[jestrella18]

Hi All (I'm John... new to the forum),

Dell Precision 3500 64bit (4GB ram)

My Windows 7 x64 SP1 becomes unstable where programs and taskmgr can't open after opening a few pdf files (not necessarily open at the same time) I've tried using Adobe reader 8, X, and acrobat pro 9 and PDF-Xchange pdf viewer.

Usually, opening the first pdf file of the day (or after a reboot) would be fine but as the day progresses and having other programs open and opening/closing other pdf files, suddenly i try to open another pdf (from web or desktop)and i get the "loading" circle and the document doesn't open but adobe shows it's open on the taskbar.

Any effort to open it (maximize, clicking on it) are useless so i just close it and try again. Then this time when clicking on the file (on desktop or from email or website.. tried all) nothing happens. It acts like it's loading but adobe doesn't open and nothing on the taskbar.

At this point i try to open task manager but it stops working so i can't open it. Sometimes trying to type in my start menu (ie.taskmgr) doesn't do anything because my typing doesn't show up. So the computer is now unstable and one more program stops working. I can't get to task manager though i did once so i ended the adobe reader process but it didn't fix anything nor could i open anything.

NOW it gets more complicated. I uninstalled adobe and installed Tracker's PDFXchange pdf viewer trial. This worked great the first day (i restarted after install) but day number two the same thing happend.

This is pretty tricky and the problem itself i know is not Adobe Reader but something pdf files in general. Or who knows, maybe it could be with something else but it is only triggeed when opening a pdf file.

I have attached a picture of the error i get in event viewer but couldn't find much regarding it.

I'm about to just reinstall Windows and the programs because i'm so lost.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

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Welcome to Geeks to Go

I'm about to just reinstall Windows and the programs because i'm so lost.

Have you please ?

[Macboatmaster]

Welcome to Geeks to Go

I'm about to just reinstall Windows and the programs because i'm so lost.

Have you please ?

[jestrella18]

I haven't yet. I made a registry change which should allow me to keep more active windows open. During the day, i keep about 20-30 active windows so it may be the issue. The only thing is that the crash is always triggered with the opening of a pdf and not just any random window.

[Macboatmaster]

My advice is to revert your registry change, you will end up with all manner of problems.

25-30 active windows is an awful lot to ask, of the system.

Send me this please so that I may have a look at the system
Please Run the PCPitstop.com OverDrive Full Tests

Here's how:

You must use your Internet Explorer for this procedure. (doesn't work so well in Firefox or others).

Go to: http://www.pcpitstop.com
Click on "Free Computer Check-up" listed below PC Pitstop OverDrive
In the User Login - Click on "Sign up FREE!" OR YOU CAN RUN THE TEST ANON. without signing up. - you will see that at the end of that screen. The results will still be saved long enough for me to look at them.
You'll need to submit a valid email address and create your own password, then click - Create Account(button)

Now enter your email address and password to Log in, Select - Scan this system Now!(button)
You will then be asked to download an ActiveX component and allow it to install.
It is safe and does not compromise your privacy.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX and to allow the Full Tests to be run on your machine.

The Full Tests take about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on most machines.
When complete, a Results - Summary - Recommended Fixes will be displayed. I would ask that you leave any application of these until I have had a look

Please post the URL internet address, from your Results, back here into this Topic Thread so that we can review the configuration.

Note: During the graphics 2D and graphics 3D testing, your screen will display some rapidly moving objects.
If you are sensitive to visual flashing, it may cause dizziness. Therefore, look away from the screen during that portion of the testing.


While PCPitstop does offer a variety of Paid Products, the PCPitstop OverDrive testing is FREE. Please ignore the references to Paid Products. We prefer to provide manual solution instructions that you can apply directly to your machine.

[jestrella18]

Sorry for taking so long. here are the results and thank you

http://www.pcpitstop...?conid=24912810

[Macboatmaster]

1. The first matter that comes to my notice is - how do you receive windows updates - by that I mean fully automatic
notify and I will choose etc.


2. There is a known conflict between Symantec Endpoint Protection and Adobe
(It is not only Symantec - but that is the one that usally causes the trouble)

Open Adobe, click the edit, click preferences
click general on the top block of the left pane and then click on the main window - to uncheck the samll box - enable protected mode at startup
Then click OK - TRY AGAIN PLEASE after a reboot.

