PDF files won't display Pdf-Xchange icon

[edwardcr]

I'm a completely new user of PDF-Xchange. So far, I think it's a great program, and I'm seriously thinking of buying the Pro version, but although it's working beautifully I do have a very annoying problem.

The icon for PDF files that displays in Windows Explorer (or in my case, in Directory Opus as well) seems to be stuck on the ugly default Microsoft 'unknown' icon.

I have done everything I can think of to change this, but nothing works.
1 On the Right-click Menu - I have set PDF files to open with PDF-X. When I double-click, the file correctly opens in PDF-X.
2 In the PDF-X 'Preferences-File Associations' I have clicked 'Make default PDF viewer'.
3 In Windows Explorer 'Tools-Folder Options-File Types' PDF files are set to PDF-Xchange viewer, and the correct icon is displayed there!
4 If I right-click on a PDF file, the file properties show that the file is set to open with PDF-X.

I have now completely run out of ideas, and am looking for suggestions. I should add that I'm running the latest free version of PDF-X on Windows XP Pro SP3 with all current updates.

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

Can you tell me (or post screen shots here) what is located into the registry by these paths:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pdf
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PDF-XChangeViewer.1\DefaultIcon

Also, please let me know the version of OS you are using.

[Cadillakin]

I'm a completely new user of PDF-Xchange. So far, I think it's a great program, and I'm seriously thinking of buying the Pro version, but although it's working beautifully I do have a very annoying problem.

The icon for PDF files that displays in Windows Explorer (or in my case, in Directory Opus as well) seems to be stuck on the ugly default Microsoft 'unknown' icon.

I have done everything I can think of to change this, but nothing works.
1 On the Right-click Menu - I have set PDF files to open with PDF-X. When I double-click, the file correctly opens in PDF-X.
2 In the PDF-X 'Preferences-File Associations' I have clicked 'Make default PDF viewer'.
3 In Windows Explorer 'Tools-Folder Options-File Types' PDF files are set to PDF-Xchange viewer, and the correct icon is displayed there!
4 If I right-click on a PDF file, the file properties show that the file is set to open with PDF-X.

I have now completely run out of ideas, and am looking for suggestions. I should add that I'm running the latest free version of PDF-X on Windows XP Pro SP3 with all current updates.

It seems you have done most of the normal things to associate that icon properly.

The Xchange Viewer stores its icon information in the registry, right here.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\PDF-XChangeViewer.1\DefaultIcon]

Check and see what's listed there. If it's properly listing the Xchange Viewer Icon.. I think you will have to probably go a step further and delete the pdf associations in the registry. I've had many similar issues on my machines with file associations and icons. This kind of thing happens all the time with jpg file viewers and mp3 players. I'm guessing that a prior pdf viewer that is uninstalled is still having a say on your machine.

Assuming you have no issues with working in the registry... delete Hkey Classes Root\PDF, in the registry. Also delete similar keys in HKCU\Software\Classes\.pdf and HKLM\Software\Classes\.pdf. That will give you a fresh start. Then log off and back on. Next, re-associate pdf to the Xchange Viewer using one of the methods you listed above. That should put things right. If not, reinstall the Xchange Viewer over itself.

There is no harm in deleting these pdf keys.. They simply make Windows forget all the associations and OLE Object Class Ids. You CAN export/save any key in the registry that you will be deleting so that you can put the machine back to how it was.. But these pdf keys are not that important to the function of Windows. If memory serves me, when you first install windows, they are absent, until you install Adobe Reader or Xchange Viewer, or whatever.

Edit: I didn't see Ivan's posting when I posted this.. I'll leave it up.. It doesn't seem to be in conflict with the questions he is asking edwardcr.

[edwardcr]

Thanks for your prompt replies. I actually had a late-night session after I posted my message and managed to fixed the problem - I was just too tired to post another message last night!

My solution was along the lines of of Cadillakin's suggestion (deleting references to the PDF files), but without going into the registry. I simply deleted the PDF entry under Windows Explorer 'Tools-Folder Options-File Types', rebooted, and recreated the entry. After I rebooted a second time the icon was correctly displayed.

I did notice, though, that doing this allowed me the option of selecting a new icon for PDF files. Like some other people on this forum I find the default PDF-X icon very bland, so thought I would try changing it. I don't have Acrobat Reader 9 installed on my system any more, but I do have the full Reader 9 installer. So I extracted the 'AcroRd32.exe' file from the 'cab' file.

