Adobe Reader 9.x crashes when opening some pdf files that work fine with Adobe Reader 8.x

Question

Adobe Reader 9 crashes when opening approximately 10% to 20% of the pdfs in my collection. The remaining 80% to 90% work without problems. The pdfs are launched by double-clicking the pdf file from Windows Explorer. The crashes occur with both v9.0 and v9.1. The pdfs that crash in v9.x work fine in older versions of Adobe Reader, such as v8.1.3. Furthermore, this behavior also occurs on all 3 virtual machine hosted on the same physical machine, with default Adobe Reader settings, for both v9.0 and v9.1. The virtual machines have little running in memory except standard Windows executables - i.e. they are fairly pristine. The operating systems for the virtual machines are XP SP3, XP SP2, and Windows Server 2003.
Error message info in all cases:
app=acrord32.exe
app version=9.1.0.163
module=jp2klib.dll
module version=2.0.0.2579
offset=0003277d
Operating system for real computer: XP SP3
CPU: 1333 MHz Athlon single core
RAM: 1 GB
To sum up, this problem happens on both a real computer running XP SP3, and also on all 3 virtual machines hosted on the same physical computer. I tried changing the Reader setting to not use hardware rendering, to no avail. I also tried various Data Execution Prevention settings in Windows, to no avail. All operating systems, the real and virtual ones, do not have problems with other programs that I use. I also tried a second machine with Adobe Reader v9.1 and the same exact problem pdfs, and had no issues. Thus, the problem happens on only one of the computers, but on the real and 3 virtual operating systems on that machine. There were no errors reported during any of the Reader installations. The virtual machines had no prior versions of Reader prior to Reader installation.

