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PDF in Adobe Reader

Posted by jka1941 (My Page) on
Fri, Feb 18, 11 at 19:11

I recently subscribed to my local newspaper's e-Edition. When I pull it up, I get an error message in Adobe Reader which says... File does not begin with '%PDF-'.

I have Vista 64 bit, Adobe Reader 8.

A while back Kim Komando warned that there were security issues in Adobe Reader and I changed some settings. But I don't remember just what they were.

However I am able to bring up PDF's in my banking web sites successfully.

Can you help me?


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

I'd update the Adobe reader program to 10. It's the most current version. Running old versions of Adobe can be somewhat risky.

That may help the issue you're having too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Adobe reader 10


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

Kim is right and because of those problems with Adobe I no longer have it on any of my machines, I removed it and instead use the free and much less bloated PDF xchange, or another good free option is Sumatra

PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.193

* Sumatra PDF Viewer 1.3


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more

Yep, that's probably the best way to go following raven's excellent advice.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

Thank you all for your help. I think I will do just that and install one of these others.

Again Thanks! Janice


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

AR can be an absolute monster to remove. A free application called REVO is regularly recommended here for uninstalling. I would use it in the Advanced Mode.

It first creates a restore point, uses the target application's uninstaller, and then searches the drive and registry for leftovers. With AR don't be surprised if there are many. You will have an option as to whether or not to delete the findings. There is no backup so the choice will be yours and lasting. Personally I have never had a regret with anything I have removed which has been identified by REVO, nor do I recall any postings either.

DA


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

Maybe AR is bloated...I wouldn't know. It surprises me that so many people complain about it. I've had it for years on two different machines and it hasn't caused me any problem yet. Maybe I'm just lucky. Sometimes, I will get an update which includes icons on the desktop that I have no use for so I just bury them my junk folder and forget about them.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

I've used Acrobat for many years on any number of computers and operating systems and never had a problem.

I would suggest updating to the latest, greatest version of Acrobat or using one of the aftermarket products instead.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

I have been reading how insecure Adobe Reader was. I don't need any problems. I did update to Adobe 10 on my 64 bit computer as PDF Exchange viewer didn't support 64 bit.
On my desktop, I did install the PDF Exchange viewer and it works great.

So thanks for all the help, I appreciated it.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

Don't think for a second that any of the aftermarket readers are "more secure." They likely have just as many flaws in their code as Adobe that could be exploited by a malicious individual. The difference is that no one is looking for the flaws.

That's not to say using an aftermarket viewer won't be beneficial to the end user.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

PDF-XChange Viewer 2.5.193 works fine on my 64 bit HP laptop.


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

Yes the latest versions of PDF xchange are 64bit compatible.
here is the compatibility view on the MS page
PDF XChange Viewer


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

With AR being 46.29MB in size versus for example FoxIt Reader at 7.51MB, it is not hard for the general .pdf user to conclude AR is bloated. The same conclusion will be reached if a user compares the left over file and registry entry reports when using REVO.

DA


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RE: PDF in Adobe Reader

3.18MB for Sumatra.
Super simple pdf reader program that seems to work just fine.


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