Reader 9 won't open PDF from web browser

Report · Jul 05, 2008

I just installed Reader 9, and now when I click on a link to a PDF on a web page I get this message: "The Adobe Acrobat/Reader that is running cannot be used to view PDF files in a web browser. Adobe Acrobat/Reader version 8 or 9 is required. Please exit and try again." Since I AM running version 9, this seems peculiar. Any ideas?

Mary

Report · May 27, 2010

I was having trouble opening pdf files in the browser and nothing I did seemed to help. I removed adobe and downloaded foxit as my pdf reader and still had problems, but foxit provided a listing of the problem areas. Turned out it was a dll file in Limewire that was causing the problem. I uninstalled Limewire and I can now download pdf files through Explorer. If you have Limewire, that might be the problem.

Report · Jun 03, 2010

Looks like we all have some problem with the new adobe 9 upwards I run Vista and I was able

to open PDF files in my web browser ..but now it wont do it. I am doing a course online and alot of the information they send me is Adobe PDF and opens in the web browser..........my husband being a computer tech says we may have to re-install all the programs again if we dont find an easier solution. I wonder if yelling and screaming at Adobe for some help would work?

Report · Jun 06, 2010

I just went back to Adobe Reader 8. Problem solved. Maybe Adobe will finally

get a fix for Adobe reader 9.

Mary ann

Report · Jun 07, 2010

Thanks Mary,

I just switched back.

Jerry

Report · Jul 07, 2010

i'd be happy to yell and scream, i don't know who to yell at, do you? acrobat has always been problematic for me on a mac. last one (8) would crash my computer every time i tried to upgrade, so i gave up on the upgrades. the 9 won't download pdfs from websites. maybe i should go back to 6, at least i can't remember the probleems i had with that one.

Report · Jun 09, 2010

I installed the upgrade 9.3.2 to cure that problem, which it did, and that caused Blue Screening each time I closed the computer down. However it cured the "Won't read in a browser" problem. (Running CHKDSK found lots of stray file duplications and file errors).

I am currently re-installing version 9 again, to see if there was a problem with the instalation. I hope Adobe are aware of the problem or is it just my system

As a matter of interest, I am running it on Vista Premium using a 64bit processor.

Report · Jul 06, 2010

Hi

I use Windows 7 proffessional and Reader 9.3 will not open browser pdf files. Do not see the point of creating reader software that will not do this.

I tried to install Reader 8 but had problems.

Downloaded version 7, installed, stated compatibility problems, ticked to not display this response, and so far it is working fine and opening pdf files from IE.

This is all I neede to view files.

Report · Jul 06, 2010

Reader version 9.3.3 seems to show no problems in conjunction with OpenOffice and their PDF writer. I had a problem "Blue Screening" closing windows from time to time after installing version 9.3.2 but that was traced to a quantity of obscure files within the windows system directory. Each file was 1Gb in size and they had filled up the free space on the main drive. So not Adobe at fault there. Installing the latest version of Reader has stopped any problems for my system.

Report · Jul 12, 2010

Had the same problem...I have CS4. Just got a new computer which already had Reader installed. Uninstalled the Reader and now my .pdf's work fine!

Report · Jul 12, 2010

I think the technical term is a "Glitch", or at least that is how I understand it.

I am pleased to hear that your system now works but I can only think that in processors of the 8080 type, (2086 computer technology and before), they require an anti loop system taking the "failed" run back to the start. A bit like a "Soft reboot" and I don't think it is used any more. I am probably wrong but like to think I am right. I hope I am wrong because if I am, the software manufacturers have forgotten how to write programmes with recovery built in to them.

Report · Jul 13, 2010

The fix,

Try installing Firefox browser on the machine. Open the website up using this browser instead of Internet Explorer. You will be able to view your PDF's with the current Reader version installed on your computer. When installing Firefox make sure to uncheck the default setting option, this way Internet Explorer will remain your primary choice. I have included a link to a site that will enable you to download the program.

http://http://ninite.com/

BKITGUY

Report · Jul 13, 2010

Thanks. I will try this.

Report · Jul 17, 2010

I've solved the problem, at least, for me. PDF's opening in my browsers (Chrome and IE8 with Windows 7 64 bit) were all working fine until recently, and I don't know what changed it.

I found that after I exited that message in a box which said that the adobe reader running couldn't open pdf's in browsers and that I needed version 8 or 9, adobe reader 4.0 popped up with a blank grey window. It was installed on my pc for some reason so I just uninstalled it. I also uninstalled adobe reader 9, deleted the exe and started over. Downloaded a fresh copy of 9.3.3 and it's all fine now.

I may not have needed to uninstall version 4.0, nor necessarily needed to redownload adobe 9.

I may have had success just uninstalling 9 and reinstalling it from the exe I already had.

But it takes no time at all to delete everything, redownload and reinstall. Do any of that and you should be good to go again.

Report · Jul 20, 2010

Re: Reader 9 won't open PDF from web browser

The issue above, and below has a wider scope then what I am presenting, and although it relates to Microsoft Windows Registry it's not that difficult, and lets face it Adobe Reader functionality is broke anyway... The thing to keep in mind here is the litmus test: You create a new user on your PC, and try the failing feature via your web browser (Internet Explorer 8, in this case, but not limited to...) and the new account is able to open the PDF file inside the browser window. So if your answer is yes it does work, then your on the right path. Also note that if you have multiple users on the PC, and only one is having the issue, you may choose to use one of the other good working accounts to copy the Registry keys from.

