COM objects problem?

[jimp56]

I know this isnt the proper forum for this question, but im not getting any response on the acrobat forum - my question is more generally related to fixing stalled COM(I believe) processes between two applications- in this case Word2002 and acrobat 6 standard-- this problem is only related to one user profile. Please read below (forgive the amount of detail), I welcome any general thoughts on this.

I have a user that cannot either create a pdf or use the distiller within Word - and the toolbar buttons are missing in word. It only happens with this one user profile on the computer. It works fine without problems with any other user on same pc - so the application is not corrupted.

when the user invokes acrobat within windows explorer(right click 2 selected DOC files, choose "merge into pdf") , it will bring up word and the initial acrobat conversion screen, but then it stalls and will never go any further. doesnt work when starting word or acrobat manually either to just convert rather than merge. there were no event viewer entries that appeared relevant. PC is basically idle when the app "stalls" . under other user profiles, it will start and finish a conversion or merge within seconds. there is no adware/malware on the pc that i could find.


I have: removed and reinstalled acrobat, deleted temp files, ran all MS updates, etc. -- I even manually deleted the acrobat folders in the user's profile under \profile\application data\adobe etc. - and ran a repair of acrobat to recreate the folders - as well as repaired MS-Office install(2002, latest SP).

any ideas at all on this one? I have looked at KB 289506, but it wasnt much help. Maybe a reg key I can delete and recreate for this one user? I dont want to recreate a whole user profile for just one issue if possible. Thanks..

 

[bcastner]

Honestly I think it is time for a new user profile.
You can preserve most of the original settings:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

 

[jimp56]

Thanks bcastner. To quote Agent 86, Maxwell Smart: "Chief, I ASKED you not to tell me that!!"

 

[jimp56]

was able to resolve this very weird situation by replacing the pdfmaker.dot file that was in \program files\microsoft office\office10\startup folder with the default copy in \program files\adobe\acrobat\pdfmaker folder -- also had to go in word, do help-about, click disabled items list, and re-enable the pdfmaker.

then had to remove/reinstall acrobat one last time to recreate the pdf printer object.

not sure why the DOT file was causing problems for this one user, vs. any user - but it did. my only guess is it might have been the temp file ~filename.dot that was in the office startup folder.

anyway, mystery solved. found support link by searching for pdfmaker.dot that led me to the right solution.

 

[bcastner]

So, you took the easy way out.

Nice job. Thanks for posting back to the Forum for others to benefit.