Can't open PDF or PDF/A files on a write protected thumb drive.

Report · Dec 14, 2022

We are using Nexcopy's Lock License drives to distribute our PDF documents. The drive is hardware locked to be read only. Until quite recently, this worked fine. After the last update to Reader (2022.003.20282), attempting to open pdf files gives an error that the file is corrupted. I can unlock the drive and the same pdf file opens properly. I tried this with both PDF and PDF/A files, which should be read only opened by default. Neither worked.

I also tried this using another vendor's hardware locked thumb drive and had the same results.

Report · Dec 15, 2022

Hello @Keith27575333joe7

I hope you're doing great, and sorry for the trouble.

As discussed, you're getting the error "File is corrupted." Could you please share the screenshot of the error message you're getting?

Also, look for any missing or pending updates for the Thumb Drive firmware and make sure it is updated.

Could you also please help us with a video recording of the workflow you're doing?

Hoping to hear from you soon.

Regards,

Krutikka

Report · Dec 15, 2022

Hi,

Thanks so much for your attention!

Attached are some screen caps of the bug. If you need me to do any other
testing, just say the word.

Keith Nagel

Report · Dec 22, 2022

Hi,

to answer some of your questions here in the text...

1) I tried the same experiment(s) on another vendors locked drive. Different hardware entirely. Same result. PDF file can't be opened.

2) There are no additional updates to the vendor software.

3) Earlier versions of Adobe Reader work fine on the locked thumb drive I have. It is only the latest version of Adobe Reader that fails and produces this error message.

4) Other files on the locked drive can be read just fine by other software. It is only Reader that refuses to open pdf files on this thumb drive.

5) I tried using the special pdf/a file format, and that too failed to open. This is supposed to be a read only format! Yet it can't be opened on a read only drive?

We're anxious for a fix to Reader. Any word?

Keith Nagel

Report · Jan 31, 2023

I was interested in your reply as well. As of yet I have not found a solution to this either.

Report · Jun 05, 2023

We have numerous cases to confirm that this is still the behavior. It seems that the Adobe Acrobat Pro needs to lock the file for editing now when it opens.

If a partition that the file resides on is write protected, it will say that the file is corrupted. This happens in both Reader and Acrobat Pro Current versions as of this date.

Report · Sep 23, 2024

Hi All,

Things have changed somewhat. Under all versions of windows, a locked NTFS formatted disk will allow for PDF files to be opened. Under windows 11, locked ExFAT formatted drives will also allow PDF files to be opened. FAT32 won't work under any OS.

Report · Jan 31, 2023

I am having the exact same problem. It wont open on the drive. If you copy it down it opens.
I hope we get an answer to this