So once I established that my idea worked, I repeated the steps in para 2, but at the end of the process , I replaced the icon file with the one from the 'AcroRd32.exe' file, and I now have the very noticable red icon for my PDF files!

I am pretty computer literate (I have worked as a computer trainer in a previous life) but this was one thing I hadn't done before. Now I can start changing other boring icons on my system!

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hey edwardcr,

thanks for posting your solution. I'm sure other users will find it and your directions on changing default icons useful, I certainly do!

[Cadillakin]

Thanks for your prompt replies. I actually had a late-night session after I posted my message and managed to fixed the problem - I was just too tired to post another message last night!

My solution was along the lines of of Cadillakin's suggestion (deleting references to the PDF files), but without going into the registry. I simply deleted the PDF entry under Windows Explorer 'Tools-Folder Options-File Types', rebooted, and recreated the entry. After I rebooted a second time the icon was correctly displayed.

I did notice, though, that doing this allowed me the option of selecting a new icon for PDF files. Like some other people on this forum I find the default PDF-X icon very bland, so thought I would try changing it. I don't have Acrobat Reader 9 installed on my system any more, but I do have the full Reader 9 installer. So I extracted the 'AcroRd32.exe' file from the 'cab' file.

So once I established that my idea worked, I repeated the steps in para 2, but at the end of the process , I replaced the icon file with the one from the 'AcroRd32.exe' file, and I now have the very noticable red icon for my PDF files!

I am pretty computer literate (I have worked as a computer trainer in a previous life) but this was one thing I hadn't done before. Now I can start changing other boring icons on my system!

Hi Edward...

Chances are good that your icon change will not stick. If that's the case when you reboot - or one day the adobe icon disappears, you'll need to change permissions on your default icon - within the registry. I've posted in this forum how you can do that to protect the icon choices you make - not just with Xchange Viewer, but with other default icons, as well.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

I believe this is the topic Cadillakin is referring to.

Best,
Stefan

[edwardcr]

Yes - I found the topic, and proceeded to have great fun! Although I tried to follow the procedure, I couldn't get it to work as described, so I played around with it and succeeded in locking myself out of that particular registry key! I've never done that before in all my years of working with computers.

I couldn't open the key, and when I tried to change the permissions back to the original I got the message 'You don't have the required permissions for this action'. Then I had to boot up in Safe Mode so I could change my permissions back to the original.

So far, the icon for PDF files is still showing as the Adobe icon - so I'll just hope for the best, and won't bother with the changes that Cadillakin suggested at this stage. If I lose the icon again, I'll investigate it further. I don't know why I couldn't get the changes to work.

Anyway - thanks for your suggestions.

[Cadillakin]

Yes - I found the topic, and proceeded to have great fun! Although I tried to follow the procedure, I couldn't get it to work as described, so I played around with it and succeeded in locking myself out of that particular registry key! I've never done that before in all my years of working with computers.

I couldn't open the key, and when I tried to change the permissions back to the original I got the message 'You don't have the required permissions for this action'. Then I had to boot up in Safe Mode so I could change my permissions back to the original.

So far, the icon for PDF files is still showing as the Adobe icon - so I'll just hope for the best, and won't bother with the changes that Cadillakin suggested at this stage. If I lose the icon again, I'll investigate it further. I don't know why I couldn't get the changes to work.

Anyway - thanks for your suggestions.

If you have Administrative Privileges, you shouldn't be able to lock yourself out of registry keys. Administrators can change registry keys... But I'm an XP user. Maybe something is different with your OS and setup.

Anyway, if all is working as you wished, no harm done.

Edit: I think there has been some changes regarding that key and the Xchange Viewer. It used to be that the Viewer would restore its own icon. Now, it seems that is not occurring. So, perhaps there was no need for changing the permissions.

[edwardcr]

Cadillakin

You were right first time - three reboots later, and it's gone back to the original PDF-X icon.

I think I'll just live with it - it's starting to look better!

[Cadillakin]

Cadillakin

You were right first time - three reboots later, and it's gone back to the original PDF-X icon.

I think I'll just live with it - it's starting to look better!

LOL

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

I think I'll just live with it - it's starting to look better!

Hehe the best part of the comment

Cheers,
stefan