Foxit Reader requires admin privileges (Vista)

[blackspawn]

Hello, I've been a happy user of foxit reader for a while now, but after the last update things took a downturn :-(

Now everytime I try to open a pdf file, or run foxit, a UAC pop up appears. Futhermore, firefox plugin has stoped working (probably related to whatever is causing the UAC pop up). When I open a pdf within the browser, and error box appears (yellow triangle with exclamation mark, with no text) and and pdf fails to load.

I tried uninstalling foxit and re-installing it to no avail (same thing happens).

[Maggie]

Hello, please try the following way:
1, please close the Foxit Reader,
2, go to the folder of Foxit Reader
3, right click Foxit Reader.exe
4, select "Run as Administrator" (you have to do this EVEN IF you ARE the administrator!).

Any result, please tell us. Thanks in advance!

[blackspawn]

Hello Maggie,

I tried doing what you said, but when I open up the properties panel, that option was already checked. I tried un-checking it, run foxit, close it, then check it and run foxit again, but the UAC pop up still appears everytime.

[christina]

Sorry for this inconvenience.

Currently there is not a better way to avoid UAC prompt unless disable it.

For the Firefox problem, is it got fixed? If not, please use RegSvr32 to register ocx file to see if helps. something like RegSvr32 "C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\plugins\FoxitReaderOCX.ocx" .

[blackspawn]

Well as I previously guess the error with firefox was related to the issue with Vista's UAC. After disabling UAC, firefox can open pdfs just fine.

It's not the optimal solution, but I guess I can live without UAC (security issues aside it's rather annoying anyway).

[xetamac]

I too started encountering this problem after attempting to upgrade to Build 1506. It's pretty sad when recommendations are to disable security, so I found an alternative that worked for me:

Navigate to install dir (eg C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader)
Right click "Foxit Reader.exe" and select properties
Select the Compatibility tab and click the "Show settings for all users" button
Uncheck the "Run this program as an administrator" checkbox.
OK, OK.

The only downside to this is that, while "Check for updates now..." works, actually installing them wont, as Foxit isn't programmed to elevate its privilege for the install operation.

Simple workaround again. If, in the future, you find an update you want:
- shutdown Foxit
- Navigate to install directory
- Right click "foxit reader.exe" and select "run as administrator"

After performing the update, close it again and run normally.

Hope this helps.

[christina]

Thanks xetamac.

blackspawn, do you try this workaround? does it work for you?

[blackspawn]

Yup that worked! Kind obvious really I don't know why I didn't think of that eheh.

The issue with not being able to update is just a minor annoyance really, I usually download the new version anyway for offline instalation when needed so it's no big deal.

Thanks everyone!

[GrassClippings]

UAC and administrator privileges are there for a reason. Any program that requires them for normal operations like reading PDF files is broken by design.

Users should all be doing our normal browsing, document reading and editing as normal users, not as administrators. If on the other hand a program needs an update, then requiring administrator privileges is the right thing to do. The important thing is to make a clear distinction between these two things and design the software accordingly.

The recent Foxit reader update has gotten this wrong.

[christina]

Originally Posted by GrassClippings

..............
The recent Foxit reader update has gotten this wrong.

Sorry would you please be more detail?