My Scenario included a New PC, New Adobe Acrobat 9, and Alternately Adobe Reader 9, Existing Domain User Profile (from Windows 2003 Active Directory, Windows XP SP3 Client)

PDF files won’t display in Internet Explorer 8 using Adobe 9

When setting up a new pc for an existing user, and using the existing user profile you may need to delete the Registry key HKeyCurrentUser-Software-Adobe for the current user on the new PC, and copy this back in from a local user account on the new PC.

Caveat; this most likely to occur because of additional updates, and versions of Adobe that were installed on the old pc, that are not on the new clean PC. The original existing user Profile contains registry key entries pointing to software that is not on the new pc.

Note: Always backup/export a registry key before you delete it.

To Backup the Registry key First Open the Windows Registry Editor via Start/Run "regedit" Then navigate to the key (HKeyCurrentUser-Software-Adobe) Right Click on it, and choose Export, give it a filename I usually use something similar to the original, with origin addendum like HKCU-Jim-SW-Adobe.

Now Log out of the bad user account, and Log in to the Good user account.

Repeat the Export Process, naming the file...HKCU-Good-SW-Adobe

Once you have Exported the Registry Keys from Both Accounts...

Log out of the Good Account, Log in to the Bad user account

To import, you can use Windows Explorer, find where you Exported the good key to,

(making sure you are now Logged in with the afflicted Account)

Double Click on the good key, and tell it yes you want to add the information, and OK.

Now because it is a dynamic registry key, you need to log out, and back in one last time for this to take affect. This is with the (so called) bad account (now fixed!!!).

I spent hours searching and didn’t find this on the internet, and everything I did find was the standard Un-install, all previous versions… Un-install, re-install the most recent version, set your preferences in Adobe for Open PDF in Brower.

Report · Aug 20, 2010

If you are not able to get Adobe Acrobat Reader to open .pdf files in the browser. Even after you check in prefs to show pdf files in the browser.

Make this modification for all versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader that show under this key.

-Note: Deleting the key and all subkeys for any older versions also seems to fix this problem. So if you see this key present,

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\7.0\Originals

delete the 7.0 and all subkeys.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\9.0\Originals

-Right click on Originals and choose NEW DWORD Value and name it bBrowserIntegration, hit enter,

double click on the new value and make sure the value is 1

Report · Aug 20, 2010

This has been working perfectly for us.

As a matter of fact we have cases where we have to run older ver of AR and that same process resolves our doc gen issues in our in house apps. If we have to maintain AR8 then we delete the 7.0, 9.0 and 6.0 (we have images that go waaaay back) keys.

To date I am not aware of any tech that has had to generate the bBrowserIntegration key.

Thanks.

Randolph A. Robbins

[signature deleted by host]

Report · Aug 27, 2010

I have the same problem It wont open pdf files from web browser and I would like to share couple of solutions from these issue

First: In FIREFOX:

Open Firefox browser select TOOLS/OPTIONS/APPLICATIONS there you can find 4 adobe content type

select one at a time then select "use adobe acrobat x.x (default)

After all 4 adobe content type has been configure click "OK"

Then try opening pdf files using FIREFOX

Second: In GOOGLE CHROME:

Open Google Chrome browser select TOOLS/OPTIONS/CONTENT SETTINGS/PLUG-INS/DISABLE INDIVIDUAL PLUG-INS

I have adobe 7 and resently installed adobe acrobat 9 pro what I did is disable the the adobe acrobat 7 leaving adobe acrobat 9

Then try opening pdf files using GOOGLE CHROME..

Hope this helps folks.....It works for me both FIREFOX and CHROME...

Windows vista home premium

DEll Inspiron 6400

Report · Aug 29, 2010

PLEASE NOTE: If you are trying to open PDF files in a browser window on Windows 7 x64, then you must use a 32-bit browser! If you use the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer, then the PDF file will always open in a separate Adobe Reader window.

Report · Aug 30, 2010

Hi !

I had the same problem

It was driving me crazy ! I even thought about going back to XP. Stupid idea, I know ...

Thanks a lot for your help. I won't have to use some cheap Reader's alternative.

Have a nice day.

http://www.digg-it-all.com

Report · Aug 31, 2010

I saw a reply here to this thread that they did a complete uninstall of previous verions and then did a new reinstall. I followed that and it is now working fine for me.

Report · Sep 08, 2010

Guys,

We are having serious issues with Adobe Reader 9.3 where very few users can view PDF files within IE8 (Windows 7 or XP SP3). I've read all these posts and none of these fixes do help quite saldly. After 3 weeks of researching, I am ready to jump out the window!

We actually need for these PDF to be viewed within IE and not via Adobe Reader.

OS: Windows XP, 7

Adobe Reader: 9.3

Please do help if you can.

Thanks!

Report · Sep 10, 2010

hello,

following regkey must be set so that the reader can view the PDFs in the browser

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Software / Adobe / Acrobat / Exe

The key value must be set on the path to the AcroRd32.exe

For example: "C: \ Program Files \ Adobe \ Acrobat 9.0 \ Reader \ AcroRd32.exe"

hope that helps

Report · Sep 13, 2010

I'm having the same trouble, mine say it's being used by another program, how can You fix this please. I get lots of messages and newsletter from Church and others that use PDF Files, Help.

Report · Sep 13, 2010

Hello!

Try the below links. They are quite good!

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/328/328233.html

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/328/328233.html#main_Enable AdobePDF.dll

Good Luck!

Tony

Report · Oct 20, 2010

I had the same issue. I closed Acrobat 9 Pro and opened just the reader. I wend to Edit > Preferences > Internet and turned off "Display PDF in browser" and now it works. I'm using latest IE Explorer and when the PDF opened, I look at what version Reader it was and it is 9.4.0. I hope this works for everyone who was as frustrated as I was.