Opening PDFs

[Kerry F]

Okay, this is really driving me crazy.  On three computers with Win 7 it is getting harder and harder to open PDF files.  It stalls, says not responding.  I click on the email attachments and save them to desktop, do "open with" PDF.  It's getting worse and worse.  What's up?  It can't be a problem with all three computers with Win 7.  Doesn't do this on my one laptop with XP still.  Are there some new updates with Adobe I need to get or has everyone's PDF software and how they are making PDFs changed?  They are even slow to print once they do open fully with two different printers hooked up to two different computers.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

We've talked about this.  Right, Kerry?  Download any PDF viewer mentioned here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2027961/ditch-the-pdf-headaches-thre...

and when you right-click on a PDF, "open with," select anything but Adobe and see what happens.

[Kerry F]

Thanks Marge,

I was trying to find the thread where you told me about this.  I will do it.  But am still l curious why it is getting worse.  Did Adobe have some software updates that are causing this to be so much slower?  Are others having the same issue with opening PDF files?  And some PDF files I receive are better than others to open.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

I've been getting Richard Sherman's Mr. Modem Newsletter for many years, which I highly recommend.  It's chock full with basic and not-so-basic computer info.  He's available for personal calls, too.  http://mrmodem.com/

Here's something from one his newsletters:

Mr. Modem's Email of the Week

=================================================

" Dear Mr. Modem: I have had nothing but heartburn with the Adobe Reader, so I was looking through your  Favorite Programs (http://tinyurl.com/6m5v9) list and found  Foxit PDF Reader (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php). I downloaded it and was amazed at how fast it installed and how easy it was to use. I have dumped Adobe and will not miss it. Thanks for the upbeat overview of this program."

R.H., Bellingham, WA

Note: The FoxIt Reader performs the same functions as the Adobe Acrobat Reader, except it's 1/10th the size. I've used it for several years and haven't experienced a single problem with it. If you're doing fine with the  Adobe Reader (http://www.adobe.com), stick with it. But if problems arise or you just want to trim some dead weight from your system, you can always jettison Adobe and install Foxit.

[Kerry F]

Marge,

Do you know if it is an Adobe issue?  Maybe it's my Norton Internet Security.  My friends/reporters don't have the issues to the degree I'm having.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

I don't have an Adobe issue but reading Mr. Modem's newsletter, I see that many people do.  So you have joined the crowd.   What exactly is causing the Adobe problem, I don't know.  If you can open other programs, then I'd say it's not a Norton issue but who knows.  Just change programs and be done with it.   Have you tried another PDF viewing program and have the same issue?

[Kerry F]

Not yet.  It's just to automatic when getting PDF attachments to click and open it.  And it never used to be this bad.  In fact, seems just last year they all opened immediately without a hitch...........same computers and Windows 7.  But thanks for the links!

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

It'll be automatic with your new PDF viewer after you click "make this the default" or whatever the verbiage is.  Stop suffering already!  Try a new one!

[Kerry F]

I will.  After I get a little freed up I'll check it out next week and find something else to use.  I always get a little nervous making something new a default when I don't know enough about what it is I'm making a new default.

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

It's very easy to switch to default programs.  When you use a non-default program, it'll ask you if you want it to be your default.    And mostly you'll say no.  Or you say yes.  Don't be a scaredy-cat!   (And it'll take about 5 minutes tops to download another program and then, using Windows Explorer, finding a PDF, right-click "open with" and pick the new program.)  

[Kerry F]

It's just that I had had a problem at one time finding out where to change defaults on some program.  Couldn't find where it was.  I am pretty good with Windows software, but I do have a lot of holes in what I know.

Thanks

[Marge Teilhaber (TILE hobber)]

What I said before about default is not necessarily correct.  To change the PDF default program, find any PDF file on your computer in Windows Explorer.  Right-click, select properties, look for "opens with" in that window, click "change" and then pick a new program.  If you want that new program to be the default, make sure there's a checkmark in "always use the selected program to open this kind of file."  I attached a snip.  Go look and see how simple it is.

[Kerry F]

Okay Marge,

I checked into other readers with your links.  I downloaded the Sumatra and installed it and couldn't get it to work, to open anything.  It changed my PDF icons to the Sumatra icon.  It set it as the default.  Every time I tried to open with it, a window popped up telling me to install it.  It was installed.  I check my installed programs.  But it would not open any files.  So I uninstalled it.  Then I installed foxit.  That gave me that darn Ask toolbar I hate!  So I unintalled the Ask toolbar but it was still there.  The program worked, but I could not get rid of the Ask toolbar when I go to Google or Firefox.   So I uninstalled the whole program of foxit.  Ask was still there.  So I did a system restore to get rid of the Ask toolbar.

Any suggestions???

Thanks