PDF printer instance keeps disappearing

[FrameMaker-dk]

I am running FrameMaker Version: 17.0.0.226 on Win11 and a really annoying problem has appeared. The PDF printer instance keeps disappearing and provokes this message:

Each time I reinstall Acrobat from the installation package, but half an hour later it is gone again.

What happens and where it goes to, I can´t figure out. Any suggestions?...

Best regards

Bjørn

[Bob_Niland · Accepted solution]

A general web search suggests that this is a more general Acrobat problem than a specific FM problem.

Presumably all the installs are being done as Admin.

Is full Acrobat {pro} or Acrobat Reader installed on the same system?

[FrameMaker-dk]

I think you are right. Browsing the Acrobat forum shows that I am no alone with this issue. Not that it has been resolved, though.

[Bob_Niland]

I'm wondering if this happens on systems which don't have stand-alone Acrobat (Reader or Pro) installed. There may not be many such systems, as anyone generating PDF typically wants to air-check them pre-distribution/publication. As an uninformative data point, I have both installed, and have yet to see the PDF printer instance go poof.

Acrobat tends to just update itself by default (whereas CC makes updates available, and FM relies on user initiative).
Is there some chance that the PDF printer is going over the cliff as a result of an Acrobat update?

[FrameMaker-dk]

Maybe. My own system runs Win 11 and both Adobe CC and Technical Communication Suite.

Actually I think - without a shred of proof - that it is some sort of Microsoft harassment. The Win 10 system that I have just abandoned kept replacing my choice of pdf software with the Edge browser. I must have done a reset hundreds of times but still Windows found a way to use Edge rather than Acrobat. It may also be, as you suggest, the result of an Acrobat update or missing update. Acrobat always comes up with a message that it is about to install AI features, but it never does. So perhaps there is a pending update which for whatever reason won't execute. 

[Lord McSquash]

I think it disappears upon restart... So...

I opened Creative Cloud, unistalled Acrobat. Quit Creative cloud. Opened it again as Admin. Installed Adobe Acrobat, deleted the STUPID DESKTOP SHORTCUT that I didn't ask for. Printed my jobs, saved my jobs (work now done) and restarted my Windows 11 Confuser. It's still there. Seems to be fixed, let me know if that works for you. 

[Winfried Reng]

I do not know what the cause is.

On my laptop at about 1/3 of all days the Adobe PDF printer is removed.

I cannot tell, if this happens right in the morning or after I worked with a specific program. Or if I worked with a specific program, and the Adobe PDF printer is removed after the next restart. I do not notice any rule yet.

I will monitor this and check, when the Adobe PDF printer is removed.

Annoying!

Fortunately I can do a repair installation of Acrobat Pro which installs the Adobe PDF printer again. Takes 3 minutes.

[Winfried Reng]

I work on Windows 10, FrameMaker 17.0.3 and always the latest Acrobat patch.

[Klaus Göbel · Accepted solution]

I'm working with Windows11 and since the last update this problem is gone. So my conclusion is, that it is not a matter of FrameMaker, but Windows.

[Winfried Reng]

Hi Klaus, thank you very much for your comment!

Then it seems that I have to wait until our IT department allows us to switch to Windows 11. Probably not before we get new laptops after 3 or 5 years usage.

Before some months ago the Adobe PDF printer was removed maybe once in 3 months. Now every 3 days.

Best regards, Winfried

[Lord McSquash]

I had this ptoblem. A couple weeks ago I ran Acrobat as Admin, reinstalled the driver and havent had an issue since. 

Running Win 11.