3. Also it APPEARS and Pitstop is NOT always correct, that you would be well advised to run
Empty the recycle bin

a. diskcleanup

b. Open IE and clean browsing history, unchecking the top box and checking the others below, that of course is on the Safety button on the lower menu bar of IE

c. Back in IE on the Tools button Manage add-ons I recommend you disable MANY of the Browser Helper objects and clicking ttolbars, search providers and accelerators on the left pane and then highlighting the items in the main window, you will then have the options shown below

d. disk defrag - the defrag on 7 is a lot better than it was on xp or vista and although some people recommend auslogics defrag, I personally would rather stay with the windows 7 defrag

Please accept my apologies if any of this is too basic for you, I am sure you appreciate that I have no way of knowing your level of knowledge.

4. Download this
http://www.geekstogo...er-by-oldtimer/
CREATE a restore point please

Run the program

[jestrella18]

The machine receives updates from wsus. I'm the help desk admin and the computer is my colleague's so I've tried a few things and can't figure it out. Adobe is not currently installed as i have the PDF-XChange viewer installed instead though the issue continues. The registry fix was done by another company who's software is also affected by this issue. I will revert the change since it didn't help.

I'll try each of your recommendations and let you know how it goes.

Thanks again for your help.

John

[Macboatmaster]

Well in view of your last reply, may I just send you the possible causes and solutions, without typing out actual instructions.

I say this as you clearly do not need the basic guidance.

Here is the definitive Adobe paper on the issue generally

http://helpx.adobe.c...es-windows.html


I would also examine event viewer on windows logs - application - error and see what is reported

Windows 7 as you know is very particular regarding driver issues and the like and I personally would suspect that as the problem also occurs with the other PDF viewer, although I do not know the true compatability of that utility ot windows7, that if that is OK, you are probably looking at an add-on issue, or other browser enhancement/accelerator or a driver issue.

Maybe an update to the graphics driver would provide the solution.

If you read the release notes of the driver you may well find mention of Adobe issues. This is not uncommon.

I would also consider trying a clean boot test and using msconfig in troubleshooting to reenable processes and startup items, in groups, not too many at a time, if the clean boot should solve the issue.

I certainly, although, the choice is yours would stay away from registry fixes. In my experience, generally speaking, they solve little but can cause more problems.

You may I think, if all else fails, be well served by uninstalling all of Symantec, providing of course you have the means to reinstall presuming it is paid for and the necessary key.password etc. and then testing again. If you have success, you will then be best of course talking to Symantec., as I presume you would not wish simply to change the AV/firewall etc.

It is IMHO frequently found to be the cause of problems.

I do not for one moment criticise it as an anti virus and in the case of the one you have an all round protection, but its reputation for causing issues such as this is well known

[HansBerlin]

My Windows 7 x64 SP1 becomes unstable where programs and taskmgr can't open after opening a few pdf files (not necessarily open at the same time) I've tried using Adobe reader 8, X, and acrobat pro 9 and PDF-Xchange pdf viewer.

Usually, opening the first pdf file of the day (or after a reboot) would be fine but as the day progresses and having other programs open and opening/closing other pdf files, suddenly i try to open another pdf (from web or desktop)and i get the "loading" circle and the document doesn't open but adobe shows it's open on the taskbar.

This is pretty tricky and the problem itself i know is not Adobe Reader but something pdf files in general. Or who knows, maybe it could be with something else but it is only triggeed when opening a pdf file.

I noticed the same issue with pdf files. I don't have Acrobat installed, just Foxit PDF Reader. I believe that this started after the last round of Windows updates - it doesn't look like a pdf reader issue to me. Perhaps I'll try reverting the system with system restore.

[Macboatmaster]

HansBerlin

Welcome to GeekstoGo

Thank you for your post.
If however you wish actual assistance with your issue, would you please start your own topic.

[jestrella18]

Attached are the error logs from the time it happened last week. I searched but couldn't find much info on the Faulting Process ID and the Event id 1000 says it's a general error saying that a program has caused windows to become unstable. The third error i had was a few minutes after the occurrence and it was the WMI 10 error. But this was 7 minutes after which could have been after we rebooted. I haven't been able to try your other fixes but i'll report back as soon as I do.

Attached Thumbnails

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[Macboatmaster]

click the column header level once and then we will have all the errors together it makes it easier to check.

Howerver I do not think it will take us very far

Can you create this error on demand., if so set up ready to do so

start the system diagnosticm byt typing in search
perfmon /report


then whilst it is collecting data, create the error, with a bit of luck it will be included.

[jestrella18]

I was able to do all of your recommendations and most importantly, i added pdf files to the exclusions list of Endpoint Protection and so far so good. This will not pose any issue as she only opens pdf files from one secure website. I will keep you updated but the past 4 days have been without one incident. Thank you very much. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into helping me with this problem.

John

[Macboatmaster]

Thanks for replying.
Good luck hope it stays ok