How to troubleshoot PDFs

[G-CPTN]

I have two laptops. Apart from age, they are predominantly identical softwarewise - Vista - and I use mainly Firefox, though resort to IE when Firefox 'freezes' - which it seems to do after using it for some time without rebooting. It starts OK, but gradually 'bogs down' until it becomes unresponsive.

Another feature (of one - not the other) is that if I try to download any PDF the system shuts down the browser. I suspect it may be one of the anti-virus that I have installed - but I've tried to keep both the same - Zone Alarm, Avast and Malwarebytes.

Here is the message that accompanies the browser shutdown:-

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: BEX
Application Name: iexplore.exe
Application Version: 8.0.6001.18928
Application Timestamp: 4bdfa327
Fault Module Name: StackHash_fd00
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 00000000
Exception Offset: 0050002f
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Data: 00000008
OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3
Locale ID: 2057
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
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Microsoft Online Crash Analysis

Can anyone suggest how to troubleshoot this happening?

[bnt]

I'm seeing reports pointing the finger at the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) e.g. this and this. Nothing definitive, but what I would do, in that situation, is uninstall all JREs and JDKs currently installed on the system, and see if the problems persist after a restart. Sun's Java stuff hooks itself in to all kinds of places.

[G-CPTN]

Thanks - I'll try that and report back.

[G-CPTN]

I've disabled Sun Java Plug-In 2 SSV Helper (and everything showing as an add-on under 'Tools' 'Manage Add-Ons') but the shut-down of the browser still occurs:-

Windows Data Execution Prevention detected an add-on trying to use system memory incorrectly. This can be caused by a malfunction or a malicious add-on.

[Saab Dastard]

Change Data Execution Prevention settings

SD

[The Nr Fairy]

PDFs are !!!!ty little file formats which should be completely redesigned. Except they're too entrenched - shame.

Try also turning off Javascript in Adobe Reader - no need for it in a document viewer.

[G-CPTN]

I uninstalled everything 'Adobe' from 'Programs' on my hard drive.
This resulted in no crashes - but no facility to read PDFs.
I reinstalled Adobe Reader (and was prompted to download and install Adobe Download Manager (seemed to be associated with the browser) and the 'crashing' of the browser returned when I tried to download a PDF. It seems to be when the PDF is attempted to be 'read' by the browser (which seems to happen automatically rather than requiring Adobe Reader after 'saving').
I'm currently using the 'safe' laptop but I intend returning to the 'dodgy' one and altering the DEP settings.
Thanks for the advice, folks.

[Keef]

I got a bit cross with Adobe and all the various stuff it wanted to install on my PC. I think (must check again) that I've got it down to just the reader, and not the various web address stuff.

I don't get crashes on PDFs, though.

[GrumpyOldFart]

Download the free Reader from here. Been using it for years, and nary a problem.

[ericlday]

Jerry...100% with you on that.