How do I find preinstalled program's executable from the Start Menu

[StupidUser]

I have a new Windows 7 Professional machine, on which Adobe Reader is preinstalled. A program I'm using (called TeXnicCenter, if you must know), is calling some program called Nitro to view the PDF files it creates. I want to change that to Reader, which means I need to find its executable.

Start Menu has a shortcut to Reader. I have opened that shortcut's properties box. However, it does not tell me where it's pointing to.

I've had this type of problem in the past. I don't just want to know where Reader is installed (I do want to know that, though). How do I find where Reader is installed from the Start Menu's shortcut? Why is the location hidden?

I have found the Program Files (x86)/Adobe directory. But I it is a rather large tree and I haven't found the correct executable. This is another reason I want to use the shortcut. It point me right to the correct executable. Why would MS even bother to hide this info?

 

[mohavepc]

a simple way to find the actual exe file is to click on start, start typing the programs name (in this case I would go with Adobe) right click on that listing and choose Open File location which will then show you exactly where the exe is.

With that out of the way are you trying to set the default of PDF files back to adobe instead of nitro? If so go to where you saved a pdf right click and choose properties. click on the Change icon next to opens with. Adobe should be in that list. if not the browse to the file location you found from above.

 

[Ztruker]

On my Win 8 X64 system, Adobe Reader is in

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

Should be the same in Windows 7. If you have 32 bit then I think it would be:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

One easy way to find it is to open a PDF with Adobe, then start Task Manager, right click on Adobe Reader and select Open file location.

 

[StupidUser]

Typing "Adobe" and "Reader" in the start menu did find the program (not sure why). In fact, Reader doesn't look like it's on the menu anymore. I installed a reader update in the 15 minutes between our posts and that seems to have taken it out of the Start Menu. And that seems to have removed the Reader icon from the Start Menu.

But I do get your idea. I tried it with another program. It still took me to the shortcut in the start menu which, if it existed for Reader, would still not be showing me the executable's location.

I am not trying to set Reader as my PDF default. It's already set that way. I am trying to get TXC to use Reader (instead of Nitro) to open PDF files. TXC has tabs of settings for sending different commands to the PDF viewer of choise. I am trying to set those.

 

[mohavepc]

I see what your saying here. The Actual path to the exe your looking for should be in C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

the link in app data points to the AcroRd32.exe on my 64 bit system.

Ztrucker you are correct, I misunderstood what they were attempting to do here.

 

[StupidUser]

Thanks. But my more general question(s) still remains: Why is MS hiding this information in some Start Menu icons? And, in general, how do I find the target of those type shortcuts?

 

[margrave]

Right click on any shortcut. In the context menu choose properties.
The dialog box will show you the path to the executable (in a box labelled "Target").

 

[StupidUser]

Some of them do not show the target. For some reason they are trying -- successfully -- to hide it. For those ones, how do I find the target?

 

[mohavepc]

perhaps this will help answer the question. link

 

[carwiz]

Post an image of the properties dialog box that you see. The file path should be shown after "Target". That field can't be blank or the shortcut wouldn't work. If you're not able to display executables then your system may have group policy rules installed. If that's the case, contact your Administrator.

 

[StupidUser]

Post an image of the properties dialog box that you see. The file path should be shown after "Target". That field can't be blank or the shortcut wouldn't work. If you're not able to display executables then your system may have group policy rules installed. If that's the case, contact your Administrator.

Images attached. The shortcut works fine. You can see the Target field is grayed out and merely has a description of Reader, rather than the file path.

I am the administrator, in that I am the sole owner of this PC. I already contacted myself, and since I didn't know what to tell me, I posted here.

 

[mohavepc]

Carwiz I believe this is what they are talking about. Adobe shortcut points to app data folder not program file folder.

 

[StupidUser]

perhaps this will help answer the question. link

So there's a new folder (aka 'directory') called AppData which keeps information about installed programs. I'm not sure how that relates.

 

[carwiz]

Where are you located? That MUI (Multilingual User Interface) may have something to do with why the links aren't direct. I'm not familiar with MUI so I'll just watch.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you check Control Panel>Programs and Features to see if this Nitro program you don't want opening .pdf's is there so you can Uninstall it?

Have you checked Control Panel>Default Programs>Set Default Program or Associate File Type to see if Adobe REader has all of its defaults, and .pdf only allows Adobe Reader?

This is how defaults are set and maintained, not by doing anything with an .exe unless you've found Support for this issue that specifies doing something with the .exe. Can you help us to help you by saying why you want to access the .exe for a solution?

 

[mohavepc]

perhaps this will help answer the question. link

So there's a new folder (aka 'directory') called AppData which keeps information about installed programs. I'm not sure how that relates.

To quote "AppData or Application data is a hidden folder in Windows 7. It is to protect user data and settings from any unwanted change or deletion. It contains many important data such as program settings, IE cookies, toolbar settings, IE browsing history, temporary files created by applications, Libraries, send to items, templates and many more."

