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encoding problem with word and pdf doc - error message - file conversion - select encoding to make your document readable

Anonymous
2011-07-12T22:40:08+00:00

hi, until about an hour ago i had no problem opening adobe documents, nor word documents, however, when i try to open an pdf document is wont open properly, i have to save it, then open with adobe, when i try to open word doument is displays error message

  • file conversion, select the encoding that makes your doument readable?? help please how do i get everything to go back to normal??  i think i caused the problem when i tried to open a word / pdf document from my removable flash drive, can someone please tell me how to fix this, without a dodgy download???

I can save as and then open with - and pdf opens file - but before i didnt have to do this it just opened automatically

thanks.

J

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-21T11:57:30+00:00

    I just ran into this problem minutes ago, it is quiet an easy fix. If it is a .pdf than locate the file right click it and select open with, and choose select default program, choose adobe reader. What this does is for every .pdf file it will use adobe reader instead of attempting to use the wrong program to open the file. Same thing with .doc and .docx files just instead of adobe reader choose microsoft word

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-13T14:27:46+00:00

    Hi,

    I apologise if i am not very good at explaining things.

    I am trying to open the files from both usb flash drive and also fronm my documents.

    The exact error message is

    The title/header reads - file converter

    Select the encoding that makes your document readable

    Text encoding:  then is displays 3 options -

    Windows (default)

     MS-DOS

    Other encoding - which lists many opetions starting with wang taiwain, but its already selcted/highlighted to western europe (windows)

    and then the preview box shows:-

    %PDF-1.4

    %äüöß

    2 0 obj

    <</Length 3 0 R/Filter/FlateDecode>>

    stream

    xœµ\I‹kÍ

    Ý¿_áu ;5Ý   Ì…vÛ

    The icon has changed also, it no longer shows a PDF/Adobe logo, it shows a word logo but not the same as a standard word document, in properties it reads, PDF opens with Word, if this helps?

    I havent made any changes on the computer at all.

    I am using windows 7.

    I never had a problem opening a word document or a pdf document previously, i think the problem started after trying to open a pdf file from usb drive, which had been emailed by me previously, etc.

    many thanks.

    Jo

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-13T12:57:49+00:00

    Hi Jo Swad,

    ·         Where are you trying to open the files?

    ·         What is the exact error message?

    ·         Have you made any recent changes on the computer prior to this issue?

    Reply back with more information.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-26T20:22:11+00:00

    See in the Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\  "Associate a file type or protocol with a program" and make sure .pdf is associated correctly with Adobe reader or Foxit Reader, or whatever .pdf program you use.

    System Restore should fix it too.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-26T20:08:28+00:00

    Try a system restore back to before you attempted to open the PDF file from a USB drive.

    To choose a System Restore point,

    ·         From the Desktop click the Start button

    ·         In the Search Field type “System Restore” and hit enter

    ·         Once System Restore is open, select the option “choose a different restore point” and hit next

    Once on the next screen, pick a restore point to go back to when it last worked for you. Once you select the restore point, click next, then select finish, this will start the restore process.

    Hope this helps.

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