Adobe Acrobat plugin creates a fake entry at Windows' taskbar
Hello. Since a few Firefox and Acrobat Reader versions back (not sure which ones), whenever I open a PDF file in Firefox, Adobe's plugin creates a bogus window at my Windows' taskbar. It has the default unknown application icon, with no title, and it's useless clicking or right-clicking it, as not even a menu shows up. In fact, it is nothing, but it is annoying.
I am sure it is Adobe's plugin because it doesn't happen neither when I open a PDF with Firefox's built-in reader nor when I have Adobe's plugin enabled and set but not fired yet. Also, the fake window entry goes away a while after I close the last PDF tab.
I have uploaded a screenshot here: http://s2.postimg.org/rms7ywuvt/screenshot_firefox_adobe_acrobat_reader_plugin_f.jpg
Modified by cloudchasingfun
Chosen solution
cor-el, it is definitely a plugin-container process (an Adobe Reader process, to be more specific), but that doesn't explain anything about why it generates a (fake) entry on my Windows' taskbar.
jscher2000, I began doing what you said and saw that a fresh Firefox didn't generate the problem. Then I started adding addons to reproduce it, but nothing triggered it. So I decided to go back to my regular Firefox profile and try any PDF again. SURPRISE! Firefox 23 seems to have solved the issue!
I am not at all aware of the causes. :-( But it seems solved! :-)
If it comes back, I'll let you know. Thanks for the help!
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If you click that taskbar button and then "maximize" it using
Alt+Spacebar x
Does a window or dialog come into view?
No. There is really nothing there.
Any help on this??
It's hard to know what is happening here.
As a test of how Firefox+Acrobat works in an uncustomized Firefox, could you create a new Firefox profile and try that PDF again. In addition to bypassing current add-ons and custom settings, it should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.
Close Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager as described in this article: Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles. Any time you want to switch profiles, close Firefox and return to this dialog. Two tips:
- When creating a new profile, I recommend using the default location suggested; if you prefer to use a different folder, to avoid data loss, do not choose any existing folder.
- I recommend backing up all profiles before using the delete function, so you can recover in case the wrong one gets deleted.
Does the plugin work any better in the new profile?
Did you check if it isn't a plugin-container process that you are seeing?
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).
- Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window.
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.
Chosen Solution
cor-el, it is definitely a plugin-container process (an Adobe Reader process, to be more specific), but that doesn't explain anything about why it generates a (fake) entry on my Windows' taskbar.
jscher2000, I began doing what you said and saw that a fresh Firefox didn't generate the problem. Then I started adding addons to reproduce it, but nothing triggered it. So I decided to go back to my regular Firefox profile and try any PDF again. SURPRISE! Firefox 23 seems to have solved the issue!
I am not at all aware of the causes. :-( But it seems solved! :-)
If it comes back, I'll let you know. Thanks for the help!