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How do I get my thumbnails back?

dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Answered

When I got my computer, a number of years back, it had adobe reader on it and everything was fine. Then I had a need to modify *.pdf files. So I had our IT department install Adobe Acrobat Pro 8.26. And everything was fine. Then I received a request to update the reader to reader X. That is when it all went to pot. My AutoCAD quit working and my Acrobat would not start up. I figured it was the reader X that caused the problem. I unloaded reader and then my AutoCAD would work. However, Acrobat would not start at all. I had to re-install acrobat to get that to work. I save copies of CAD drawings in *.pdf and other files as well. I keep them in a folder on my desktop for quick reference. I have the files show up in thumbnail in lieu of in detail. However, now the newest or recently modified *.pdf files do not show up as a thumbnail. The old files still show as a thumbnail. The new or recently modified *.pdf files just show as a large Adobe logo. I know reader X did something. I just don't know what or where. Can anyone give me a hint as to how I can get my thumbnails back? Calling the support desk in India was a complete waste of time. Since Adobe 8 is an older program their Adobe 8 answer books were thrown away.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 8.2.6, Windows
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Accepted Answer
Bump... Surely someone has some idea what Acrobat X did to my thumbnails?
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Bump
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Bump once more
Camillea
Registered: Apr 28 2011
Posts: 4
If you're using a Windows platform, try this:

1. Control Panel -> System and Security -> System (or System Properties) -> Advanced System Settings2. Find the Advanced tab at the top.


3. Click on Performance


4. Under the Visual Effects tab scroll down and ensure "Show thumbnails instead of icons" is checked. If it's not checked check the box and click on Apply and then OK.
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Camillea:
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately that was not the cause of my problem. I have thumbnails of my *.pdf files that were created prior to the reader X upgrade. When the upgrade messed up several programs including Acrobat, I uninstalled reader X and had to reinstall acrobat because it wouldn't start up after the upgrade. Once acrobat was reinstalled, any file I made into a *.pdf or modified an existing *.pdf file, the thumbnail would not show up in my folder. The thumbnail was now a big Adobe logo. The prior *.pdf files that have not been modified are still thumbnails. Something was changed by the reader X upgrade and was not uninstalled by the uninstall program function. Adobe has left reminants of junk somewhere in the registry or elsewhere and that is what I need to find and kill.

The boys in India are no help either because they do not support Acrobat anymore. Their answer books have been taken away so they don't know what to say. If someone knows how to kill the reminants of the reader X upgrade, please make a suggestion.
lhardin
Registered: Sep 15 2011
Posts: 1
dwstock:
Have you found a solution for this issue yet?
I am having the same issue about not being able to see thumbnails of PDFs created on a particular machine. I can still see thumbnails of PDFs created by other users.
I'm still gathering the info on exactly which versions of Adobe is used on our machines.

I am really hoping that you already have the answer because I have tried all the knowledge boards I can find and can't find the answer.
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
No I have not found the solution to my problem. I doubt anyone from Adobe will look into it either. I just gave up on them. I have done just about everything I can think of and nothing works. It is a shame that the Adobe team would put out something that screws up everyones programs and then does nothing to help remidy their problem. I thought Micro$oft was bad. But these reprobates really take the cake.
gchodorow
Registered: Nov 5 2008
Posts: 1
I'm having the same problem with Adobe Acrobat X and Windows 7: I can see my old PDF thumbnails on the desktop and in Windows Explorer but for new PDFs I just see the Acrobat logo.
gkaiseril
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
In Windows Explorer, change the view to "Thumbnails". You may also need to install the Codex for the PDF file type.

What is your OS and version?

George Kaiser

dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
Windows Explorer is already set to "thumbnails" since I still have the thumbnails from prior to getting shagged by Adobe and their infamous "X" upgrade. The thumbnail only goes to the icon once I make a change to the *.PDF file. I have tried going to details and then back to thumbnails without any improvement.

I never heard of a codex *.pdf files. Just where would someone get information on these codex files?
dwstock
Registered: Apr 18 2011
Posts: 8
I forgot to add that I am running Windows XP Pro SP3.
gkaiseril
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
My mistake. Codec for the PDF file type. It is code used by the OS to compress and decompress media files.

George Kaiser