Solved PDF creator for Win 8.1 64-bit

Atomcrusher

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I have used Foxit for a long time now to open PDF files, and also to create PDF docs from other file formats. Today I have had problems with Foxit, in that I cannot create, nor open PDF files, nor can I print my existing documents created in Foxit.

I have updated Foxit, but still have the same issues. Can anyone suggest a different PDF reader & PDF creator?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS X54C
    CPU
    Intel Pentium B940 2.00GHz Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
    Motherboard
    OEM - ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Model K54C (CPU 1) Version 1.0 Chipset Vendor Intel Chipset Model
    Memory
    6.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    OEM - Intel Model HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    OEM
    Monitor(s) Displays
    OEM
    Hard Drives
    Manufacturer Hitachi
    Product Family Travelstar
    Series Prefix Standard
    Model Capacity For This Specific Drive 500GB
    PSU
    OEM
    Case
    OEM
    Cooling
    OEM
    Keyboard
    OEM
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Internet Speed
    4 Mbps ADSL
    Browser
    Chrome 64bit
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Billion 400G Wi-fi router

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
PDF printers have always been a pain because just when you find a decent one, they start bundling adware & junk with it and 'pretend' there was a bug when it installs the crap despite opting out.

For printing to PDF (and TIFF) I've been using 'PDF24 Creator' for a while now and get on well with it. It's not particularly pretty and it has quite an ominous name, but it's quite a decent PDF creator functionality wise. Never had any problems with it installing junk and it also allows you to turn off automatic updating if you choose.

For viewing PDF's, it depends on what type of PDF's you're viewing. If the PDF's are corporate PDF's and have a lot of fancy stuff built into them, then you may be better off with the proper Adobe Reader. If like most people you just want to read basic PDF documents, then the built in Windows 8.1 reader app will do that just fine. (Tip for Windows Reader, use CTRL key and mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out).

Adobe shot themselves in the foot really with the amount of security vulnerabilities over the years in their own reader. By the time people went around disabling things like Acrobat JavaScript, multimedia operations, turning on protected view for all files, enabling enhanced security, disabling non-pdf file attachments, etc. then for most people who just want to read basic PDF documents, there actually was no point installing Adobe Reader, they may as well just use a basic reader in the first place. Especially as one comes pre-installed on Windows 8 now.

Personally I would like to see Microsoft give up on XPS and have the ability to print to PDF & TIFF natively built into Windows 10.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
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