Author Topic: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error  (Read 1367 times)

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a1astair

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PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« on: October 11, 2025, 10:32:56 PM »
Hi,

Every time I start my Windows 11 Pro PC, I get the following error message displayed: "Access violation at address" (screenshot attached)

Normally I just click on OK and it goes away, but now every time I click on it another error message pops up.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Cheers,

Al

RTT

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Re: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2025, 02:33:23 AM »
Use the Windows Task Manager to end the task named PDF-ShellTools (32 bit).
Do you get this error from a cold start or sleeping/hibernated session?

a1astair

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Re: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2025, 12:48:57 AM »
You may be right - I think it only occurs when I put my PC to sleep (which I do a lot). I still think that is a bug though!

RTT

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Re: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2025, 02:28:24 AM »
Yes, it is a bug in the PDF preview handler, when used from the File Explorer. Sometimes the loaded PDF file fails to unload and the out-of-process server, the running PDF-ShellTools.exe I told you to end with the task manager, freezes. But an unresponsive PDF-ShellToosl.exe will not be present when cold starting Windows, so I had to ask.

a1astair

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Re: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2025, 02:38:01 AM »
Will it be fixed in the future?

RTT

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Re: PDF-ShellTools Pop-up Error
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2025, 11:44:06 PM »
I had it partially fixed for some time but now I gave it some more work and seems to be totally fixed. I need to test it a little more to be sure.