TechNote

Error: "A serious error has been detected and Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional cannot continue. Please re-install the application and try again" when you start (Acrobat 8 Professional, Standard)

Issue

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When you start Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional or Standard, you receive the error message "A serious error has been detected and Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional [or Standard] cannot continue. Please reinstall the application and try again."

Reason

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Acrobat verifies activation when you start the application. If Acrobat is not able to detect that the activation occurred, then it initiates the process. In order for the activation to complete successfully, you must have an uncorrupted version of the AdobeConfig.xml file on the system.

Solution

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Initial Steps: Verify the AdobeConfig.xml file.

1. Make sure Acrobat is not open.
2. Open the folder C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\alm_config_files.
3. Verify that the filename of AdobeConfig.xml is correct.

After you verify the AdobeConfig.xml file, perform one of the following solutions:

Solution 1 (Retail License): Remove and reinstall Acrobat.

1. Remove Acrobat using the Add Or Remove Programs Control Panel (Windows XP) or the Programs And Features Control Panel (Windows Vista).
2. Restart the system.
3. Reinstall Acrobat.

Solution 2 (Volume License): Replace the AdobeConfig.xml file.

1. Contact Customer Service for replacement media or copy the AdobeConfig.xml file from your physical media.
2. Make sure Acrobat is not open.
3. Place the new AdobeConfig.xml file in the alm_config_files folder.
4. Try to launch Acrobat.
5. If this does not work, try Solution 1 above.

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