Problems Opening pdf Files

I had a major problem with my laptop recently, and the technician reinstalled Windows XP. I have been setting up everything again, including downloading and installing Adobe Acrobat Reader v8. I have set up pdf files in "File Types" under Folder Options so they are opened with Adobe reader. If I use My Computer or Windows Explorer to go to a pdf file on the HDD and double click, it opens perfectly. However, if I receive a pdf file attached to an email (Outlook Express) and double click the attachment in the email, I get a dialog box showing the file name, complete with pdf extension, and the comment that it is an unknown file type. If I save the attachment and double click on it on the HDD, it opens perfectly.

Can anyone suggest how I can get pdf files to open from emails as they did before the reinstall? Files of other types open perfectly from the attachment - the problem seems to be only with pdf files. I'm not sure if I should be posting here or in the OE forum, but I'll try here first.

 

Check your Security settings in OE. Tools > Options > Security Tab. If tagged, untag the box "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus. "

If not that then perhaps the link below will shine some light on the problem:



http://www.experts-exchange.com/Applications/Email/Q_21976438.html

You'll want to print that page out if it looks promising since if you visit it a second you will be "Cookied Out" from the answer screen and asked to pay to see it.

After you solve this problem or even if you don't, you should consider getting Foxit since it's free and allows you to view pdf's fast and easy. You could even unload the bloated AdobeReader and free up some disk space.

 

Thanks Surferdude2. Security box is already unchecked. I followed the link but could view only the question. When I clicked to see the solution, it immediately asked me to subscribe - no free access at all. Any way around this? It sounds like it's exactly my problem.

 

I have Cookie Jar so I just dumped the current cookies and refreshed the page. It showed me the answer again. YMMV

 

Open a session of AcrobatReader and click Edit > Preferences > Internet > and check the settings there for Web Browser Options. Check 'em all.

 

Hi, alistair.

When I view Experts-Exchange pages, I scroll down past the table of contents stuff that immediately follows the question to see the submitted "answers ". I do not experience the "cookied out" issue that surferdude mentioned. I can revisit the page and view the answers again without any difficulty.

I use Firefox 2.0 so perhaps Experts-Exchange interacts differently with Firefox than it does with other browsers. I also use other tools to block advertisements, 3rd party cookies, etc. so those may play a part as well.

When you scroll down the Experts-Exchange page surferdude linked, look for the "Accepted Answer ".

 

As nothing else was solving the problem, I tried reinstalling Adobe Reader 8. Despite my doing all the same things as last time, it worked. I can now open pdf files from anywhere.

Thanks to all who responded to my query.

 

That's great! Thanks for posting back your results.

Now, you should still consider getting FoxIt. It beats Adobe in several areas. For example, you can type and save text into .pdf files with it. Pretty neat little freebie.

All the best.