Adobe reader 7 handler error

[SwimmerB]

I have got an issue with adobe's acrobat reader where at random times when trying to open a pdf inside internet explorer reader errors out saying that there was an external handler error. The message goes something like this.

Could not find External Window Handler. An internal; error has occurred.

I am using Windows XP SP2 and reader v7. In my current environment we use many CAD applications and this error also occurs when viewing drawings from within those programs using reader. I have searched on adobe's site and the only solution I come upon is to force reader to open program in its own application not within the window. This seems to work for a bit then still craps out. A reinstall of reader works for a while the comes back again. Anyone else had this problem?

Thanks

[nitroshift]

As any other member of msfn would say, first check you pc for viruses/malware/spyware. Usually programs don't just "crap out" out of the blue, ya know...

[SwimmerB]

We do have the most current virus definitions and updates on the workstations. Have not seen any infection of the machines that the issues arises on.

Also the fix I referred to earlier that is a temporary solution is to go into the preferences and then under the Internet category un-check the display in browser option. But after say a random amount of time this craps out again.

[LLXX]

Download the PDF and *then* open it, does that also cause this problem?

I suggest you go to version 6 of Acrobat, or even lower, unless you are specifically using PDF features that are not supported in the older versions.

[SwimmerB]

Downloading the PDF and then opening does fix the problem but does not give us a very viable solution. In the environment I am in they have lots of CAD apps that open drawings using adobe reader. I will have to find out about moving down a version did not think of that. Very frustrating, I see lots of posts for this issue but same old fix that works for a while then will end up broke again.

[LLXX]

I remember suggesting to another member here a few weeks ago to downgrade to a lower version and it fixed his problem... he tried 6 but it didn't work, 5 worked perfectly. I've been using 5.x for quite some time with no problems at all.

The quality of Adobe's programs is going downhill...

[SwimmerB]

Downgrading a few versions is not the most preferable method but may be just the solution. I talked to my other technician and v 6 was still having issues. I thought of going down further. Maybe I just might do that. It 's kind of odd that the longer the program is around the farther back in versions you have to go to get a good version! Oh well I thin this might be the acceptable answer.