Solved Windows Explorer won't open multiple PDFs in Adobe Reader

[dk1796]

I have Adobe Reader 11.06 installed. I can open a single pdf perfectly well from Explorer, but when I double click on a second pdf to open it, nothing happens (it doesn't open). This only happens when I already have one instance of Adobe Reader open - opening the first pdf works just fine. And if I close the first one, I can open the other file (I just can't open them simultaneously). Opening a second file from Adobe Reader's open file dialogue also works fine.

Any ideas?

Edit: After some investigation, it seems that when I open multiple PDFs on my SSD (which Windows is installed to), it works perfectly. It only runs into issues when opening PDFs located on another hard drive, which is an issue for me because my Dropbox folder is hosted on a separate hard drive.

Solution:

I had a same problem. I googled myself to this thread looking for the answer and your post gave me an idea and I found the solution. All you have to do is disable security measures in Adobe Reader XI (Edit -> Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protection -> Enable Protected Mode at startup -> turn off).

Alternate Solution: Switched to Foxit reader.

 

[MilesAhead]

I found a similar issue. But in the other case double clicking a PDF would not even open if Adobe wasn't running. It was suggested to uninstall using the cleaner tool:
Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs

then reinstall. At least one person said that fixed his issue. It may be worth a shot. It may be a good idea to make a restore point first though.

 

[dk1796]

Tried that, still didn't work :-\

 

[broe23]

Try Nuance's PDF reader instead. There is also Foxit PDF.

 

[MilesAhead]

Also you can get PDF-XChange Editor. It's free and works fine as a reader. It has Plugins for some browser or you can just let it open the external program.

 

[Ztruker]

Works okay for me with Adobe Reader 10.0 on Win 8.1.1 Pro X64.

Try holding down Shift or Ctrl when you double click on the 2nd pdf file.

 

[dk1796]

So after a little experimentation, this seems to be the case only when opening pdfs on a separate hard drive. I have Windows 8.1 installed on my SSD and keep my documents on a separate hard drive. I can open multiple pdfs perfectly fine when they are on the SSD, but not when they're on another hard drive.

I'll look into it some more.

 

[Ztruker]

I run from a C: SSD.
I have pdf files scattered across multiple partitions on two other hard drives.
Each one I double click on opens in a separate window, no special action required.

I would first suspect some shell/context menu addition as being the culprit.

Try ShellExView and ShellMenuView to see if you can locate the one causing the problem.

 

[MilesAhead]

Running multiple instances of Adobe Reader - TechRepublic

scroll down to the heading

Another Necessary Step

 

[Ztruker]

I wonder why it's working for me then when I double click on a .pdf file?

 

[MilesAhead]

I wonder why it's working for me then when I double click on a .pdf file?

Do you have the paid version? Supposedly that has an "open n new window" the free does not. I only use adobe reader until I can download one of the freeware alternatives. I'm not familiar with the settings.

 

[Ztruker]

No, I use the free one.

I don't see anything in Adobe Reader X Preferences that controls this.

 

[MilesAhead]

No, I use the free one.

I don't see anything in Adobe Reader X Preferences that controls this.

There isn't. That's the point of the article I linked.

 

[dk1796]

Okay. Just switched to Foxit reader, which basically solves the problem.

 

[grocal]

I have Adobe Reader 11.06 installed. I can open a single pdf perfectly well from Explorer, but when I double click on a second pdf to open it, nothing happens (it doesn't open). This only happens when I already have one instance of Adobe Reader open - opening the first pdf works just fine. And if I close the first one, I can open the other file (I just can't open them simultaneously). Opening a second file from Adobe Reader's open file dialogue also works fine.

Any ideas?

I had a same problem. I googled myself to this thread looking for the answer and your post gave me an idea and I found the solution. All you have to do is disable security measures in Adobe Reader XI (Edit -> Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protection -> Enable Protected Mode at startup -> turn off).

 

[MilesAhead]

Thanks for posting the info.

 

[dk1796]

I have Adobe Reader 11.06 installed. I can open a single pdf perfectly well from Explorer, but when I double click on a second pdf to open it, nothing happens (it doesn't open). This only happens when I already have one instance of Adobe Reader open - opening the first pdf works just fine. And if I close the first one, I can open the other file (I just can't open them simultaneously). Opening a second file from Adobe Reader's open file dialogue also works fine.

Any ideas?

I had a same problem. I googled myself to this thread looking for the answer and your post gave me an idea and I found the solution. All you have to do is disable security measures in Adobe Reader XI (Edit -> Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protection -> Enable Protected Mode at startup -> turn off).

Oh, that fixes everything. Thanks!

Edit: updated original post

 

[sbsistemas]

Work's fine now!

I have Adobe Reader 11.06 installed. I can open a single pdf perfectly well from Explorer, but when I double click on a second pdf to open it, nothing happens (it doesn't open). This only happens when I already have one instance of Adobe Reader open - opening the first pdf works just fine. And if I close the first one, I can open the other file (I just can't open them simultaneously). Opening a second file from Adobe Reader's open file dialogue also works fine.

Any ideas?

Edit: After some investigation, it seems that when I open multiple PDFs on my SSD (which Windows is installed to), it works perfectly. It only runs into issues when opening PDFs located on another hard drive, which is an issue for me because my Dropbox folder is hosted on a separate hard drive.

Solution:

I had a same problem. I googled myself to this thread looking for the answer and your post gave me an idea and I found the solution. All you have to do is disable security measures in Adobe Reader XI (Edit -> Preferences -> Security (Enhanced) -> Sandbox Protection -> Enable Protected Mode at startup -> turn off).

Alternate Solution: Switched to Foxit reader.

Thank's for information... now it's working correctly.
The Foxit it's fast but there are a bug and I have some problems with Foxit...

Silvio
BR

 

[Ztruker]

I have Protected mode disabled as well, but for a different reason. It was a fix for a problem with the Seamonkey web browser. That explains why it works for me.