Program to read PDF Files?

17 years ago

Okay, lets see if I can manage to sound somewhat intelligent asking this question.

My new laptop has Vista. Everytime I try to read a PDF file, a window pops up and tells me I have to buy Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional in order to read the document.

They want $400.00 dollars for this program!!!

Is there another solution? Another way to read these?

I know nothing about computers other than point and click so if this is a silly question I apologize in advance.

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Comments (5)

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
17 years ago
Adobe Reader 9.1 (freeware) would do it, I think.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I know I have the 9.1 version and it was free.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Adobe Reader 9.1
kudzu9
17 years ago
I don't know why you're getting that message. You don't need to buy Adobe Acrobat to read a PDF document. You can just download the free Adobe Reader. The versions of Adobe Acrobat that you have to pay for are for those who want to create fancy PDF documents. Also, there are many other free PDF readers available. The one I prefer and use is Foxit Reader, which would works at least as well as Adobe Reader and has a program only about 1/10 the size.

Here is a link that might be useful: Foxit
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Well I see these extra programs as just that. There are a few excellent free screen capture programs available but as I use print screen perhaps a dozen times a year so installing yet another program to do basically the same is out. Using print screen and Corel PhotoPaint I can snag, crop and add comments to anything in short order. Thanks for the link though cboy, I had not seen that particular program before.
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Well one theory (read as utter guess work LOL)is that either the CD is quite old and your Adobe Reader is not backwards compatible that far back. Or right the opposite, this is a very new CD and their older Adobe only recognises part. Reading the fine print on the CD sleeve or box might give you a clue. You could download and try Foxit Reader linked below. This is a totally free program many of us use that does not have the bloat accompanying Adobe. Here is a link that might be useful: Foxit PDF Reader
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I am not too sure that any simple PDF viewer/reader will allow printing of selected pages. You might consider bring the needed pages up individually then taking a screenshot - press 'Print screen' or 'PRN SCRN' next to the F12 button. Then paste it into your photo editing software or Paint if you have nothing better. Then save as an image. Long ago I used PDFCreator and it was great, no idea why I moved away but I have just downloaded it again. It is a versatile program. Here is a link that might be useful: Download PDFCreator from Filehippo
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magic_arizona
Original Author
17 years ago
I think it was one of those pre loaded programs. It gave me a 30 day trial and now that the 30 days are up, they want me to buy it.

Thanks for your comments. I will try to load one of the ones above and see if that works.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
17 years ago
foxit is an excellent program but watch out when you install it that you make sure you do NOT get the added toolbars and junk that it tries to get you to take you do not want those you just want the foxit program.

also if you use firefox browser there is an add on that you can get that will do the same thing for you. I would avoid adobe and use an alternate method.
Sumatra is another free open source pdf reader
Sumatra PDF
mikie_gw
17 years ago
I've been using an off brand Free pdf viewer... faster, smaller, less adobe headaches. There's even a Pro version Free too.

Here is a link that might be useful: PDF-XChange_Tools/pdfx_viewer

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Program to read PDF Files?

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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

kudzu9

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Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

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