New Foxit Reader users beware

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I have just installed it, but avoiding Ask toolbar install is not possible. Seems Big Brother is getting bigger.

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It is getting tougher, requires more and more careful reading during the install of ad-supported software these days. The Foxit reader install is particularly tricky now because after unticing the Make Ask the default and the Set Ask.com as the homepage, one has to click on the Decline button, not the Accept button, which might lead on to think that the Foxit reader is not going to be installed, but its only for the Ask stuff. After Declining the install of Foxit Reader proceeds, but, then right at the end there is another box to untic so that the Ebay shortcut is not created and placed on the desktop.

Its getting so that one must wade through an install almost like one is dealing with some malware with the potential to infect, but as far as I can see its not big brother, its just a couple corporations with a plan…

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It is getting tougher, requires more and more careful reading during the install of ad-supported software these days. The Foxit reader install is particularly tricky now because after unticing the Make Ask the default and the Set Ask.com as the homepage, one has to click on the Decline button, not the Accept button, which might lead on to think that the Foxit reader is not going to be installed, but its only for the Ask stuff. After Declining the install of Foxit Reader proceeds, but, then right at the end there is another box to untic so that the Ebay shortcut is not created and placed on the desktop.

Its getting so that one must wade through an install almost like one is dealing with some malware with the potential to infect, but as far as I can see its not big brother, its just a couple corporations with a plan…

ditto, I’ve discovered that too. It in no way deters me from using an otherwise light weight and decent app.
It’s the price you have to sometimes pay for freeware.

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A good place to check for those unwanted installs is the Hall of Shame List over on Calendar of Updates.
http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/index.php?app=calendar&module=calendar&cal_id=&do=showevent&event_id=44514

I have moved away from foxit and have been using for a couple of years now the PDF xchange viewer which also has a free version and I much prefer it. You do have to watch out for unwanteds of course (ask toolbar and it is an opt out so must de-select the button) but it is a very nice product.
http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer
http://download.cnet.com/PDF-XChange-Viewer/3000-10743_4-10598377.html

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Hi R-C, PDF exchange does not show as compatible with W7.

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Roderunner on the actual manufacturer page in the system requirements it definitely shows the windows seven icon as well as the Vista icon and states the following
The Free PDF-XChange Viewer FREE/PRO is compatible with all Windows Versions from Windows 2000 and later both 32 & 64 bit architecture.
Note: The .exe installers auto-detect System Architecture and install 32 and 64 bit components accordingly.
I have it installed on a laptop with windows 7 64bit and it is working fine, as well as on my xp pro and home..

I posted the cnet link because on the manufacturers page, since they have updated it, it is confusing to find the free version. There is definitely a totally free version, it is the one I use.

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I switched a month or so ago to PDF-XChange Viewer when I got fed up with Adobe. PDF-XChange Viewer got a very strong recommendation on Gizmo’s Freeware site: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-non-adobe-pdf-reader.htm#Quick_Selection_Guide. I have it installed on my Windows 7 netbook and my WinXP Pro desktop, and I’ve been very pleased with it on both computers.

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I have tried all PDF readers as per Gizmo, and Foxit is my fav. as I only use its reading feature.

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I have switched from Foxit Reader to PDF-XChange Viewer because of the “extras” Foxit tries to push onto me. I was using Foxit, but do not like to be offered all the stuff I do not want and have no intention of using. I keep all this stuff off my PC because all they do is slow down my system. I spent a lot of time and energy speeding it up, I have no intention of letting something I do not want slow it back down.

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Only the .exe installer version of Foxit contains the tool bars. If you download the .zip version from http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/index.php this just contains the core Foxit program. Just extract foxitreader.exe into a suitable folder and run it. No installation, no screens to ask you what to install, just the basic program.

Sadly they plug the link to the .exe version in all their publicity. There are loads of messages all over the internet about this Ask toolbar issue and nobody seems to know about the the .zip version. Please publicise it…

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Hi Dave, thanks for the info, I will give it a try.

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I was using Foxit but now I’ve switched to the free Nitro Reader recommended by Download.com

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Sumatra PDF reader is small fast and does not play these tricks. It also seems to be frequently updated!

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Sumatra PDF reader is small fast and does not play these tricks. It also seems to be frequently updated!

I have Sumatra PDF reader which has failed recently to open a few PDF files sent as email attachments.
I have now switched to using Pdf Xchange (free version) which is able to open the problem PDF’s

Regards,

David Wightman

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I have just installed it, but avoiding Ask toolbar install is not possible. Seems Big Brother is getting bigger.

Not correct – but you have to read everything very carefully to avoid the assorted rubbish that the installation makes available. I managed it – so so could you!

