Resolved Adobe not opening pdf

when I try to open a pdf in Adobe either from the web or on my hd, I get this message:

"[file path].pdf is not a valid Win32 application. "

But I also have Foxit, and it is able to open the pdf.

Adobe is better for some things.

Any suggestions appreciated

 

pdf not a win32 application

Have a look at this dispatch trophy as it was the fix for the problem for the user. Cheers Neil.

 

since I posted this I have deleted Adobe 5.0 and installed 6.0 but have not noticed any improvement.

 

How do you find the "Default programs" from the Start menu?

Does it mean the Windows program "Set Program Access and Defaults "? I went there but there is no mention of pdf or of Win32.

If I open Adobe, I cna then go up to File > Open > then find the pdf and it opens. But if I click on the pdf, I will get the message and no access.

to Steve Jones

I know the current version is 10 but since I am using XP on a 10 year old PC and most of my other programs (MS Word, etc) are of the same age, I try to use other programs from that time period to maintain compatibility.

 

Installing version 10 may be your solution but this is worth a look-see:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ie/pdf.htm

 

ok, I have deleted versions 5.0 and 6.0 and downloaded 10.1.3.

 

Please let us know how this worked out for you.

 

I'm still testing this, but it looks like this may solve the problem

if the icon is adobe then I can open it with adobe

if I try to open an adobe icon with foxit, then I still get the win32 error message.

 

Hello dispatch trophy,

Looks like you can default open with one or the other, by association, but I bet if you right click it, you will be able to choose which one to open it with.

Thank you so much for the update and I am glad reader version 10 solved and worked for you.

 

I have tried putting Foxit as the default program for my test pdf, but with Foxit the win32 message is still coming up.

I am able to open it directly with Adobe however.

then if I open up Foxit separately and to to File > Open, I can open it through Foxit that way.

 

Are you saying you have no option , "on a right click" of the pdf, to "open with ", followed by a list of programs or a browse to function? If not see: kellys korner #220 solution entitled "restore open with on a right click:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

*NOTE: you may have to hold the ctrl key down while right clicking to show context menu.

This is on a pdf on your harddrive OR is it in a browser, on the net, that your trying to enable a plugin that will open the thing in your browser?

Once again I stress that you can only associate PDF extension with 1 application any others will give you the error because it is not registered to handle file extension *.pdf open default . You must choose a preference, either adobe or foxit as default left click open, make sure it is associated with pdf extension and set as default program "always use this application when opening this type of file ". You can still opt to right click open and chose another application.

Is it really such a big deal which opens it as long as it opens in both depending on method used?

--------------------------just for FYI--------
How To Change the Default Program for a Specific File Extension in Windows XP[\url]

Goole says this about adobe or foxit:
http://tinyurl.com/bvyhzsn

And just to be thorough in making sure you have additional resources to explore your problem solution:
http://tinyurl.com/7q5yqu2