Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
June 17, 2007
Volume 3, Number 1 — Sunday, June 17, 2007
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Protect Your Computer — Block Spyware and Adware
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7. Adobe Reader 8 Problems This Week - And a Change to Foxit Reader
I started having a bunch of problems this week with my notebook jumping to 100% CPU usage. It wasn't just a temporary problem either — at one point, I walked away for 30 minutes. When I returned to my computer, the problem was still there — and my computer was virtually useless.
After a couple times, I realized that the problem occurred shortly after I started Adobe Reader 8. It happened every time that I opened Adobe Reader 8.
I think that Adobe made a very stupid choice in Adobe Reader 8. Prior to version 8, you, the user, had the choice of whether to allow Adobe Reader to contact Adobe's web site to look for updates. They removed that choice in Adobe Reader 8. Now, when you start Adobe Reader 8, it automatically starts adobeupdater.exe, which presumably attempts to check for updates.
In my case, the program caused a major problem. It immediately grabbed about 98% of the CPU. Unfortunately, the way it hung (or they way it was programmed), it prevented shutting down, prevented rebooting, and even prevented killing the program using Windows Task Manager, WinPatrol or Process Explorer. I had to hold down the power button for about 10 seconds to trigger the shutdown.
I used Process Explorer to figure out where the problem was. I first thought this was an issue with my firewall blocking the "call home" function. I set it to allow AdobeUpdater.exe to call out to the Internet. That didn't solve the problem.
Next, I actually turned off my firewall
Tech Tip
Remember, I'm running behind a router, so this step was much, much safer than if I was connected directly to a cable modem or DSL modem. If you have cable or DSL, get a Linksys WRT54GL
That didn't solve the problem, either. So, I uninstalled Adobe Reader 8, rebooted, and then installed Adobe Reader 7 (which I still had from downloading last year).
Tech Tip
Adobe has also changed their downloading process. As of Adobe Reader 8, I haven't figured out how to download Adobe Reader. All I can do is download a small Adobe program that handles the download and installation of Adobe Reader 8.
After installing Adobe Reader 7, all was well. Well, almost, Adobe Reader 7 felt slow. Adobe Reader 7 still had the ability to turn off checking for updates. You find that option via Edit, Preferences. Then, click the Updates category.
If you have this problem but don't have an earlier version of Adobe Reader available (Adobe prohibits redistribution, so you should not be able to find it elsewhere on the web), or if you think Adobe Reader has gotten too slow as it got older and larger, you might want to check out Foxit Reader.
I've just installed Foxit Reader 2 and find that it's very fast. The reader itself is free. There are also some nice paid add-on's to give some of the functions of the full Adobe Acrobat.
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Get Faxes Direct to Your Email
This week, I signed up for a service at which I had been looking for a while. CallWave Fax to Email lets me have a local fax number — in whatever area code that I desire — that receives faxes, turns them into Adobe Reader PDF files, and emails them to me.
I get all that for $7.95 per month, with an unlimited number of faxes received (some of their competitors have higher prices AND limits on how many faxes you can receive!). CallWave offers a risk-free trial — try it for 30 days. If you don't like it, cancel it before the 30 day trial is up and owe nothing.
Amazingly, this whole service costs much less than a phone line would cost, plus, I don't to worry about the machine itself, paper, ink or toner. PDF's are easier to keep, too — of course I can print the PDF if I really want a hard copy. If you already have your own dedicated fax line, you can even convert it to Fax to Email and keep the same phone number — and, CallWave Fax to Email is still only $7.95 per month. There's a $25 one-time activation fee to make the conversion.
Give CallWave Fax to Email a try. Sign up at http://terryscomputertips.com/Fax2Email
8. Recommend my Terry's Computer Tips Newsletter to Your Friends
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Volume 3, Number 1 — Sunday, June 17, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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