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As discussed here (Adobe Acrobat Reader DC won't open ), I am one of several people unable to get Adobe DC to work, regardless of how many times we reparit the installation, reinstall, download the latest version or reboot the computer. So, I had to turn to older versions of Adobe Reader, which, however, has proven just as impossible:
1 - This help page claims you can pick and choose from a list of older versions; however, you can only "choose" the latest one:
2 - And this other page does have a list of installers for older versions, but they only work for paid versions.
So, has Adobe completely discontinued the free download from older versions? If not, how on Earth can I donwload a free, working version of Adobe Reader?
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Hello mctanaka
We apologize for the inconvenience caused, as per the description above, you are not able to download the older version of Adobe Reader as the latest version of Adobe Reader is not working, Is that correct?
Please use the Acrobat cleaner tool to remove any installed Adobe Reader Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs
Reboot the machine, and then try installing the Adobe Reader DC from Adobe - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Distribution
Note: Latest version of Adobe Reader DC is recommended to use.
If you wish to get the older version of Adobe Reader, you can install it from ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/
If the issue still persists with the installation, please share a screenshot of the error you are getting, to share the screenshot refer to How to share a file using Adobe Document Cloud
Let us know your findings.
Regards,
Anand Sri.
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Hello Anand,
Thank you for the tips, especially for this nice ftp link, but unfortunately, the software still does not work.
I uninstalled the software and made sure it was fully uninstalled with Adobe Cleaner. Then, I installed Adobe DC, but it didn't work - it stills refuses to open any file.
Funny thing is: after that, I downloaded and installed older versions from 11 to 9, and still none of them worked! Each time, I uninstalled the version, "re-uninstalled" it using the cleaner and rebooted the computer, but still, none of these 3 older versions worked. I stopped testing after version 9 failed because I concluded that none of the other older versions will work either.
I cannot attach a screenshot of the error because this is not, erm, a "screenshootable error". The software simply refuses to open, no matter how many times I reboot the computer or install/reinstall it.
Not sure if it helps, but this started a few months ago, when I did a selective restart to detect what was wrong with my Starcraft II game. It was after this selective restart that my Reader stopped working in the way I described.
Any help please? I think you know how incredibly annoying it is to open PDF files with a browser or even with Word.
Regards,
Michel
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mctanaka wrote
...Funny thing is: after that, I downloaded and installed older versions from 11 to 9, and still none of them worked! Each time, I uninstalled the version, "re-uninstalled" it using the cleaner and rebooted the computer, but still, none of these 3 older versions worked. I stopped testing after version 9 failed because I concluded that none of the other older versions will work either...
Screenshot suggests you are running Windows 10. Adobe Reader 9 and 10 never supported Windows 10 because it didn't exist yet (although they might perhaps work running in compatibility mode for an older OS). As for Adobe Reader XI, the last installer issued by Adobe was 11.0.10, whereas Windows 10 support wasn't added until 11.0.18 (https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotes/index.html). To install on Windows 10, I would use the 11.0.10 installer and immediately apply the final 11.0.23 patch before attempting to use Reader. Another issue: There used to be an AcroCleaner for Reader 9 at the link provided by Anand in post #2, but it isn't there anymore (and I don't know if it would've worked on Windows 10). In any case, you need to run AcroCleaner for 10.x and later (scroll down at previously mentioned link). Good luck!
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I use Windows 8.1, not Windows 10.
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mctanaka wrote
I use Windows 8.1, not Windows 10.
What happens if you change the information in Step 1 from Windows 10 which you don't have to Windows 8? Now can you choose earlier versions of the free Reader?
Be aware, though, that Adobe stopped support for Reader XI last fall and all versions earlier than DC will not get security updates.
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No, I can't, and it does not make the slightest difference because I managed to get the older versions through the Adobe FTP. Incidentally, none of them work.
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mctanaka wrote
I use Windows 8.1, not Windows 10.
OK then, the link I gave before shows that support for Windows 8.1 was added to Adobe Reader XI beginning with 11.0.04 (so there was no reason to expect that installer 11.0 would work). I have to agree with you that the help page for installing older versions of Reader is not helpful at all! To get the previously-mentioned 11.0.10 installer (which should presumably work on Windows 8.1), you would have to select Server 2008 as your operating system there (or get it from the ftp server). I also notice that the help page has screenshots showing Windows Vista selected, but Vista does not actually appear in the list! (IMO Vista users should also select Server 2008 as their OS, since it was merely a server version of Vista.) Adobe Reader XI was much better than Acrobat Reader DC, so I would try a little harder to get it working if I were you.
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We apologize for the inconvenience caused Michel.
As you mentioned that you have tried installation all the versions of Adobe Reader but it still fails to load and open any PDF file. I will request you to create a new Test user profile with full admin rights or enable the hidden administrator account and try installing the Adobe Reader DC and see if this brings any difference.
Let us know how it goes in new user test profile or in hidden admin account,
Regards,
Anand Sri.
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Hello Anand,
Unfortunately, none of these worked. I've tried installing the DC both in a new Test user profile with full admin rights and in the hidden administrator account (which, incidentally, I did not know ever existed). The software still refuses to load - as always, the mouse shows that loading animation for a few seconds and, then, nothing happens.
Any other ideas? I've already started considering the "nuclear option" (good ol' "format C:")..
Thanks for your help anyway! You've been answering very quickly.
Kindest regards,
Michel
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Hello Michel,
Thank for all information, and sorry for the trouble. Please share your contact details, the best time for call back, the time zone via private message so that we can schedule a call back for you on work on this issue via remotely. Please share these details via private message How Do I Send Private Message Link: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1184148
Regards,
Anand Sri.
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Hi, you have sent this to the wrong email. I did not send any requests to you.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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Hello,
I still have the issue. Is anyone out there listening? Don't like repeating myself, but lost of people still face the same problem: Re: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC won't open . Please, do address it.
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Hello Mctanaka,
Sorry for the delayed response and inconvenience caused. If you still not able to open the Adobe Reader DC, please share check your email inbox, I have sent you a private message with certain details.
Regards,
Anand Sri.
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Hello,
My problem still hasn't been solved and I didn't get the remotest clue of a callback to solve this issue. Is Adobe actually even aware of this issue at all?