Reader 7 launches instead of Professional 6 ! 2

[FredWagner]

I use Acrobat Professional 6 heavily, and have Acrobat Reader 7.0.9 installed. When I first boot up, I can use Professional without a problem. However, after the first time I open PDF file through a Web Brower, which launches Reader, I can not open Professional anymore until I reboot - clicking on the Shortcut or the Menu item for Professional gets me Reader. I can solve the problem only by rebooting.
Suggestions, please!

Fred Wagner

 

[apepp]

If Adobe Reader is installed before you install Acrobat, then Acrobat will ask which viewer you would like to be default viewer. However, if you install Adobe Reader on a computer with Acrobat already installed, then Adobe Reader becomes the default viewer. Repairing Acrobat or Adobe Reader will change the default viewer for PDF files in the same manner.


TechNote
Acrobat opens instead of Adobe Reader or Adobe Reader opens instead of Acrobat when you open a PDF file (Acrobat 7.x, Acrobat 3D on Windows)

Issue

When you double-click a PDF file, Adobe Reader opens instead of Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat 3D, or Acrobat or Acrobat 3D opens instead of Adobe Reader.

Details

You have Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat 3D installed on the same computer.

Note: You can install Acrobat and Adobe Reader on the same computer, but Adobe Technical Support does not recommend this configuration.

Solutions

Do one of the following solutions:

Solution 1: Run detect and repair on the PDF Viewer you want to use as the default viewer.

1. Choose Start > Run, type appwiz.cpl in the Open text box, and then click OK to open the Add Or Remove Programs dialog box.

2. Locate and select Adobe Acrobat 7 or Adobe Reader (whichever you want to be default) and click Change/Remove.

3. When the Wizard appears, click Next.

4. Select Repair and click Next again, and then click Update.

Note: Depending on the speed of your computer, this process may take a considerable amount of time.

Solution 2: Manually change the default file types.

1. Double-click My Computer or select it from the Start menu.

2. Select Tools > Folder Options, and then select the File Types tab.

3. Locate PDF extension from the list and click Change.

4. Select the version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader you would like to use as the default viewer and click OK.

5. Click OK to close the Folder Options window.

Solution 3: Make sure a version of Acrobat or Reader isn't running in the background

When you open a PDF in the browser, an instance of Acrobat or Reader is opened as a process and not as an application. When you close the browser window, the Acrobat or Reader task will continue to run for a period of minutes. When a supsequent PDF is opened outside the browser, the default viewer, either Acrobat or Reader, may not start up as expected. End the task so the default viewer can open the PDF.

1. Choose Start > Run, type taskmgr in the Open text box, and then click OK to open Windows Task Manager.

2. Under the Processes tab, select Acrobat.exe or AcroRd32.exe if either exist in the list.

3. Click End Process.

4. Click Yes in the Task Manager Warning dialog box.

 

[FredWagner]

APEPP - thank you for the detailed explanation! The third item, about AcroRd32.exe running as a service explains the mesage I get at home when shutting down, that AcroRd32.exe is still running! It may explain my problem on the work system also - once Acrobat Reader has taken over, I can't even START Professional - clicking on the (program) links that should start it just bring up Reader again.
I seem to remember removing reader, and then when opening a PDF file via a link in a web page, getting a message about not being browser compatible, but then the file opened - probalby in Professional. That may be a better solution - will try it again!

Fred Wagner