Adobe Reader could not open a pdf file - either not supported file type or file damaged

Report · Mar 15, 2015

On March 5th, I started getting the Adobe Reader error message "Adobe Reader could not open a pdf file because it is either not supported file type or the file has been damaged.

I get this when I try to open the pdf file as an attachment in Outlook 2013 from my G-Mail account. If I save the attachment and then try to open the pdf document, I get the same error4.

I get this error message with every pdf file that now comes to me in Outlook.

If I log on to my G-Mail I am able to open the pdf document. If I also save the attachment to my computer, I do not get the error message when I open the pdf file. This would suggest the file is okay

This would lead me to believe the problem maybe with Outlook.

I'm using Adobe Reader XI v11.0.10

I'm using Windows 8.1

Is anyone encountering this same issue with outlook?

Report · Mar 15, 2015

It appears to be a problem with Outlook. Can you tell us:

what is the exact file size (in bytes) when downloading such a PDF from Outlook?
what is the exact file size when downloading the same PDF from the Gmail web interface?

Report · Mar 16, 2015

The pdf document size is 305 KB. It's the same document that is being downloaded in Outlook and G-Mail.

You are probably right that it is more likely an Outlook related problem because I cannot send any messages that contains an attachment. The message just sits in the Outlook Outbox. The Send/Receive shows an error "cannot connect to the network (0x800ccc13)", which is clearly not the case since I'm able to do other things on the Internet..

Report · Mar 26, 2015

I have the same problem, but sometimes it will open.I don't do anything differently and haven't figured out why some will open. I don't think any pictures will open, and possibly if something, like a survey from a website, was emailed, it won'[t open. I have a 1 KB pdf file that won't open and I receive the same pop up message. I also tried saving it to my hard drive, but still couldn't open it. Others can. I'm also using windows 8.1, outlook 13, & adobe reader XI. This is so frustrating. I didn't have the problem before and ran troubleshooter to no avail..Maybe something in an auto update?

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I had someone send me an e-mail with a small pdf document attached and I got the error. They then used their copier at work to e-mail me a pdf document and that worked.. I uninstalled Adobe XI and installed an older version (10.1.4) and the error occurred.

Around the same time I experienced this Adobe problem, I'm encountered some other Outlook issues and I'm wondering if they are related to my Adobe problem. I'm at the point of ready to uninstall/Re-install Office 2013 to see if the problem still persists.

Has Stuarts35968459 encountered other Outlook 2013 issues beside this Adobe problem?

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I also tried an earlier version of Adoe Reader to no avail. I have had no problems whatsoever with Outlook 13, I've had it for about 18 months. I scan all files regularly and everything is updated regularly. No new updates are available on any of my software. I also checked Norton settings to be sure that somehow something wasn't being blocked. No luck there either; I also did a troubleshooter on all of my Microsoft settings. Nothing there to fix either. Does Adobe ever let you chat with them? I wonder if this is something that requires them to do some research.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

The fact that Stuarts is having the problem without other Outlook 2013 issues leads me to believe the issue is with the Adobe product and not Outlook. Sound like Stuarts and I have similar environments - Windows 8.1, Outlook 2013, Norton.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

James, how did you get it into Notepad? Maybe I'm doing something incorrectly. I have to run out for a fe errands very shortly

Report · Mar 27, 2015

Forgot to mention, if I try to preview the attachment, a message is written across the top of the preview text area that says

Some pictures have been blocked to prevent the sender from identifying your computer. Open this item to view the pictures.

I figured it wouldn't allow me to view that way. Still can't figure out how to get it to notepad as did James

Report · Mar 27, 2015

Stuart.

Save the attachment to your computer, open Notepad and use File>Open to open the pdf file.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

yes. thhanks. just figured it out and posted it. I saved the file and then had choices besides pdf to open. Two were MS Notepad and Windows Notepad. I pasted the info from each, because they are so different.. I have to go do errands in a few minutes and will be gone for about 3 hours. Sorry

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I don't see where you posted it?

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I see it. It posted at 8:27 AM, but it has a yellow note on it, moderating, Maybe that's why. I can't seem to get rid of that

Report · Mar 27, 2015

just got this email from adobe forums and now I don't see it in moderation mode: You're receiving this email because content you posted has been approved by our moderators.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

Odd. Ok. We can wait until it shows. I'm not a moderator so can't check that.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I copied it again. Do you see it? BTW, how do I set privacy? (I'm new at this)

I opened with two different notepads and got different information.here it is from Windows Notepad. First few lines are:

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"

http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd

>

<head>

</head>

Here it is from MS Notepad:

<HTML><HEAD><style>.ending {font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18px;}</style><BODY><TABLE><TR><TD colspan=100%><a href="http://www.trulynolen.com/questionnaire?l=14115468&o=141050070&z=85087-7515"><img src=http://newsletter.tnolen.com/email/service.png border=no></a></TD></TR><TR><TD align=center class="ending">If you would not like to receive email communication from Truly Nolen in the future, please <a href="http://newsletter.tnolen.com/unsubstart.asp?b=14115468&z=85087-7515&e=ss52@earthlink.net wsletter.tnolen.com/unsubstart.asp?b=14115468&z=85087-7515&e=ss52@earthlink.net">click here</a></TD></TR></TABLE></BODY></HTML>

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I had someone release your post with the code.

That looks like an HTML page. It's not a pdf file.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I now went back to that attachment I saved in my temp files. Knowing now that it is an htm file, I changed the default to select Explorer when opening an htm file. I think what I have learned is if I get that message again when trying to open an adobe file, it is likely not Adobe (I guess it could be corrupted like in James' case). I should then save it in a temporary file, open it as notepad, see what kind of file it is, then change the open as to the appropriate s/w.

Wow, I think I understand! I had a feeling they were sending me a follow up customer satisfaction survey. They would have been better off sending me their link.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

Just to clarify, I believe what you have there is an HTML email rather than a .pdf file. Or at least that's what you have posted.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

correct

Report · Mar 27, 2015

I just copied it again and replied to you. I looked and now that reply says currently being moderated. BTW, how do you set up your privacy and username? (I'm new at this)

Report · Mar 27, 2015

You can find all the information for these forums at Community Guidelines

Just be patient on the moderation part. It will come through eventually. I'm not sure that we have a full-time moderator in here during the weekdays US time.

Report · Mar 27, 2015

still showing as being moderated. sorry I have to leave now. I would really like to find out what's wrong with my pdf. Thank you for your input and guiding me on setting things up. It looks like I already had done so. I think I can see things that you and others don't see. Do you see my guitar avatar and my name as stuarts with numbers after it? I think when I clicked on yours, it said private Maybe you see your own. The settings allow you to choose between everyone, registered users, yourself, friends, etc. Nothing says private. Do I have this right?

Report · Mar 27, 2015

Yes. Your real name is only seen by you. Everyone else sees

stuarts35968459

Report · Mar 27, 2015

ok,~graffiti. I'm going now and will check in a few hours from now when I return. looks like the message is still being moderated. Thanks again!