Adobe Acrobat Reader v 7

Question

Adobe have just released version 7 of the free reader.   I have found that this is a big improvement on earlier versions: it opens much faster (no need to mess with the plugins) and has improved search facility. It is also much faster opening a pdf file in the browser.   I post this because there were several threads recently about how slow v6 was to open.

Annie70 · Answer

Thanks for the info. I see where it has a nice new look.

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

J, Thanks for the update.  However, most of us have auto update for the reader any time v 6 opens.  Before I kill a program that works well, do you know if I will need to change the printer driver as was needed for version 6?  Will v7 work with Windows 98 SE?  Happy Holidays!

delta7000 · Answer

Deleted Message  Message Edited by delta7000 on 12-23-2004 07:45 PM

JRosenfeld · Answer

On the download page, you select the platform. That lists 98SE as an option in the dropdown box, so I guess if you select that you'll get the right version for 98SE.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

I don't know about printer driver. On my system (XP) Acrobat reader works fine with my default printer, same as all other apps. I don't see why it should require any change to the printer driver.

I am not sure that autoupdate for version 6 would flag version 7 (I don't use autoupdate). Version 7 does not overwrite version 6. It installed by default in a \Adobe\Acrobat 7.0 folder whereas v 6 was installed in \Acrobat 6.0. Presumably you could have them side by side (although I uninstalled version 6 before installing 7). Not sure which browser plugin would take precedence, though, if you did keep both (and that seems unnecessary to me).

Denny Denham · Answer

JRoserfeld,

I must have checked the wrong box. I also uninstalled version 6 before downloading 7. After the download was complete during the installation it first installed version 6 then during the installation of version 7 uninstalled 6. The net result is that version 7 is installed and my patience was tested during a 35MB download at 45.2Kbps. (I'm fortunate to have a very stable ISP.)

kenrob · Answer

Noticed that 7 puts a speed launch in the starup folder. Cannot find anything in preferences or help or search about it. Wonder if this is needed and whether it is the reason for the faster open. Intalled without removing ver 6 through Add/Remove and saw that 6 was gone from there but still shows in windows explorer. Deleated reader 6 from explorer and 7 seems to run well.

Ken

Message Edited by kenrob on 12-23-2004 06:26 PM

joe53 · Answer

It appears that v7 is not supported by Win98SE.

I only discovered this after deleting v6, then reading the fine print on the
downoad page. I selected W98SE in the drop-down box, but was only offered the
v6 to download. Bit of a nuisance, but at least I got it back...

ky331 · Answer

According to the Adobe website, version 7 supports only the following Windows systems:   Microsoft® Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional or Home Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition   So anyone having another version (e.g. 98, 98SE, ME) should just stick with version 6.   Also, since the question was raised, my auto-update from version 6 did NOT pick up on version 7... which, in my case (with Windows ME), seems to be the proper result.

JRosenfeld · Answer

I apologise for all the inconvenience that I have caused by giving incorrect information. I assumed that if 98SE (and Me) was listed in the platform dropdown box for v 7 that there would be a compatible package for that platform. I will be more careful to read the small print in future :-).   Denny, sorry for your irritating experience also. I downloaded version 7 (20MB download, I did not use their download manager; I unchecked Yahoo toolbar and photoshop album; I do have 512 broadband) and saved to disk, went off line, uninstalled 6 then installed 7 (custom install to add the extras) and that went very quickly (maybe 5 minutes for uninstall/install, including restarts that I do that after any uninstall or install, although none was requested), no evidence of its first installing then uninstalling v 6.   I had not noticed the extra 'Acrobat Reader speed launch' shortcut in the startup folder. To test its effect, I moved it out of the startup folder, restarted the PC and double clicked on a large pdf file. It opened perhaps slightly more slowly (2 sec at most) than when the shortcut was in the startup folder but subsequent files opened essentially instantaneously. I also did the experiment with/without the short cut in the startup folder and opening Acrobat Reader from its shortcut without a file. Same thing: first time maybe takes a fraction longer, susequent opening is pretty well instantaneous. So if the start up short cut has any effect at all, it is minimal on my system. Also it does not seem to generate any additional process running in the background. Maybe it just loads some things into memory for faster access when Reader is launched and then quits.   With or without that startup shortcut, v7 is certainly very much faster than v 6 that was installing all those plugins at each fresh launch.   Best wishes to all for the new year.

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

Thanks for all the comments.  I guess I'll stick to my trusted adage, 'Don't fix what ain't broke.'  Auto update did not indicate a new version.

Longback · Answer

Dimension 8200, xphome, BIOS A03, SP2, 768MB RDRAM, Pentium 4, 1.8GHz, 1702FP monitor, 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200 card, NAV 2005, Toshiba PCX2000 Cable Modem, Linksys BEFW11S4 router.

So what is the best way to download this new version? I have 6.0 now, can I go over this version, or is it best to uninstall first? It does sound as though even if you use add and remove programs it is still found in windows explorer. Also after I installed 6.0 this was left on my desktop "AdbeRdr60_enu_full". Is this some sort of installer and is it safe to get rid of?

Thanks in advance.

Annie70 · Answer

I uninstalled the old version 6 first. Then I installed version 7 without any problems. Yes, you can delete the installer 'AdbeRdr60_enu_full' from your desktop for version 6.

chuket · Answer

No apologizes needed. Thanks for the v7 update, as I wouldn't have found it for quite a while. It seems like I just got V6 a couple of days ago.

bar5 · Answer

Hi:

I downloaded version 7.0 this past weekend, installed it. The first thing it did was to automatically uninstall version 6.0. I checked add/remove to make sure and it was gone.

Just wanted to let you all know in case you do not want to uninstall it. It will do it for you.

Barb:smileyhappy:

Windows General

Adobe Acrobat Reader v 7

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