A Happy Ending to PDF Problems

Long-time subscriber Scott Adler wrote this week that he was having problems with current Adobe programs. In particular, he had the same issue with Adobe Reader 8 that many of us have had.

Prior to Adobe Reader 8, one of our user-configurable options was to turn off the auto-update function. However, Adobe Reader 8 removed that from our control. Now, shortly after you start Adobe Reader 8, it starts the Adobe Updater program automatically.

Unfortunately, Adobe Reader 8's updater also has some compatibility or other problems. On my notebook, for example, it would cause an immediate jump to 98% CPU usage and my computer would become virtually non-responsive. The only way to stop the problem was to hold the power button until the unit shut down.

Scott had a different solution than many other users. Most people who had issues chose to uninstall Adobe Reader 8 and return to Adobe Reader 7. Scott, on the other hand, chose to find and delete the Adobe Updater program. Now, he's having trouble with that approach:

I keep having repeating problems with Adobe products. Seems about every week I have to laboriously hunt down and delete the adobe updater. If you can-what alternative should I switch to?? I know PDF 5 from Nuance is one,
Appreciate your help

Scott Adler

I wrote back to Scott to tell him that I uninstalled Adobe Reader 8 and reinstalled Adobe Reader 7, which lets you turn offf the updating. That gives me a pdf reader hooked into my web browser. I also installed Foxit Reader as my default pdf reader.

I have an earlier article on my web site about my experiennce called Adobe Reader 9 Problems and a Change to Foxit Reader.

Scott wrote back to say:

Wow!! What a refreshing change Foxit makes. Thanks a million!
[The bolding was part of Scott's message!]

Copyright © 2008 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.