Windows cannot find 'c:\.....\AcroRd32.exe'

[natashav15100628]

Every time I try to launch Acrobat reader from the start menu I get this message:

When I browse to the folder and double click on the AcroRD32.exe icon - I get the same message

When try to open a .pdf file by double clicking on it - I get the message that the file can't be found - even though I can open these files within a browser

Again - I can open these pdf files (with or without acrobat?) in my browser but it doesn't seem to work independent of an HTML browser

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Acrobat Reader - please don't tell me to do that and let you know how it worked - it didn't

Thanks

Natasha

[aleks&rovich]

i've deleted the key, but nothing changed, still can't open Reader.

[elmarday]

Find the .exe file and rename it.  I used just "Adobe.exe" and it will open.  Apparently, windows or your AV doesn't like the name.  Microsoft strikes again, as Windows can find the file just fine, it just won't open it.  Language matters.  LOL

[gangchol16174379]

best solution ever. thanks you. after renaming need to set Adobe.exe for default

[mrz_flores]

GENIUS!!! THANK YOU!

[ajyong]

To whoever that has given the steps, THANKS  million from the bottom of my heart. It has been a painful painful journey navigating this problem and finally having it fixed just with a few simple steps! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[efindlow]

Thank You so much been looking for a solution for hours 

[chinogut]

This worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tried other things that didn't, but THIS WORKED!!!!!

Thank you ever so much!

[MakaWhy]

It worked. Thanks!

[ebt213]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[cbuzeta]

These steps work 100%. Thanks!

[4lib]

Natasha... you are a goddess!

[wallacef]

it worked! Tks!!!

[Jcmagal]

Great!!! It is working again now! Thanks a lot!

[JAWED ALAM]

THANKS SIR I AM SATISFIED AND VERY HAPPY

[avveerkar]

You are a darling. I have been facing this problem but could not find find a solution. Out of sheer frustration I had installed some other reader. Could you pl explain why that unwanted key which you suggested to delete got in there on a working machine? I mean Reader on my laptop was working fine and one fine morning it just stopped working. Would love to know. Thanks a lot for the solution.

[avveerkar]

Ok. Now I think I know the source of problem. I had AVAST antivirus installed. To speed up the machine it has a feature where it puts Reader to sleep and then wakes it up on demand ( when you want to read a pdf file ). It puts Reader to sleep again when you close the file. It must be playing with this key to achieve this. I had uninstalled AVAST recently. It seems unistallation did not remove the key. Hence the problem. If anyone has AVAST installed and decides to remove it, my suggestion would be that first yoy should siwtch off that feature of AVAST where it wakes up the applications on demand and then uninstal AVAST.

[Zorbinator]

There is no Current version there. Alternative solutions? Windows 10 64-bit

[bbgriffincfx@gmail.com]

The directions worked perfectly!  Thank you very much.  It has been a nightmare trying to solve this problem.  

[Guest]

Just a HUGE THANK YOU to the ones who posted this here, saved my life!

[Guest]

Hello, I have Windows 10 home on my computer. I followed the above steps until step 4. I do not have a Windows NT option, just windows and then it stops. I am a simple user at home and cannot open my PDF's using either Adobe (preferred) or MS Edge. I tried reinstalling Adobe to no avail. Please help. I am stuck

[Guest]

Never mind, I made a navigation error. Tried again and found the right path. Executed just as described and it now works.  Thank you

[jamess82209892]

my registry editor list

[jamess82209892]

The above is my registry editor list. Are you certain there is nothing below windows? Wish I could help further but what I have. I was able to go to that "Image file execution options" and have deleted all the files in that one that weren't working (realplayer, IOBitUnistaller, and severl others and now they all work. amazing!

[jamess82209892]

Wow! Tried a number of other 'suggestions' from various sites...none worked...this one worked IMMEDIATELY! Thanks so much. Was afraid to mess with the registry, but desparate and turned out to work! again, THANK YOU!

[gyro1682@comcast.net]

Worked perfectly for me!