Acrord32 slows down computer, graps cpu time.

Question

Acrord32 slows computer, grabs cpu time.
Win XP Pro SP3, Acrobat 11.0.01.36.
(If this is not the correct forum, kindly direct me to where it should be re-posted.)
Every time the cursor floats over a .pdf file in any file manager, acrord32 slows down the computer, hangs the cursor, takes cpu time and makes scrolling jerky. The more .pdf’s in a list, the more jerky as acrord32 opens and closes, again and again. The cursor is not pausing over a .pdf file, no .pdf is being selected, Acrobat is not running. How can this be stopped? I DO NOT have Reader installed.
Acrotray and Acrord32 are NOT loaded in msconfig. They do not appear in task manager UNTIL the cursor floats over a .pdf. After a second or two, acrord32 disappears out of task manager. However, it is obviously lurking because it comes back next time the mouse encounters a .pdf.
Questions:
1) how to stop this behavior?
2) how do these exe/dll’s get loaded when they are not marked to start?
3) where does acrord32 “lurk,” and how can it be ferreted out?
This is very annoying.

Answer 1

AcroRd32 is related to Reader, so not sure why you have it if you do not have Reader installed. If no Acrobat product is running, the only process that should be running should be AcroTray that provides the process when printing to the Adobe PDF printer and should not be disabled. Be sure you check the processes list and not the applications. AcroRd32 runs in the background processes when it is running.
I checked on both AA9 and AA XI systems with Windows 7. Neither one had AcroRd32 running.  My guess is you have it installed, even if it does not appear to be.