PDF User preferences with Roaming User Profiles

[JULES4]

Hello,

We are having an issue in our environment that we haven't been able to resolve. We are running Windows Server 2012 R2 terminal servers and users are using Roaming profiles. The issue we are having is that if there is more than one PDF viewer installed on the terminal servers (Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader for example) when the user chooses a default PDF application, once they log off and back on, that default preference is lost. They once again have to select their default PDF viewer, every time they log in. If there is only one PDF application installed on the server, the setting is retained without an issue. Also, if you use a local profile, even with multiple PDF viewers installed, the default setting is retained without an issue. We've tried using GPP to set the registry key to set the default viewer, however, the value has a Deny Write value applied to it. We've also tried scripting an export and import of they key upon logoff and logon respectively, however, the same issue prevents that (the deny write value on the registry). HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\UserChoice\Progid

We've contacted Microsoft support, and they told us this was a 3rd party issue because the only file extension with this problem is the .pdf file extension. We also setup a test environment with only roaming profiles GPO setup and were able to duplicate the issue and make sure there wasn't a GPO causing this problem. Any help or guidance you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Adam

[JULES4]

Sooo....Has anyone else experienced a similar issue to this?

[binnysach]

Hi Jules.

To investigate on the issue we would want to know couple of things -

1. Which version of Acrobat & Reader you using

2. Also, please share the details of the permissions for the registry key, right click on the key and select Permissions.

Thanks,

binny

[JULES4]

Hello Binny and thank you for the response.

We've had the problem using Adobe Reader 11 along with Adobe Acrobat 11 and Also using version 12 of both or any combination in between.

Below is a screen shot of the permissions on the userchoice key for the pdf file extension preference along with a screen shot of how windows hashes the value in the registry for the progid, which would read something like acroExch.Document.11 if it weren't hashed. This is apparently a default behavior in Server 2012R2 (both setting the deny write value on the key so that only the "Open With" process can change the registry value, as well as hashing the value of the key, both apparently security features so that a virus can't change your default programs for file extensions).

[Guest]

Hello!

We need a Solution!!!!!!!!!!!

Greez

[PierrickA]

Hello

I am facing the same problem.

Did you manage to solve it.

any help is welcomed

Pierrick

[AdamD3485]

Anyone have any ideas on this issue? Doesn't matter what two versions of Adobe you use together on a RDS(terminal server) while using roaming profiles, this issue happens. Default PDF viewer choice resets after each log off.

[Anup_K]

Currently, setting the default handler is implemented as an admin operation, hence user has to go through UAC on desktop OS for this operation. It seems the operation is failing on Windows server 2012 because OS doesn't allow elevation.

We're looking into the current implementation to see if setting the default handler really needs admin privileges.

- Anup

[PierrickA]

Hello

As far as i am concerned I am testing on a separate test server, UAC is disabled and  my test account is domain admin and local server admin.

I am using both reader DC and Pro DC versions.

Pierrick

[Anup_K]

While we investigate why "Preference -> General -> Select as default PDF handler" doesn't work, can you try OS provided means of setting the default handler --

Right-click on a PDF file, open with.., choose default program

[PierrickA]

I think I have already tried all known methods to set the default PFD handler, neither of them have worked

[pjeyara573]

Having same issue on server 2012 r2.  Anyone managed a solution for this.

Regards !

[PierrickA]

Hello,

I have only 10 out of 120 users that uses Acrobat Pro, the others are using only Reader.

I manage to force the reader as default reader using the method described in this post :

http://blogs.technet.com/b/mrmlcgn/archive/2013/02/26/windows-8-associate-a-file-type-or-protocol-wi...

The ten users use the "Open With" entry in the contextual menu when they need to edit a PDF  file.

Rgds

[pjeyara573]

Thank you. Will try it out today and Let you know.

Regards !