[Help] Every single PDF reader, adobe or not, crashes at launching

So literally from night to day, my pc just stopped launching any PDF reader. I had Nuance PDF Reader working fine, and had several College pdf files important to me. So yesterday, when i tried to open one of them, it just crashed at launching, saying an error was found and Windows will close it. No explanation. I tried to re-install and found out i couldn't because one specific destiny folder needed Adminsitrator permission (i am admin lol). Anyway, i tried opening it with acrobat and also coudln't. Installed Adobe Reader, X and XI and this time no message showed up. The program starts and then closes itself without any warning or without having opened the file i wanted (i tried many different pdf files). I also tried Foxit, error message at start and crash..

So i went to Google it seems other people had this problem, and i tried their sollutions... Repair installation, Re-install, removing Adobe Shockwave, Flash Player and Reader, then install again, running CCleaner, reset pc, latest updates Also tried to run McAfee to check for malwares, and what was my surprise to find that it also crashes at start! It is also adobe right?... Nothing done. Some users from Adobe Forum asked me to install Malwarebyte, and i did, but amazingly i could not open it neither! It doesn't even launch any intro "thing".

As i said, and as far as i remember, i did nothing different to my pc, only shut it down at night, reboot it in the morning, ignored the Flash Player Update warning because i didn't have internet at the place, and that's all..

I went through several different advices throughout internet and other forums, but it's still not fixed on any pdf reader nor any other user of this pc (only 2 accounts here, both admins). Any different tips? I'd like to try everything before i restore the whole system, and only if it's really necessary... Hope it works tho.

P.S- I created this same thread on Adobe Support forum but they could not help me, as you can see here: http://forums.adobe.com/message/5315749#5315749

 

My $.05, if the programs you mentioned are still installed download IObit uninstaller and choose Uninstall. Choose the option for "Powerful Scan". Hopefully, this may help with the underlying issues. As for a different PDF viewer to look at your college PDF files, if you haven't already, try Sumatra PDF (small program and portable).

 

Inability to launch Malwarebytes sounds like maybe a visit to

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=35

is in order. Read and heed the READ & RUN ME FIRST

Can you visit Microsoft.com? Any troubles with visiting anti-malware sites?

 

I had a similar problem to this one time, and I fixed it by reinstalling the Windows Installer. There was an update so I installed it over the top of the previous one. I did end up having to reinstall flash player and shockwave and some programs that used macros.

Watch out for cleaners and uninstallers. I use CCleaner only to get rid of temp internet files after this experience. Uninstallers can offer bad suggestions sometimes too.

If the Windows Installer idea works, you will likely have to reinstall Acrobat and or your other .pdf readers...and possibly other programs. This is because it's likely you have a missing .dll (or at least I think so). These are dynamic link libraries that programs access to search for the presence of other programs (flash, etc.) that they use. In your case, the fact that Malwarebytes wouldn't install could be further indication that WI is corrupted.

Just if it were me, I would do (try) this:

1. Download and install Windows installer for your version of Windows (if it will install)
2. Reinstall Flash
3. Reinstall Shockwave
4. Reinstall .pdf readers, etc
5. Reinstall McAfee

Here is a MS fixit that might help if you can't install the Windows Installer (You could actually try this first).

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

If it enables you to install programs, you could then try the list starting at #2. If this doesn't fix your problem, start over with #1...

.dll hell I believe is the correct term if I am correct about this problem...

 

I am the one who sent the poster here, as I strongly suspected a malware issue.

Please follow cipher's advice and post with all relevant information in the malware forum.

 

@Ken3: Many thanks, because at least i can finally open PDF files witht he Sumatra software!

@Cipher: Will do that as soon as i have time, will give feedback tomorrow or weekend. I can open Microsoft wbesite without any troubles

@AtlBo: Thanks for advice, i tried to install WindowsInstaller but it seems i cannot find the right version for my PC lol, i have Windows 7 Home Premium 64b SP1

Thanks again, pwillener.

Being able to use Sumatra is a relief, but i will still try to fix this issue in order to obtain solutions for future problems like this on other people.

 

An aside on Sumatra: It opens several other file types beyond PDF. For example, it will open, ahem, "graphic novels" compressed into .cbr and .cbz formats... :-D

Other supported formats include: ePub, MOBI, CHM, XPS, DjVu

Check out the manual, you may find yourself using this quite a bit.

 

Apologies. Don't know much about Windows 7. Apparently, this is how to handle Windows Installer issues with Windows 7:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...indows-7/4cb8e54c-5a4e-439d-9d46-1dcd387d2604

sfc /scannow...I'm not clear if this in Windows 7 is the initiator of the Windows repair you have already run (I don't think so) or something else...

Run sfc /scannow:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/sfc-scannow.htm