC]

I just fixed this on a W2008R2 server.
Copied the files from a working profile to the profile that had a problem

Copied all the adobe acrobat stuff from c:\Users\[workinguser]\appdata\   to c:\users\[userwithproblem]\appdata.

They can now open PDFs without the problem.. Would think that on a workstation you ocould do the same so long as all the versions were the same.