Answer 1

I did further testing of 10 single page pdf files which I created from a single book. All 5 pdf files with images crashed in Reader v9.1. 0 of the 5 pdf files without images crashed in Reader v9.1. Reader v8.1.4 crashes on none of the 10 pdfs. Note that the crash always occurs in jp2klib.dll, which according to the file property description is 'JPEG2000 Core Library', which deals with images. So it seems the issue is in Adobe's jp2klib.dll, in combination with the hardware/software that I have. I used Microsoft's DirectX Diagnostic Tool to test DirectX, including visual tests of DirectDraw and Direct3D - everything worked as expected with no issues detected.<br /><br />Some information about my hardware:<br />Display drivers=Nvidia v84.21<br />Video card=GeForce FX 5200 with 128 MB RAM<br />CPU=AMD Athlon (single core)<br />System RAM=1024 MB in 3 DIMMs<br /><br />Further information about my hardware: (from the program System Information for Windows)<br /><br />Motherboard:<br />Manufacturer=ASUSTeK Computer INC.<br />Model=<A7V133><br />Version=REV 1.xx<br />Chipset Vendor=VIA Technologies Inc<br />Chipset Model=VT8363/5 KT133/KM133 System Controller<br />South Bridge=82C686B PCI to ISA Bridge<br />CPU=AMD Athlon<br />Cpu Socket=Slot A / Socket A [SOCKET A]<br />System Slots=5 PCI, 1 AGP<br />OnBoard devices=<unknown> (Disabled) Promise PDC20265<br />     <br />Memory Summary:<br />Location=System board or motherboard<br />Maximum Capacity=1536 MBytes<br />Memory Slots=3<br />Error Correction=None<br />Use=System memory<br /><br />CPU Info:<br />Number of CPU(s)=One Physical Processor / One Core / One Logical Processor<br />Vendor=AuthenticAMD<br />CPU Full Name=AMD Athlon<br />CPU Name=AMD Athlon(tm) Processor<br />CPU Code Name=Thunderbird<br />Technology=0.18µ<br />Platform Name=Slot A / Socket A<br />Type=Original OEM processor<br />FSB Mode=DDR<br />Type ID=0<br />CPU Clock=1323.68<br />L2 Cache Speed=1323.68 MHz<br />L2 Cache Speed=Full<br />CPU Family / Model / Stepping=6 / 4 / 4<br />L1 I-Cache=64 KB<br />L1 D-Cache=64 KB<br />L2 Cache=256 KB<br />RDMSR=00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000<br />MMX=Yes<br />MMX+=Yes<br />SSE=No<br />SSE2=No<br />SSE3=No<br />SSE4A=No<br />3DNow!=Yes<br />3DNow!+=Yes<br />DualCore=No<br />HyperThreading=No<br />AMD64=No<br />NX=No<br />VT=No<br />PowerNow!=No<br />LongHaul=No<br />LongRun=No<br />Architecture=x86<br /><br />Video:<br />AdapterCompatibility=NVIDIA<br />AdapterDACType=Integrated RAMDAC<br />AdapterRAM=128 MBytes<br />Availability=3<br />Caption=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200<br />ConfigManagerErrorCode=0<br />ConfigManagerUserConfig=false<br />CurrentBitsPerPixel=32<br />CurrentHorizontalResolution=1280<br />CurrentNumberOfColors=4294967296<br />CurrentNumberOfColumns=0<br />CurrentNumberOfRows=0<br />CurrentRefreshRate=60<br />CurrentScanMode=4<br />CurrentVerticalResolution=1024<br />Description=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200<br />DeviceID=VideoController1<br />DeviceSpecificPens=-1<br />DriverDate=20060309212900.000000-000<br />DriverVersion=6.14.10.8421<br />InfFilename=oem6.inf<br />InfSection=nv4_NV3x<br />InstalledDisplayDrivers=nv4_disp.dll<br />MaxRefreshRate=75<br />MinRefreshRate=60<br />Monochrome=false<br />Name=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200<br />NumberOfColorPlanes=1<br />PNPDeviceID=PCI\VEN_10DEDEV_0322SUBSYS_91101462REV_A1\49AEDED500008<br />Status=OK<br />VideoArchitecture=5<br />VideoMemoryType=2<br />VideoModeDescription=1280 x 1024 x 4294967296 colors<br />VideoProcessor=GeForce FX 5200<br />BitsPerPel=32<br />DeviceName=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200<br />DisplayFlags=0<br />DisplayFrequency=60<br />LogPixels=96<br />PelsHeight=1024<br />PelsWidth=1280<br />SettingID=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200<br />SpecificationVersion=1025<br />BitsPerPixel=32<br />ColorPlanes=1<br />DeviceEntriesInAColorTable=-1<br />HorizontalResolution=1280<br />RefreshRate=60<br />VerticalResolution=1024<br />VideoMode=1280 by 1024 pixels, True Color, 60 Hertz<br />Video Bios Version=Version 4.34.20.22.00 <br />Video Bios Date=04/28/03<br />Name=GeForce FX 5200<br />Chip Type=GeForce FX 5200<br />DAC Type=Integrated RAMDAC<br />Memory=128 MBytes<br /><br />BIOS:<br />BIOS Version=ASUS   - 30303031, Award Medallion BIOS v6.0, Award Plug and Play BIOS Extension v1.0A, Award Modular BIOS v6.0<br />BIOS Date=04/23/02<br />BIOS Web Page=http://www.award.com<br />BIOS Vendor=Award Software, Inc.<br />Version=ASUS A7V-133 ACPI BIOS Revision 1009<br />Release=04/23/2002<br />BIOS Size=256 KB<br /><br />Memory:<br />Location=System board or motherboard<br />Maximum Capacity=1536 MBytes<br />Memory Slots=3<br />Error Correction=None<br />Use=System memory<br />Maximum Memory Module Size=1024 MBytes<br />Device Set=DIMM 1<br />Device Locator=DIMM 1<br />Capacity=256 MBytes<br />Memory Type=Synchronous DRAM<br />Data Width=64 bits<br />Form Factor=DIMM<br />Total Width=72 bits<br />Device Locator=DIMM 2<br />Capacity=256 MBytes<br />Memory Type=Synchronous DRAM<br />Data Width=64 bits<br />Form Factor=DIMM<br />Total Width=72 bits<br />Device Locator=DIMM 3<br />Capacity=512 MBytes<br />Memory Type=Synchronous DRAM<br />Data Width=64 bits<br />Form Factor=DIMM<br />Total Width=72 bits