The shortcuts you and I posted about are pointing to "App Data" folder. I guess it would take someone more familiar with Microsoft whys and why not's to find out answer that question totally.

To quote Ztrucker "One easy way to find it is to open a PDF with Adobe, then start Task Manager, right click on Adobe Reader and select Open file location." will show you faster.

I cannot add to this and since I am not really looking for an answer to Microsoft's idiosyncrasies I am out of this one. Good Luck

 

[mohavepc]

Did you check Control Panel>Programs and Features to see if this Nitro program you don't want opening .pdf's is there so you can Uninstall it?

Have you checked Control Panel>Default Programs>Set Default Program or Associate File Type to see if Adobe REader has all of its defaults, and .pdf only allows Adobe Reader?

This is how defaults are set and maintained, not by doing anything with an .exe unless you've found Support for this issue that specifies doing something with the .exe. Can you help us to help you by saying why you want to access the .exe for a solution?

hey Greg the defaults are set correctly but evidently the program she is working in has options for PDF programs that are able to be modified from within said program.

I believe the "original" question of where is the exe has been answered. as well as how to find it. now it is a question of why Microsoft or adobe or whomever is using a "hidden" link file in app data to open adobe reader. I don't know why and truthfully have no desire to find out.

Have a good eve

 

[gregrocker]

Never heard of that. Wanted to make sure she checked both places in Default Programs since .pdf file defaults may overrule a program's preferences.

Absent that then Reader .exe is AcroRd32 below:

The reader may still be listed in Programs and Features similar to Itunes' Bonjour which also runs best when uninstalled.

Does the PC have a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...all-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164? I have a Lenovo Core i5 laptop which works great without any bloatware. I do use the Power Mgmt battery feature that limits charge to 60% to prolong the battery which I'm not traveling.

 

[StupidUser]

Where are you located? That MUI (Multilingual User Interface) may have something to do with why the links aren't direct. I'm not familiar with MUI so I'll just watch.

I'm in the US (New Jersey, to be exact). Not sure what MUI you're talking about, but it's probably just so that Reader can display documents in other languages.

Did you check Control Panel>Programs and Features to see if this Nitro program you don't want opening .pdf's is there so you can Uninstall it?

Have you checked Control Panel>Default Programs>Set Default Program or Associate File Type to see if Adobe REader has all of its defaults, and .pdf only allows Adobe Reader?

This is how defaults are set and maintained, not by doing anything with an .exe unless you've found Support for this issue that specifies doing something with the .exe. Can you help us to help you by saying why you want to access the .exe for a solution?

All of that is set correctly. Nitro is in Programs and will be uninstalled shortly. PDFs are associated with Adobe Reader. But my other program, TXC, sends several commands to Reader. I now have TXC setup correctly, so that's no longer an issue

I am curious, in general, how to find the program that a Start Menu shortcut points to when the shortcut's properties box won't give any information about it. I often have this issue -- not just now. For example, let's say I want to use the "Open with..." dialog box for some unusual file types which I want to associate with Reader (or maybe Excel). Then I have to go and find the executable, and it's often hard to find and the Start Menu shortcuts often hide the target file's location.

 

[mohavepc]

Where are you located? That MUI (Multilingual User Interface) may have something to do with why the links aren't direct. I'm not familiar with MUI so I'll just watch.

I'm in the US (New Jersey, to be exact). Not sure what MUI you're talking about, but it's probably just so that Reader can display documents in other languages.

Did you check Control Panel>Programs and Features to see if this Nitro program you don't want opening .pdf's is there so you can Uninstall it?

Have you checked Control Panel>Default Programs>Set Default Program or Associate File Type to see if Adobe REader has all of its defaults, and .pdf only allows Adobe Reader?

This is how defaults are set and maintained, not by doing anything with an .exe unless you've found Support for this issue that specifies doing something with the .exe. Can you help us to help you by saying why you want to access the .exe for a solution?

All of that is set correctly. Nitro is in Programs and will be uninstalled shortly. PDFs are associated with Adobe Reader. But my other program, TXC, sends several commands to Reader. I now have TXC setup correctly, so that's no longer an issue

I am curious, in general, how to find the program that a Start Menu shortcut points to when the shortcut's properties box won't give any information about it. I often have this issue -- not just now. For example, let's say I want to use the "Open with..." dialog box for some unusual file types which I want to associate with Reader (or maybe Excel). Then I have to go and find the executable, and it's often hard to find and the Start Menu shortcuts often hide the target file's location.

Ztrucker answered that question already "

On my Win 8 X64 system, Adobe Reader is in

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

Should be the same in Windows 7. If you have 32 bit then I think it would be:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

One easy way to find it is to open a PDF with Adobe, then start Task Manager, right click on Adobe Reader and select Open file location. " should work with most files if you know what program you want to use. open it then open task manager, right click, select open file location.