Adobe PDF Elements 6 quit working after updating to reader 8.1

Yes, it's a very annoying but semi-fixable problem. I found a solution last year on the Adobe forum but I don't see it there now. So lets see if I remeber how to do this.

Uninstall Elements using Add/Remove
Reboot
Uninstall all versions of Reader using Add/Remove;
Now search the hard drive for any remaining Acrobat Reader and Adobe Elements files and folders. Delete all.
Reboot
Install Reader 8.1
Reboot
Install Elements 6, but instead of the default location, browse to the folder C:\Program Files\Adobe\reader 8.1 and install Elements there. It should create a folder C:\Program Files\Adobe\reader 8.1\acrobat elements
Reboot
Now, use Add/Remove to uninstall Reader 6 which got installed when you installed Elements 6
Reboot
Now reinstall Reader 8.1 in C:\Program Files\Adobe\reader 8.1
Reboot

Open Word and create a pdf from a .doc. If that doesn't work, go the Word Tools>Templates & Add-in menu and make sure pdfmaker.dot is checked on the Templates tab. If it is and still doesn't work, exit Word and search hard drive for normal.dot, include hidden and system files in the search. Delete all copies of normal.dot. You'll lose any customized features, macros etc you created in Word. When you restart Word it'll create a new normal.dot template. Try to make a pdf again.

Let me know if that doesn't do it and I'll dig around in my files for the print out I made when I did this last year.

Caveats:
1. I did this with Reader 8.0, and I assume this will work with Reader 8.1

2. Depending on when you received your Elements 6 CD from Dell, there may be an error in the Elements auto-installer that causes a "file not found" error. In that case you have to copy the entire Elements CD to a folder on the hard drive, rename one of the files, and then run the installation from that folder on the hard drive.

3. After you use Elements to create a pdf from a Word file, Reader should open the new pdf file automatically. At least with Reader 8.0, the default location for the new pdf is the My Documents folder. If I have Elements save the pdf to any other folder, I get an error message saying there's an error opening the pdf. I have to click OK 3-4 times and then use Reader's File>Open to point it at the correct file. And that usually works.

WHEW!

Sure you want to mess with this can of worms? I'd be tempted to dump Elements completely and use one of the free or shareware pdf converters that you can find on the net.

It amazes me how stupid and user-unfriendly some of these companies can be. ;)

Ron

Great answer:

 

I did not know there were other programs to create a PDF. I'll Google that in a few minutes.

 

But first, Ill bug Dell about all that money I spent on a system still under warranty that does not perform. If they come up with an answer I'll repost. Thanks so much for the help.

 

Bill 

It's 3rd party software and Dell won't take responsibility for somebody else's failures or shortcomings, even though Dell sold it to you.

Ron