acr.tmp files in c:\windows\temp

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

I updated Adobe Reader to 7.08 this past week (6/20/2006).
I noticed, whether it was open or closed, ACRxxx.tmp files were getting created in C:\WINDOWS\TEMP. Each file was around 2 meg and it filled my C drive with 14 gig of files. I deleted all the files and they just started filling again. I checked for viruses/spyware and my system is clean.
I uninstalled Reader. The problem seemed to stop, meaning directly related to reader. Then I reinstalled from web. This did not resolve problem. It returned. I thought I resolved it last night by unchecking "Automatically save changes to temporary files" under Preferences/General. This stopped them last night, but today, after printing a couple of PDF files, back they came again, by the hundreds.
I am using an old Brother HL630 Laser Printer and have never had a reader problem until now.

Thanks in advance.
Jeff

[Mar...@adobeforums.com]

It's a known problem, but we've never been able to reproduce it.

You say "by the hundreds", but I assume you aren't opening hundreds of PDFs, correct?

Have you tried solution 2 in this doc?

<http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/329444.html>

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

Yes. I did delete the files and reinstall software. Problem returned. No. I only open a couple of PDFs and print and close.
Then, over time, hundreds and gigabytes of tmp files appear.
I assume it's tied to the print mechanisism. Today, I printed a couple of PDFs but no tmp files so far. Not very predictable.

[Roberta...@adobeforums.com]

I have a windows 2003 server that I installed the latest version of Acrobat Reader on, and I too have GB's of Arc*.tmp files in the windows\temp directory. I did not discover it until the file server suddenly said that it was low on disc space, and I quickly did a scearch to find out what was happening!! Acrobat does not have to be open to create these files, it just needs to be installed on the system. I too have tried changing the preferences, and all that was suggested in the techdocs page, but nothing worked. My solution is to uninstall acrobat. Has anyone come up with a solution to this? There does not seem to be a service running that is causing this. Maybe the tech support people could help us understand exactly what Acrobat does to the system when you install it?

[Mar...@adobeforums.com]

Acrobat does not have to be open to create these files, it just needs
to be installed on the system.

That seems unlikely. Do you ever view PDFs in IE?

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

Yes, I sometimes view PDFs in IE. But typically, I get work order links at a web page, click the link, and it opens in the native program. On occasion, a search will yield a PDF link that will view using the IE pluggin.

Lately, in the past 4 or so days, I have not seen a reoccurrence of the acr.tmp files.

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

Robert;

Thanks for replying. Glad I'm not alone in this. I noticed that this issue was discussed allot in 2004 forums, but little to due with the latest 7.08 update.

And, as you said, only leaving it uninstalled kept the files from being created. And, it didn't matter whether the program was open or active or not. Once the snowball started there was little to stop it.

Since I changed that preference for Temp files discussed earlier, I had one reoccurrence of the tmp files the next day. But that was around 4 or 5 days ago. And, magically, I have not seen this happen again, even though I've tried to tease it into occurring by opening PDF files from the program and from IE. Also printing PDF files.

But, I just looked under C:\documents and settings\local settings\temp and there was a new tmp file created by opening a PDF from inside IE. It was 5 minutes old, but I could not delete it. I closed all IE windows, even this one, and it still wouldn't let me delete it. After a few minutes, it was gone. Hmmm.....

Also, BTW, I tried renaming c:\windows\temp to \temp2 to see if Adobe would cause an error to pop up. But, instead, the tmp files were merely redirected to the root of c:\. So, I put it back to \temp.
And the files went back to there again.

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

Sorry Roberta. For some weird reason my brain saw Robert. (blush)

[jasonwong12345@hotmail.com@adobeforums.com]

I think I have the same problem. Yes, you don't have to open Acrobat to create those tmp files. They are generated every minute until you delete them in the temp folder. I have just installed the update for 7.08, the problem seems go away. I have just now discovered that one temp file was generated several minutes ago, but it's only one and the process does not repeat so far. I don't know when it will come up with those thousands of tmp file! You don't have to open the file, you don't have to print anything, but if it comes, it just happens. It's really annoying!

[Jeff_C...@adobeforums.com]

Hi Jason;
I'm glad you are only seeing one. Within hours, my whole C drive filled up with these. But, for some reason (knock on wood) it's stopped doing it.

Jeff

[jasonwong12345@hotmail.com@adobeforums.com]

Hi Jeff,

I noticed the problem two days ago when I felt the PC was running slower and surprisingly my hard disk was almost full though I knew there should be a few Gs space few days ago.

I then searched full the C drive and found those tmp files. The real nightmare was they are being generated like every minute even I didn't run the software.

Luckily it is not happening now, after I removed the software and re-installed it. Don't know why but do hope it never comes back again!

Rgds
Jason

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

This problem is real and needs a solution PLEASE!

I'm getting it with Reader 7.08 and it definately goes away when I uninstall and reappears when I re-install. I don't have to be doing anything with acrobat for it to start generating acr***.tmp files (about 3 a minute either ~500kb or ~1000kb), although I can't see what the trigger is.

It even occurs during defragmenting. I uninstalled, deleted all the acr***.tmp files, reinstalled and then went straight to defragmenting and it just started creating acr***.tmp files while defragmenting.

Really weird, but REAL. Adobe have a problem that needs a fix! Unlike you other guys its not going away on my computer (XP home by the way)

[Kevin...@adobeforums.com]

I have US Adobe Acrobat Pro (7.08). I was getting these also, as large as 12 MB, and filling up all available space on my hard drive (55GB+).

I went into Edit, Preferences, General, and unchecked the "Automatically save document changes to temporary files every XX minutes" and it stopped.

Something apparently keeps running in the background. but this seems to shut it off.

I hope this helps.

* *** DISREGARD **** The AcrXXXX.tmp files have began again. ARG.

-- Kevin

[John_F...@adobeforums.com]

Have you tried the following renaming file C:\program files\adobe\acrobat 7.0\reader\AcroRdIf.dll to something like AcroRdIf.dll. Hopefully you can find it there. I renamed the file and haven't seen the acr.tmp problem for weeks since I did the rename a month or so ago. And I've seen no ill effects. You can read through some of the earlier messages in this thread too.

[John_F...@adobeforums.com]

I meant:

Have you tried the following renaming file C:\program files\adobe\acrobat 7.0\reader\AcroRdIf.dll to something like AcroRdIf.dll.old. just anything different. AcroRdIf.xxx whatever.