File does not begin with %pdf

[accaa]

Greetings,
Although the error looks like an Acrobat issue I am posting this in XP because from my observations I feel the probability is high that this is actually an XP issue. if after reading you feel I could get more help in another forum please move accordingly.
We are in a small LAN. We have been using another company's web app to generate reports (.php) which would open a PDF in a browser. this worked up until Monday.
Now when trying to generate report it produces the following error File does not begin with '%pdf-'.
Stay with me and I will explain why this issue is in XP. So I tried from a different computer, different versions of Acrobat Reader(ver. 5-8, 8 is the current), different web browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera, Netscape). I even set the options in Acrobat so that the file will download. so I download the file, open it up and same error message.
I called the host of the web server and they said they were having no issues.
Well we have a Windows 2000 server on the LAN, long story short I tried to do this from the server and it views the PDF with no problem.
The only updates between Friday and Monday i see is for Defender so I uninstalled Defender but still have the issue. Nothing has changed on the network.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Davetoo]

Did none of these Google answers help? (one of which points to a solution thread here on Tek-Tips)

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS261&q=File+does++not+begin+with+'%pdf-'

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[robmazco]

maybe -

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=834208&page=1

 

[accaa]

Yes, thanks I did google it but none appeared to relate to this particular problem.
Initially from the results of google I thought perhaps it was a server issue but it appears that the problem is local (local that is for us, i would imagine it may be happening to other clients of this company).
The company seems to think it is on our end.

 

[Davetoo]

Regardless if the results don't match all of your parameters, did you try any of the solutions?

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[accaa]

Thank you for your help.
I did find the fix. Turns out a Security update for IE was the culprit
(KB944533).
I guess what really threw me off was the fact that other browsers
were producing the same error.
I figured I'd post the fix just incase it is ever needed.

Thanks again.