I've uninstalled "Acrobat Reader DC = malware". Adobe reputation CRISI


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 8.1
       #1

    HP installed Sweetlabs taskbar add-on start menu hanging


    Never mind this. It was nothing to do with Adobe.

    I posted the following in Adobe's own forum.


    I've just uninstalled Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on the suspicion that it was causing an operating system problem on my PC, that Adobe Reader DC was behaving as malware.

    Whether I have correctly identified the issue I have come here to ask because if I have, the reputation of Adobe is about to take a dive to a crisis low but this is fair warning so that Abobe can put things right and rescue its reputation before it is too late.

    I am running Microsoft Windows 8.1 on a HP Desktop PC.

    When I was uninstalling Acrobat Reader DC I think the date of installation was 14th January 2016 - some 9 days or so ago.

    The symptoms were that the "house icon" Start text-style menu was not popping up as it should. This meant that I could not access any functions through the start menu or even shut down my PC as normal.

    I could still access the pseudo-touch button start menu and via that I was able to access the PC Settings - Update and recovery and I was seriously considering a "Refresh your PC without accessing your files" involving removing dozens of applications and a lot of work to get my PC working again, but that would have been a panic measure so I investigated deeper.

    I found a suspect via the Task Manager. Via the "Details" menu I found that a file by the name of "RdrCEF.exe" was using about 8% of CPU time and had hogged an extraordinary amount of memory. I didn't note the figure but it may have been something like 2 GB, certainly far more data than any other process listed by the Task Manager.

    I used the "Search online" function to discover this "RdrCEF.exe" was something to do with Acrobat Reader DC and the search results of online discussions said that claimed there were malware problems, something to do with sending data to Amazon or something.

    The online search identified the location of "RdrCEF.exe", and I was able to track it down to this folder -
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroCEF

    At this point I started to get a bad feeling about Acrobat Reader DC and decided to uninstall it.

    I can still read my PDF files on my PC after uninstalling because Windows 8.1 has a simple PDF reader it offers up.
    Both Internet Explorer and Chrome are able to read PDF files on the internet too.

    My PC now seems back to normal but it is early days yet.

    It seems to me that a cloud of suspicion has descended upon Adobe because of what is going on with Acrobat Reader DC, crashing my computer operating system and I guess I am not the only one that has happened to.

    So this looks to me like a crisis for Adobe, either upon it or looming, and I trust we PDF file readers can expect an emergency response?
    Last edited by Peter Dow; 24 Jan 2016 at 12:05.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Do you really think Adobe cares that some lone person on a message board threatens their reputation? They have millions of users across hundreds of products. One person waving their hands is noise to them.

    To be honest, the fact that you think your own posts carry so much weight as to put Adobe's reputation in a "crisis low" state seems kind of silly to me. Do you really believe that?

    Look, the fact is, lots of programs have bugs, and a company like adobe is not going to jump to your demands to fix what may or may not be a bug, just because you threaten to discredit them.

    I also suggest you lookup the definition of malware. Malware would mean that the application is doing something nefarious, such as stealing your passwords, or bank account details, or being used to spread spam. A program that uses too many resources due to a bug is not "malware".
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 436
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    Nothing to see here, move along.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,834
    Windows 11 Home (x64) Version 21H1 (build 19043.1202)
       #4

    Notice the poster is on Windows 8.1 and has only just joined.
    Having had no trouble on any of my systems from Adobe Reader then can only say it must be something to do either with his computer or his Windows 8.1 OS
    As well put if it is only the OP having that trouble then Adobe wont do nothing
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 8.1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    hTconeM9user said:
    Notice the poster is on Windows 8.1 and has only just joined.
    Having had no trouble on any of my systems from Adobe Reader then can only say it must be something to do either with his computer or his Windows 8.1 OS
    Must be. I've withdrawn my complaint on Adobe's forum in the following terms.

    .. it looks like I was wrong about my suspicions about Acrobat Reader DC causing a problem with my Windows 8.1 start menu, which problem is back today, long after I uninstalled Acrobat Reader DC.

    So sorry Adobe if I've caused a false alarm.

