IE6 plug-in failure - what is ActivX?

[Rick H]

My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if anything) is
missing

Something simple has gone wrong.

Adobe Reader 6.0 appears to work perfectly well in all
respects, except that in IE6, after clicking a hyperlink
to a .pdf document, IE6 "could not find Adobe Acrobat"
(The blue header on the error message reads "Acrobat plug-
in").

If I navigate within IE6 to my C drive and open a .pdf
file sitting there, Reader starts up, and the document
opens, but in Reader {not in IE6 with Reader opening in a
window, like it used to).

A previous helpful person suggested reading this document
from Adobe on configuring IE to display PDF files.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/98fe.htm

I looked at the document, which mentions that ActivX needs
to be in a certain folder. (It also provides information
relevant to why my hard-drive .pdf files now open in
Reader, not IE6).

However, in the above document, Adobe seems to think that
the reader should know instinctively what the "ActivX"
file name and extension is! I have no idea what to look
for. There are currently two .dll files, plus pdf.ocx and
pdf.tlb , in the specified folder.

I have IE 6, Adobe Reader 6.0, and Win 98 SE with all
Microsoft updates.

 

[Rick H]

I have previously reinstalled Reader 6.0 after
uninstalling all versions.

I suspect the problem could be in IE6, as you indicate
that ActivX can be deactivated. How do I reactivate it?

(As per usual, the ludicrously titled IE6 "Help" does not
tell us anything about ActivX - in fact the word is not
even recognised.)

Thanks
Rick

-----Original Message-----
Hi Rick,

If it helps any here's a small clip of the files and location of my default
Adobe Reader install. Hopefully it may help you to find what you need.

However, it may prove easiest in the long run for you to try uninstalling
the reader using start>settings>control panel>add/remove programs (if it
appears there, if not don't worry) and simply download and install again
using the default settings since the re-install should also repair any
registry settings which may be damaged.

There are also settings in IE that allow or prevent ActiveX controls from
working, although I don't think this is the problem. I am assuming you
haven't changed much from the default settings when IE was installed so
trying the simplest things first.

Charlie

My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if anything) is
missing

Something simple has gone wrong.

Adobe Reader 6.0 appears to work perfectly well in all
respects, except that in IE6, after clicking a hyperlink
to a .pdf document, IE6 "could not find Adobe Acrobat"
(The blue header on the error message reads "Acrobat plug-
in").

If I navigate within IE6 to my C drive and open a .pdf
file sitting there, Reader starts up, and the document
opens, but in Reader {not in IE6 with Reader opening in a
window, like it used to).

A previous helpful person suggested reading this document
from Adobe on configuring IE to display PDF files.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/98fe.htm

I looked at the document, which mentions that ActivX needs
to be in a certain folder. (It also provides information
relevant to why my hard-drive .pdf files now open in
Reader, not IE6).

However, in the above document, Adobe seems to think that
the reader should know instinctively what the "ActivX"
file name and extension is! I have no idea what to look
for. There are currently two .dll files, plus pdf.ocx and
pdf.tlb , in the specified folder.

I have IE 6, Adobe Reader 6.0, and Win 98 SE with all
Microsoft updates.

 

[Charlie Tame]

Well the first link below explains how to shut off "Unsigned" ActiveX which
is almost always used by spyware and has almost no good uses... but the
other 3 settings which relate to "Signed" or "Marked as safe" controls can
generally be left on. If windows update works for you then I doubt this is
the problem really... but have a look anyway. I am not sure what error
message would be shown if the "Signed" control settings are causing this -
perhaps none at all from IE except the one you are seeing.

But my Acrobat reader works fine with Unsigned turned off, as do most
legitimate things.

--
More Secure ActiveX Settings
http://www.tames.net/security/activexsettings.htm
Help Removing Parasites and AdWare
www.lavasoftusa.com
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=about
http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php

Charlie

I have previously reinstalled Reader 6.0 after
uninstalling all versions.

I suspect the problem could be in IE6, as you indicate
that ActivX can be deactivated. How do I reactivate it?

(As per usual, the ludicrously titled IE6 "Help" does not
tell us anything about ActivX - in fact the word is not
even recognised.)

Thanks
Rick

-----Original Message-----
Hi Rick,

If it helps any here's a small clip of the files and location of my default
Adobe Reader install. Hopefully it may help you to find what you need.

However, it may prove easiest in the long run for you to try uninstalling
the reader using start>settings>control panel>add/remove programs (if it
appears there, if not don't worry) and simply download and install again
using the default settings since the re-install should also repair any
registry settings which may be damaged.

There are also settings in IE that allow or prevent ActiveX controls from
working, although I don't think this is the problem. I am assuming you
haven't changed much from the default settings when IE was installed so
trying the simplest things first.

Charlie

My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if anything) is
missing

Something simple has gone wrong.

Adobe Reader 6.0 appears to work perfectly well in all
respects, except that in IE6, after clicking a hyperlink
to a .pdf document, IE6 "could not find Adobe Acrobat"
(The blue header on the error message reads "Acrobat plug-
in").

If I navigate within IE6 to my C drive and open a .pdf
file sitting there, Reader starts up, and the document
opens, but in Reader {not in IE6 with Reader opening in a
window, like it used to).

A previous helpful person suggested reading this document
from Adobe on configuring IE to display PDF files.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/98fe.htm

I looked at the document, which mentions that ActivX needs
to be in a certain folder. (It also provides information
relevant to why my hard-drive .pdf files now open in
Reader, not IE6).

However, in the above document, Adobe seems to think that
the reader should know instinctively what the "ActivX"
file name and extension is! I have no idea what to look
for. There are currently two .dll files, plus pdf.ocx and
pdf.tlb , in the specified folder.

I have IE 6, Adobe Reader 6.0, and Win 98 SE with all
Microsoft updates.

 

[Rick H]

Thanks Charlie

My IE6 security settings were exactly as depicted on that
web page you refer to. If I enable "Initialise and script
ActivX controls not marked as safe", it makes zero
difference - the pdf link still will not open. (The site
is found normally, but the document stays as either a
small icon or a red cross in a box).

No further ahead!

-----Original Message-----
Well the first link below explains how to shut off "Unsigned" ActiveX which
is almost always used by spyware and has almost no good uses... but the
other 3 settings which relate to "Signed" or "Marked as safe" controls can
generally be left on. If windows update works for you then I doubt this is
the problem really... but have a look anyway. I am not sure what error
message would be shown if the "Signed" control settings are causing this -
perhaps none at all from IE except the one you are seeing.

But my Acrobat reader works fine with Unsigned turned off, as do most
legitimate things.

--
More Secure ActiveX Settings
http://www.tames.net/security/activexsettings.htm
Help Removing Parasites and AdWare
www.lavasoftusa.com
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=about
http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php

Charlie

I have previously reinstalled Reader 6.0 after
uninstalling all versions.

I suspect the problem could be in IE6, as you indicate
that ActivX can be deactivated. How do I reactivate it?

(As per usual, the ludicrously titled IE6 "Help" does not
tell us anything about ActivX - in fact the word is not
even recognised.)

Thanks
Rick

-----Original Message-----
Hi Rick,

If it helps any here's a small clip of the files and location of my default
Adobe Reader install. Hopefully it may help you to find what you need.

However, it may prove easiest in the long run for you

to
try uninstalling

the reader using start>settings>control

panel>add/remove
programs (if it

appears there, if not don't worry) and simply download and install again
using the default settings since the re-install should also repair any
registry settings which may be damaged.

There are also settings in IE that allow or prevent ActiveX controls from
working, although I don't think this is the problem. I

am
assuming you

haven't changed much from the default settings when IE was installed so
trying the simplest things first.

Charlie


My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if

anything)
is

missing

Something simple has gone wrong.

Adobe Reader 6.0 appears to work perfectly well in all
respects, except that in IE6, after clicking a hyperlink
to a .pdf document, IE6 "could not find Adobe Acrobat"
(The blue header on the error message reads "Acrobat plug-
in").

If I navigate within IE6 to my C drive and open a .pdf
file sitting there, Reader starts up, and the document
opens, but in Reader {not in IE6 with Reader opening

in
a

window, like it used to).

A previous helpful person suggested reading this document
from Adobe on configuring IE to display PDF files.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/98fe.htm

I looked at the document, which mentions that ActivX needs
to be in a certain folder. (It also provides information
relevant to why my hard-drive .pdf files now open in
Reader, not IE6).

However, in the above document, Adobe seems to think that
the reader should know instinctively what the "ActivX"
file name and extension is! I have no idea what to look
for. There are currently two .dll files, plus

pdf.ocx
and

pdf.tlb , in the specified folder.

I have IE 6, Adobe Reader 6.0, and Win 98 SE with all
Microsoft updates.

.

 

[Charlie Tame]

I didn't think it would be that but having checked at least you now know
what it "Isn't".

I assume you checked and found the Adobe files present and correct... I'm
not sure but when installing were you running as a user or as Administrator?
Perhaps that could cause a problem...

