Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

I've cracked it

I uninstalled Adobe and reinstalled it like you said, and bingo everything works again. It's a posher version with new toys (I can convert PDFs into Word etc) so it'll take a bit of getting used to. The problem was Windows 8.1. wasn't compatible with my Adobe thing.

Thank you so much for your usual endless patience and for not being patronizing

I struggle because computers don't behave in a logical way. They are a law unto themselves.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Haha

Worse case i could remote in and sort it for you - that'll be fun

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Adobe link for Adobe installer tool / checker

OK thanks.

If you ever need your boiler fixed just give me a shout - I'm good at that even if I know f*ck all about computers

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Ok, check Adobe & update if it tells you to --> http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/otherversions/

If that doesn't sort your pdf's right click on one and open with -> select default PDF reader - select it as default / always open with this program option.

If neither work don't worry, we can uninstall / reinstall Adobe and that will sort it but first check for Adobe version update

Adobe link for Adobe installer tool / checker

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

I've posted a link to Adobe above. Click that

Delete the shockwave update too. Makes sense. May be linked

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

go into programs -> add remove programs -> select / click on Adobe reader X -> right click / select the "uninstall" option.

So delete Adobe X / Adobe Reader and then reinstall. Shockwave (if installed) etc will be fine

You must uninstall the existing program prior to downloading the Adobe tool / installer

Thanks, I've now started that process.

What I can see is that Adobe Flashplayer 11 plugin was installed on 29th November the same day/night as my Windows 8.1 update which may/may not be a co-incidence.

So I'll uninstall that tomorrow but how do I install the substitute? Presumably I go to Google and as for the Adobe website.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

It won't overwrite if the current version is newer so best to go into programs -> add remove programs -> select / click on Adobe reader X -> right click / select the "uninstall" option.

So delete Adobe X / Adobe Reader and then reinstall. Shockwave (if installed) etc will be fine

You must uninstall the existing program prior to downloading the Adobe tool / installer

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

check Adobe & update if it tells you to --> http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/otherversions/

If that doesn't sort your pdf's right click on one and open with -> select default PDF reader - select it as default / always open with this program option.

If neither work don't worry, we can uninstall / reinstall Adobe and that will sort it but first check for Adobe version update

I have a feeling you're right about uninstall/reinstall Adobe which may mean my version is not recognized by Windows 8.1.

Can I just download/install a new Adobe thing (tomorrow) which will overtake the one I've got which isn't responding to Windows 8.1 without an uninstall because I can't find it anywhere on my laptop?

I've managed to get my scanner to convert documents to PDF not JPG so the day has ended well. Even though I can't open and read them, you can apparently so that's a start

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Ok, check Adobe & update if it tells you to --> http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/otherversions/

If that doesn't sort your pdf's right click on one and open with -> select default PDF reader - select it as default / always open with this program option.

If neither work don't worry, we can uninstall / reinstall Adobe and that will sort it but first check for Adobe version update

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

I've deleted all the files which were updated on 29th Nov (the Windows 8.1 update).

The new updates/installs are for Office, Outlook and Excel only. There are no new updates for Windows because I stopped that (I presume).

Everything looks the same as it did after the Windows 8.1 update. The opening screen changed and some features changed and they all remain the same. I'm happy with that.

The only problem is the same problem as earlier today which is that every PDF I open shows the same content regardless of it's content. It's now switched to a different one. When I open PDF A, and then when I open PDF B, it shows me the contents of PDF A, and so on when I open PDF C, D, E etc. which is weird.

I truly thank you for your help so far and I'll get back to this tomorrow. I feel such a failure when I can't understand computers

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

It might update the deleted files with replacements. Leave today's updates. Just delete the old ones first. That's all

don't stress

* when it originally updated the files it overwrite / deleted the source file. So now that you've deleted the update means it might need to install the default file again hence today's date is showing. You can't stop those files or your system will corrupt.

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

yea next time do it as if you don't the kernal can corrupt if one isn't fully uninstalled whilst you start another. If it asks do it now

Oh no, I did a reboot and I've gone back to the Control panel and it's showing loads of updates as being installed today! How can I have done that if I uninstalled them?

I'll carry on uninstalling the ones dated 29th and then I go back to this tomorrow because I'm getting very stressed out.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Now you tell me. It just asked me if I wanted to reboot "now" and I said "No" because I thought I had to wait until I'd done them all.

yea next time do it as if you don't the kernal can corrupt if one isn't fully uninstalled whilst you start another. If it asks do it now yea

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Mind telling us why

Proof of my point (bugs) above (planQ) - as it happens mate

planB to C to D to Q......

[PlanB]

Re: Windows 8 Is Entirely Unusable

Reboot as and when asked and work through them all one by one

Now you tell me. It just asked me if I wanted to reboot "now" and I said "No" because I thought I had to wait until I'd done them all.