Reader XI won't open pdf

[NickW62]

I upgraded to Reader 11.0.2 and it wouldn't open any pdf's. I tried the troubleshooting steps, none of which worked and then tried to uninstall and re-install. Now I can't re-install any version of Reader.

Any help much appreciated.

[Test Screen Name]

Please give more detail. Screen shots of error messages would be ideal.

[NickW62]

I have now managed to get around re-installing an earlier version by disabling my anti-virus but I still get the same error message as above.

[Test Screen Name]

When do you get this? Is it as soon as Reader starts, before you can do anything?

When a file is being opened? Some other time?

[NickW62]

When I try to open the application or just double clicking on a pdf it gives the same error message.

[pwillener · Accepted solution]

So you get that error even if you try to open Adobe Reader by itself?

Can you try to disable Protected Mode by downloading, extracting, and running the attached registry script?

[NickW62]

Thanks Pat,

Yes I get this error message even when I try to open Acrobat Reader by itself. I've tried running the script but this doesn't make any difference. Is there any particular folder I should place this in to run it?

[pwillener]

Ah, I just read your earlier post, that you installed an earlier Reader version.

My script is for Reader XI only; what version do you have installed now?

[NickW62]

I've just re-installed Reader XI and it opens fine now. I still seem to get the message above after a minute or so but if I just click on "don't send" the message goes away and the application continues to function, so hopefully it's nothing more than a minor annoyance.

Many thanks,

Nick W

[dnurmi]

Hi,
I ran into this same problem and was able to solve the problem.  (Both for Adobe Reader X and Adobe Reader XI).

I'm using a laptop with NVIDIA video card and discovered that the NVIDIA Video Driver was somehow conflicting with Adobe Reader XI's  EULA.exe program, which runs first time after install.
Problem:  As Adobe Reader's  EULA.exe ('End User Licence Agreement') never runs, you can never 'Agree to Terms and Conditions' of use, and Adobe XI shuts down, thinking you have 'Not agreed' to terms of use.

I had to go into Windows "Event Viewer" (Application Log View) to see that EULA.exe was "faulting" with the NVidia video driver.  Error message will look something like this:

Faulting application name: Eula.exe, version: 10.1.4.38, time stamp: 0x5012e7a3

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Eula.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\CoProcManager\nvdxgiwrap.dll

Anyway, "the fix":

I needed to install latest NVidia video driver to resolve this problem.  Earlier in March (2013), Microsoft released a number of "Optional" Window 7 Hardware Driver updates.  Among them was NVidia Video driver.  After I installed the Microsoft recommended NVidia driver, Adobe Reader X (and Adobe Reader XI) both ran fine.    ie:  The 'End User Licence Agreement' (EULA.exe) now runs the first time after install, I now say "Yes", "I accept the terms" and Adobe Reader XI runs fine. 

This is the first time I've ever seen a Video driver cause a conflict with Adobe.

The easiest way to check for this update, Click on:  Start --> All Programs --> Windows Update.  

Then Click on "Optional Updates" and see if NVidia Video driver is among the recommended driver updates.   If "Yes", select it (click on check box), install it, reboot, and see whether this fixes the problem.     

Alternately, go into Windows "Event Viewer" --> "Windows Logs" --> "Application",   and see whether there are any "Errors" (Red !'s) listed immediately after running Adobe Reader.   

If you see an Error message reading something to the nature of:

Faulting application name   Eula.exe       ....and the name of the other application Adobe's EULA.exe is 'faulting' with,

check to see if you can download & install an update for the other problem application (or driver) causing the fault with EULA.exe,  in the hope this fixes the problem.

Anyway, my own experiences with this one.

[BolotovRick]

drunmi: this is exactly what's happening to me, and thank you for pointing it out. I'm still having problems because I don't have a driver update in my recommended updates list, and don't see that I updated the driver in the March update you talk about. I also don't see my particular driver at NVidia's driver site, and don't know enough about how the thing works to have the guts to download a different driver than what I currently have (they're recommendation). Very frustrating for me thanks to my limited computer knowledge.

Anyway, thanks again. At least I can see that there's certainly a conflict occuring between the NVidia dll file and Reader XI. When I try to start XI, it begins to open, stays gray for about 5 seconds, then disappears. I think it's as you say, that I still haven't approved the EULA (which I can't because it's conflicting with the graphics driver).

Very frustrating for a barely-competent computer user.

[pwillener]

You can use the auto-detect feature on the Nvidia site to find an updated driver for your device: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx

[angelg99326364]

You rock!  Finally fixed my adobe with your advice about updating the registration.  Thanks so much.  I've been having this problem--and it's really important that I get it fixed for professional reasons.

[BolotovRick]

I was having this exact problem. See the reply by drunmi below. I used his steps to see if my NVidia graphics driver was conflicting with Adobe XI's eula.exe file (end license agreement you have to agree to prior to reader opening). It was. Downloaded a newer NVidia driver. Adobe XI's EULA opened, accepted. Now Reader's working.

Thanks so much drunmi. I've seen numerous other threads on this strange problem. I went as far as downloading a different reader just so I could print out a much-needed document. Thanks again.

[chemistrykaren]

The NVidia vs EULA conflict does seem a possibility for me, too... I'm currently trying to update NVidia. Unfortunately Java isn't allowing the automatic NVidia scan so I've tried it manually and some options are there... we'll see what happens...

[pwillener]

You need to have Java updated to the latest version (JRE 7 Update 51) and enabled in your browser.

[chemistrykaren]

I have had latest version of Java (installed and) enabled in my browser(s) for some time. However, security messages suddenly (within the last few days) started blocking Java. Therefore, in Java control panel > Security tab, I added relevant websites to the Exceptions Site List. That worked... Nvidia was then able to detect a driver update. The download failed to complete; I tried again, got another fail message plus instruction to restart... but I seem still to have the old driver.

[pwillener]

I don't know why the update fails; try to download the manual update - make sure the download matches your display adapter and operating system (including bitness).