Windows Can No Longer Find Pdf Readers Or Pdf Files Even Though I Can See Them

I recently upgraded my operating system from win 7 home premium 64bit to win 7 professional 64bit through windows anytime upgrade. Everything has been working great except my pdf readers and pdf files. I get an error saying windows cannot find ( item at specified location ) but when i follow the path i can find it just fine. I have tried the pdf files on another machine and they work fine. I have reinstalled the readers but when i try and run them i get the same error stating they cant be found. I tried to uninstall the readers but cant do that either for the same error reason. Ive even re-indexed to see of that would fix it but no luck. Im stumped. HELP

 

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC for both. I tried changing it to foxit reader but I still get the same error. Seems explorer cant find either reader, even though i can see that theyre there

 

Ok. I have tried revo uninstaller to remove adobe and that was successful. When I tried to uninstall foxit, revo didnt find it to uninstall it. I checked and it is still there and still on the programs list when i go into uninstall programs in control panel and i still see it in program files x86. not sure what to do next. If Revo cant see it it cant remove it

 

PS...tried using foxit but same error. I was hoping to get both uninstalled before trying a fresh install of a fresh copy

 

OK..I have managed a slight win. I went into control panel and checked windows components. Indexing wasnt installed so i fixed that and now at least i can open a pdf in chrome. I still cant open foxit or open a pdf with foxit. Now when i look on the programs list in control panel, foxit is no longer on the list but i can still go into its folder and find it all

 

What happens when you double-click the uninstall file in the Foxit folder?

 

update. I managed to use hunter mode in revo to remove foxit and all its left over bits and pieces. I then downloaded the latest version of foxit's installer and ran it but Im still getting the same error message as before.

 

Eldon, When I double click the uninstall file i get the same error message saying that windows cannot find the file

 

It seems like a system file or perhaps registry corruption.
Run this utility and upload the log.
Download SFC Utility - MajorGeeks

 

here is the result

 

The log shows no errors.

Download and run Tweaking.com - Windows Repair.
Portable (recommended):
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_windows_repair_portable.html
Installer:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_windows_repair.html

Take your time and follow the instructions carefully. I suggest you go straight to the Repairs tab and select Common Repairs.
It's recommended to run the program in "Safe Mode With Networking". Restart and run the program a second time.

 

OK I ran the repairs twice and it fixed some problems but Im still getting the same error when I try to start the PDF reader. Seems it didnt fix the right problem. Any other ideas? Its like when windows upgraded to pro it missed something . Everything else seems to be ok except the PDF's

 

Run this batch file and upload the log.

 

done

 

The log shows no errors.
We're running out of options...

You'll have to try a repair of Windows using a Windows 7 Professional 64-bit disc.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/243190/how_to_repair_a_corrupt_windows_7_installation.html

You can also try a different PDF viewer as a test.
Select the portable version.
https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer

 

ok..well this is doing my head in. Adobe and foxit still dont work but the one you sent me does. I was going to have a go at the windows repair with a disc but i was concerned i would end up having to do a clean install which would mean days of work putting everything back onto my system, so it was a last resort. Or do you think I should still go that way? Try the repair with the disc , I mean

 

Strange indeed.

Repairing Windows 7 doesn't remove programs, settings or personal files.
Some programs (only 2 in my case) might have to be re-installed.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/243190/how_to_repair_a_corrupt_windows_7_installation.html

 

ok.. I will give it a try and let you know how it goes

 

ok...have run into another problem while doing the repair. It starts then I get the message in the attached pic. Theres a partition with system files on it and its trying to use that (doesnt give me another option) and there isnt enough space. Now Im stumped again.

 

Open Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
Take a screenshot and upload it.

 

Here it is

 

The Compatibility report refers to partition H which doesn't exist.
Disconnect drives E, F, G & K and try again.

 

Im pretty sure its talking about the partition on C drive. I know it isnt allocated a drive letter but everything else is large enough with plenty of room. Thats the only partition I can see that would cause the problem. But will give that a try and get back to you

 

What do you mean, the drive letter is C. And it has enough space for a repair.

 

If you Look at the partition to the left of C that says system reserved..I believe thats what theyre referring to

 

Same error but this time its called it E. The physical C drive is the only one connected

 

This is getting more confusing by the minute.
At this point I see only 2 options.
1. Live with PDF-XChanger Viewer.
2. Do a clean install of Windows 7 Professional.

BTW Have you tried the portable version of Foxit Reader?

 

No I havent. Im happy with PDF XChanger Viewer. I think I have 1 more option to try though. Before I did the windows anytime upgrade, I cloned my C drive as I was upgrading to an SSD but wanted to make sure I had a backup just in case something went wrong. Im going to clone that backup back to the SSD which will put it back to windows home premium before the upgrade to professional. Then instead of the the windows anytime upgrade, I'll try doing to upgrade to pro using the disk and see if that solves the problem as I believe it all started when doing the online upgrade.
What do you think?

 

It's definitely worth a try.
Keep me posted.

 

I will. I'll redo the clone back to original tonight as it takes about 13 hours. Then proceed with the rest after work tomorrow.

 

Ok. I think I have run into another problem. I have reinstalled the original drive with home premium. When I plugged in the SSD as it is now not C drive I can see the partition H that was the system reserved partition. As the original C drive has the same partition for system reserved files, even when I re-clone it to the SSD, it's going to have that partition on it again and I think we're going to run into the same problem when trying to do the upgrade. I will still give it a shot and I'll let the drive clone overnight, then I'll try doing the upgrade in the morning with the disk but I'm doubtful its going to work.

 

AHAH! I just tried to use both adobe and foxit on the original C drive and ran into the same error so it didnt happen when I did the upgrade because this drive wasnt in the PC at the time. The problem must have been there before I changed to the SSD . I still have no idea why but now Im going to have to do a clean install for sure. Will report back when its done

 

Good luck.
I'm hoping for the best.

 

OK. Complete clean install of windows 7 professional 64 bit done. So far everything is working....except...windows experience index cant rate my pc because it keeps getting this error.
I've tried every fix i can find on google to no avail. I keep getting the same message

 

See if this helps.
https://neosmart.net/wiki/system-restore-the-parameter-is-incorrect/

 

OK. The hotfix is no longer available so i cant try that. Ran through everything else but still having the same problem

 

I'll check it out. Im running the same av as I was prior to the reinstall though. Same everything. Thats why I dont understand why I am having problems. A lot of info from google seems to indicate its something to do with the SSD maybe...even though its the same SSD I was running prior to the clean install

 

OK. Ran that...only problem I could find was "Unable to open the drive or device. Error: Failed to properly assess the disk. The parameter is incorrect".
I just dont get it. This is the same version of windows I was running on the same SSD as before I did the clean install and WEI was working fine on it then. The only difference is that this time win 7 pro 64 bit was installed via disc instead of windows anytime upgrade online

 

AHA!!! I finally found what was causing the problem!! I found a thread that was saying that avast free antivirus was causing the same problem for some people so i figured id try uninstalling avast to see if it helped. Ive spent days searching all forums and trying many fixes, all to no avail. I just uninstalled avast and BINGO!!! WEI is working!!!
Now my only question for you guys is...can anyone suggest a good antivirus thats free that I can use instead of avast???

 

Peruse this.
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-march-2019-factsheet/

 

Thanks for that Eldon. I'll try a couple out based on those results. Definitely worth a peruse!

 

The only thing I didnt like about Microsoft Security Essentials was the amount of false positives it was finding,. I already have malwarebytes. Its great software

 

aah ok