Have a read through this thread, including the comments!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Whenever I install essentials like a pdf reader or otherwise, I use the ninite installer as it does multiple installs and latest versions of different programs and with most additional bloatware unticked by default. I recently installed foxit using this method and the ask toolbar was there but clearly required unticking. Simples.ninite

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Although I mostly run Linux and use Evince to read PDFs, I have some websites where I provide a link to a PDF reader and sometimes advise Windows users about a reader. For a long time I’ve recommended Foxit, but in light of this thread, I will discontinue doing so.

I just checked out PDF-XChange Viewer and was disappointed by its confusing combinations of free, lite, and pro. I think a naive user will likely install a commercial version and have to deal with the hassles involved.

It looks like Sumatra PDF reader would be the most slim program; its download is 1.7 MB, while Nitro PDF Reader is 22.6 MB. Quite a difference, although understandable in that Nitro provides editing capability.

However, there are a bunch of different download links, some of which are very confusing for the naive. One link goes to a “Sonic Download,” and the file is a bit bigger, making me suspicious. This link seems to be the developer’s link and the one I will use on my websites. Hopefully, it will have some permanence, but not much is permanent on the Web.

I also downloaded and installed Nitro PDF Reader, because its download buttons (you need to click two) are large and unmistakeable. I think I saw in the install the requirement for the .NET framework, which could add to the overhead for a person who doesn’t already have that on their system. While Sumatra installed very quickly, the Nitro install took a very long time.

My conclusion is, if you just want to read PDFs, get Sumatra. If you want to create and edit them, get Nitro.

Lane

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I too got sick of some of Foxit’s “features” with recent versions. I am not running Linux, but have switched to Evince for a pdf reader. I’m very happy with it. It’s lightweight, simple and does all that I want a pdf reader to do.

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Wow, I didn’t realize there was a Windows version of Evince. I’m downloading it and will give it a look. Regretfully, it is a 29.7 MB download.

Lane

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If my memory serves me correctly, I could not get around installing their toolbar. So after the ‘install’, I went to Control Panel and did a ‘remove’ of the toolbar. It was gone, and this is what Foxit recommends BTW. jim

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Hmmm. I installed version 4.0.0.0619 right after it was released and have no installed toolbar. Just checked everything and there are absolutely no toolbars installed on my system.

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I gave up on Foxit because its printing capabilities are deficient. Wouldn’t print the current view. Wouldn’t print anything but letter size. PDF-Xchange seems to work much better.

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Chalk up another vote for Nitro PDF Reader. They have other on line tools, browser plug-ins, and a growing list of PDF editing tools, all for free. I run .NET Framework because I like Paint.NET, so that is not a problem. In my new Toshiba Windows 7 64-bit laptop, Nitro runs as a partially 64-bit program, and .NET Framework works as a 64-bit environment. Which makes Nitro in this environment very speedy and responsive. Nitro’s Primo PDF allows extensive editing as well. I use Chrome on the Toshiba, but on my old Windows XP WinBook, I ran Firefox with the Nitro PDF download plug-in. SSL pages never worked, but other web to PDF downloads were just fine.

-- rc primak

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Hum…. I find it odd that no-one ever seems to mention the Nuance free PDF reader (they are the company that make the OmniPage OCR application)

I think it;’s a nice clean interface and it lets you switch between “hand” mode and “text select” mode really easily (which I do a lot).

Regards,

Jim.

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Hum…. I find it odd that no-one ever seems to mention the Nuance free PDF reader (they are the company that make the OmniPage OCR application)

I think it;’s a nice clean interface and it lets you switch between “hand” mode and “text select” mode really easily (which I do a lot).

Regards,

Jim.

Nuance is OK. I just prefer Nitro.

-- rc primak

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You can remove the Ask bar in the same way as you reove any other program,

In Windows XP => Control Panel => Add or Remove Programs.

In Windows Vista and Windows 7 => Control Panel => Programs and Features – in Windows 7 with the Search by: Category option enabled.

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My only admonition to anyone installing any FREE software is to READ, READ, READ!!!
Read every word on the screen and take nothing for granted.

Almost every free software comes with something you probably don’t want or need.
Foxit Reader is just one out of dozens of FREE programs that do that.
If there is NO way to DE-Select the add-on stuff that you don’t want, then don’t install the software. ABORT!

Adobe Reader has gotten so HUGE and bloated that Foxit Reader is still a very good alternative.
I’ve installed it several times now and eliminating Ask was a no-brainer.
One add-on to Firefox wants to install some “Norton” junk….another place you have to UN-Check a box to keep it from installing.
Like I said before, Read every word on every screen and UN-Check the stuff you don’t want. It ain’t rocket science!

Doc

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