Can't open pdf attachments or downloads (Vista OS)

[Alistair56]

I have recently started using Vista (SP1) and have found that I can't open pdf files sent as Windows Mail attachments or when trying to download them from websites. With Windows Mail I get "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel" and with Firefox I get "Acrobat plug-in - Could not launch Acrobat." I have done all of the usual things (Control Panel, Default Programs, Set Associations) and the pre-installed Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 8.1.2) is associated with pdf files. But they don't open when in the form of attachments - I first have to save them to disc and they open from there. Can you help resolve this problem? (I am OK with .doc and .ppt files)

 

[Alistair56]

Adding to my post above ... Have just found that I CAN download / open a pdf file using IE7, and from that I see that the file type is "pdf_auto_file". But my mail attachment problem remains, as does the Firefox download problem.

 

[Alistair56]

I found this on another help forum. Here it is and it worked perfectly ...
(Credit to Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User] http://www.winhelponline.com)

Open Registry Editor (Start, Run, type in regedit.exe, enter) and navigate to the following key:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF] (the .xxx extensions are at the top of this LONG list)

Double-click the (default) value in the right hand side window, set its data as:

"AcroExch.Document" (without quotes)

Close Regedit.exe

Restart Windows.

http://www.winhelponline.com/