Failing that I wonder if something got screwed up in the registry so that it
can't find the file to execute it? You seem to have already covered the
Adobe advice so at this moment I can't think of anything else.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie

My IE6 security settings were exactly as depicted on that
web page you refer to. If I enable "Initialise and script
ActivX controls not marked as safe", it makes zero
difference - the pdf link still will not open. (The site
is found normally, but the document stays as either a
small icon or a red cross in a box).

No further ahead!

-----Original Message-----
Well the first link below explains how to shut off "Unsigned" ActiveX which
is almost always used by spyware and has almost no good uses... but the
other 3 settings which relate to "Signed" or "Marked as safe" controls can
generally be left on. If windows update works for you then I doubt this is
the problem really... but have a look anyway. I am not sure what error
message would be shown if the "Signed" control settings are causing this -
perhaps none at all from IE except the one you are seeing.

But my Acrobat reader works fine with Unsigned turned off, as do most
legitimate things.

--
More Secure ActiveX Settings
http://www.tames.net/security/activexsettings.htm
Help Removing Parasites and AdWare
www.lavasoftusa.com
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=about
http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php

Charlie

I have previously reinstalled Reader 6.0 after
uninstalling all versions.

I suspect the problem could be in IE6, as you indicate
that ActivX can be deactivated. How do I reactivate it?

(As per usual, the ludicrously titled IE6 "Help" does not
tell us anything about ActivX - in fact the word is not
even recognised.)

Thanks
Rick
-----Original Message-----
Hi Rick,

If it helps any here's a small clip of the files and
location of my default
Adobe Reader install. Hopefully it may help you to find
what you need.

However, it may prove easiest in the long run for you to
try uninstalling
the reader using start>settings>control panel>add/remove
programs (if it
appears there, if not don't worry) and simply download
and install again
using the default settings since the re-install should
also repair any
registry settings which may be damaged.

There are also settings in IE that allow or prevent
ActiveX controls from
working, although I don't think this is the problem. I am
assuming you
haven't changed much from the default settings when IE
was installed so
trying the simplest things first.

Charlie


message
My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be
missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if anything)
is
missing

Something simple has gone wrong.

Adobe Reader 6.0 appears to work perfectly well in all
respects, except that in IE6, after clicking a hyperlink
to a .pdf document, IE6 "could not find Adobe Acrobat"
(The blue header on the error message reads "Acrobat
plug-
in").

If I navigate within IE6 to my C drive and open a .pdf
file sitting there, Reader starts up, and the document
opens, but in Reader {not in IE6 with Reader opening in
a
window, like it used to).

A previous helpful person suggested reading this
document
from Adobe on configuring IE to display PDF files.
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/98fe.htm

I looked at the document, which mentions that ActivX
needs
to be in a certain folder. (It also provides
information
relevant to why my hard-drive .pdf files now open in
Reader, not IE6).

However, in the above document, Adobe seems to think
that
the reader should know instinctively what the "ActivX"
file name and extension is! I have no idea what to look
for. There are currently two .dll files, plus pdf.ocx
and
pdf.tlb , in the specified folder.

I have IE 6, Adobe Reader 6.0, and Win 98 SE with all
Microsoft updates.

.

 

[corey]

Rick:

I'm having the same problems you have (had?). Any
solutions?

Thanks

-----Original Message-----
I have previously reinstalled Reader 6.0 after
uninstalling all versions.

I suspect the problem could be in IE6, as you indicate
that ActivX can be deactivated. How do I reactivate it?

(As per usual, the ludicrously titled IE6 "Help" does not
tell us anything about ActivX - in fact the word is not
even recognised.)

Thanks
Rick

-----Original Message-----
Hi Rick,

If it helps any here's a small clip of the files and location of my default
Adobe Reader install. Hopefully it may help you to find what you need.

However, it may prove easiest in the long run for you

to
try uninstalling

the reader using start>settings>control

panel>add/remove
programs (if it

appears there, if not don't worry) and simply download and install again
using the default settings since the re-install should also repair any
registry settings which may be damaged.

There are also settings in IE that allow or prevent ActiveX controls from
working, although I don't think this is the problem. I

am
assuming you

haven't changed much from the default settings when IE was installed so
trying the simplest things first.

Charlie

My IE6 no longer opens Adobe Reader to read .pdf files.
Possible reasons (so far)
- I have messed something up while uninstalling all
versions of Adobe Reader and reinstalling just Adobe
Reader 6.0
- the suggestion was made that something could be missing
from the Adobe ActivX folder [see end of this message],
but I do not understand how to know what (if

anything)

is

in

a

pdf.ocx

and

.