    I'm going to mark this question "answered" and go back to trying to diagnose what's wrong with my operating system.
    So Windows 10. The Start menu works, does it?

    Also what about restore points for recovery from operating system errors?

    Windows 8.1 doesn't seem to offer me the restore to previous working state option I remember the early version of Windows XP had.

    If I remember Microsoft stopped the restore point function at some XP update for some unknown reason, which I thought was a shame.

    Are there restore points in Windows 10? Is it easy to fix operating system problems in Windows 10 or do you have to do a "Refresh your PC" (what a understatement that is!) and lose all your installed applications?

    I loved the early versions of WIndows XP and it looks like some bad managers took over Microsoft and made things much worse.

    Is Windows 10 anywhere near as good as the early versions of Windows XP or is it still a case of every "upgrade" is worse than the last?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    Peter Dow said:
    Must be. I've withdrawn my complaint on Adobe's forum in the following terms.



    So Windows 10. The Start menu works, does it?

    Also what about restore points for recovery from operating system errors?

    Windows 8.1 doesn't seem to offer me the restore to previous working state option I remember the early version of Windows XP had.

    If I remember Microsoft stopped the restore point function at some XP update for some unknown reason, which I thought was a shame.

    Are there restore points in Windows 10? Is it easy to fix operating system problems in Windows 10 or do you have to do a "Refresh your PC" (what a understatement that is!) and lose all your installed applications?

    I loved the early versions of WIndows XP and it looks like some bad managers took over Microsoft and made things much worse.

    Is Windows 10 anywhere near as good as the early versions of Windows XP or is it still a case of every "upgrade" is worse than the last?
    I suggest you start a new thread.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3
    Windows 8.1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Mystere said:
    I suggest you start a new thread.
    Well it looks like it is not even a Windows 8.1 problem but an issue with a taskbar add-on start menu developed by SweetLabs for HP, the PC manufacturer.

    This posted with Sweetlabs

    Hi, I am having a problem with the "Start Menu" SweetLabs App Platform\Engine installed on my HP computer running Windows 8.1.Normally, I access your Start Menu via a "House" icon on the Taskbar.
    Lately, this has developed a nasty habit of freezing and the "House" icon displays a working image - a moving rainbow colouring of the icon - but the Start Menu doesn't appear. It sometimes takes a restart or shut down to get it working again.
    Only now do I understand that this "Start Menu" is not part of standard Windows 8.1 but was installed by HP as an extra.
    I grew up with windows XP and I liked the Windows XP start button, which was replaced in Windows 8 with a touch-screen style start button, which was unfamiliar so I was happy to use the more conventional "Start menu" you offered and now that it seems to have developed a bug, I am once again facing learning how to use the Windows 8 Start button touch-screen-style interface, when I don't have a touch screen, just a desktop.


    So what's wrong with your Start Menu? Why is it hanging? More to the point, how can I fix it?

    I've embarrassed myself so much by lashing out at Adobe then Microsoft, unfairly it looks like, I am reluctant to start a new thread here and embarrass myself even more.

    The buck here stops with my PC supplier - HP - for supplying me with taskbar add-on start menu from Sweetlabs which has developed a fault.

    I understand that Windows 10 has brought back the desktop start button which was removed from Windows 8 and PC manufacturers felt the need to reinstate.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,834
    Windows 11 Home (x64) Version 21H1 (build 19043.1202)
       #8

    Yes they have before you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 make sure your BIOS is up to date.
    Then your drivers.
    Then Backup with Macrium Reflect
    Read this
    Get Windows 10 app - Check Compatibility Report for Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,452
    windows 10 Pro ver 21H2 build 19044.1348
       #9

    ...............I understand that Windows 10 has brought back the desktop start button which was removed from Windows 8 and PC manufacturers felt the need to reinstate. ........................

    Yes. MS has brought back the Start button. Not the same as in Windows 7.
    You will have to get used to it.

    It is correct to ask you to start a new thread.
    You just go ahead and ask questions about Win 10 in a new thread and there is no call of embarrassment.
    You ask because you don't know. There is nothing wrong with that.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 22:01.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums