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MM0349876RT
New Participant
January 12, 2017
Answered

Acrobat Reader application error: "The memory could not be read."

  • January 12, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 103379 views

I use a PC with Windows 7, and I'm using Adobe Reader version 15. Yesterday I was prompted to install an Adobe Reader update, which I did. Today, when I tried to open and print a PDF file, I got a message that said: "AcroRd32.exe -- Application Error. The instruction at 0x518f525c referenced memory at 0x00000000. The memory could not be read. Click on OK to terminate the program." I then tried to open other PDF files that I'd successfully opened as recently as last week, and I'm getting the same message for all of them, except that the instruction number (e.g., 0x518f525c) is different each time. After reading earlier posts on this forum, I tried uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe Reader, but the same problem is still occurring. The version of Adobe Reader that is installed is 15.023.20053. I also tried disabling Protected Mode in Adobe Reader, but after I do that and try to reopen Adobe Reader, I get a message saying that the program has stopped running. Please help!

    Correct answer Andrew38043722e14m

    Like DS-Cabling I am on windows 10 and had a similar message, but only on closing reader.

    I ran the Windows  compatibility checker on the exe file  and it set compatibiltty to Windows 8 and the problem has gone away. Weird!  Possibly a conflict between Acrobat reader and win 10 updates? It has been fine for years.

    4 replies

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    DS-Cabling
    New Participant
    June 5, 2024

    I am running Windows 10. I had this error message given to me when trying to open the program this morning. I stumbled upon this thread when looking for a solution... after reading about MM03's compatibility mode fix I began to wonder if this fix would work reversed. After going into properties for the adobe acrobat program and setting it to run in compatibility mode for windows 7,  I was surprised to see that the program opened and ran normally. I have not had a problem since. Odd right? 

      A
      Andrew38043722e14mCorrect answer
      New Participant
      June 14, 2024

      Like DS-Cabling I am on windows 10 and had a similar message, but only on closing reader.

      I ran the Windows  compatibility checker on the exe file  and it set compatibiltty to Windows 8 and the problem has gone away. Weird!  Possibly a conflict between Acrobat reader and win 10 updates? It has been fine for years.

        J
        Juan-Pierre38674937nfw8
        New Participant
        July 18, 2024

        I would just like to add to this thread.
        I'm using Windows 11 and have been plagued with this error for some time. It shows up pretty much every time I open a document. This error has been resolved after setting the compatibility to Windows 8 or 7.

          S
          shesanagent
          New Participant
          January 16, 2017

          I also tried your suggestion and wala!, it worked.  THANK YOU!!!!!

          I had posted earlier today for the same thing in another forum and went through the same steps, had the same situations, different message headers and codes.  One thing I tried before today was the compatibility part, but Windows 7 didn't even show up in the list, only Vista SP1.  But, after doing the cleaner and reinstall, and going by your suggestion, Windows 7 was in the list.  So, something happened, and I still believe that there is a lingering issue that we will continue to run in to, until they completely repair the update issue.

          M
          MM0349876RTAuthor
          New Participant
          January 13, 2017

          I can't explain why this worked, but after reading a similar thread about issues that users have been having with Acrobat Reader since the most recent update, I tried the following, and it seemed to solve the problem for me:

          I clicked on the Start icon at the bottom left of the screen.

          I right-clicked on the Acrobat Reader DC icon.

          I clicked on Properties.

          I went to the Compatibility tab.

          The box beside "Run this program in compatibility mode for" was checked, and Windows 7 was selected.

          Although I'm using Windows 7, I unchecked this box.

          I then clicked Apply.

          To my surprise, I now seem to be able to open and print PDF files within any difficulty.

            C
            Cliff_Hanger_76
            New Participant
            January 13, 2017

            Thank you. I work at a helpdesk and one of my users has been experiencing this issue all morning, but only when trying to print from within an application which interfaces with Adobe. I first updated, which did not work, so I uninstalled and reinstalled. This worked for a short period, then the issue returned. I then did a system restore, which also worked for a limited time. Your solution has resolved the error for a third time today. Let's hope it's the magic fix.

            N
            npcia57834573
            Participating Frequently
            January 12, 2017

            We are facing the same issues today at work, so far 2 users are having this issue when scanning or viewing scanned documents in SAP.  I want to find the prior full version installer so I can go back to the old version for these users but it seems impossible to find old installers!  Not sure what we can do to fix this, very frustrated!

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