Links in PDF no longer work after optimizing file

Question

Hi,
I created a PDF file that is about 5.50 MB that needs to be reduced in size.  This PDF file was orginally created in Microsoft Word
with a linkable Table of Contents and links inside the document to websites. 
When I create a PDF from this Word file in Adobe Acrobat X Pro, the links work as they should.  However, the file size is too big for reasons I won't get into.
I read that a trick to reducing the file size is to try have Adobe try to print the newly created PDF document (by going to file -> print -> and clicking 'OK,' even though my computer is not connected to a printer).  After Adobe tries to print the entire document, I click 'save as,' and sure enough, it successfully reduces the file size from about 5.50 MB to about 3.80MB without losing any quality.  That solved my problem of the file size, but for some bizarre reason, it created a new problem with the PDF document.
For some reason, after I shrink the PDF file size by printing the file, the linkable Table of Contents and the http links throughout the document no longer work in Adobe Reader or even in Adobe Acrobat X Pro, which created the PDF.  The links in the PDF document still appear as links, but when the 'hand' hovers over them, it doesn't change to an arrow.  And when you try to click them, nothing happens.
Why is this?  Is there some setting in 'Print PDF document' that is causing the links to be disabled?  How do I get the PDF links to work as they normally do?
I haven't changed any of the default settings in the PDF printer.  When the print box pops up, I just click 'OK.'  It then tries to print the entire PDF document and then when it is completed, I just save as.  Not sure what it would then disable the links.
Thanks.
BTW, I have tried the optimizing feature to reduce the PDF file size, and it ruins the quality of this document.  The print PDF file trick works like a charm except for it disabling the links.  I'd like to figure out why it is doing this and that would solve the problem.

Answer 1

Actually on Mac two forms will transfer
URL written as http://www.jqSmith_anywhere.usa
mailto:[email protected]
and Only if you go through File Menu > Print> Pdf> Adobe PDF
or save document and Drop on The Acrobat application icon in the Dock. (doing this way though you have to wait possibly several minutes.)
And only only with acrobat X and XI.
The issue is when in Word you have higlighted a word, Pphrase or sentence the gone to Insert menu > URL the type in URL or Mailto. Then saved. This is a Minor issue that adode fixed if adobe desired to. It has taken adobe 15 years just fix so you could type in URL and mailto directly. It will likely tthem another 15 to get the other way fixed. They would rather Blame Microsoft and Apple.  rather than hunker down and fix the problem. Thevisual part or vdeo is based on PDF standard Adobe re;ease to general Public whenactobat first came out anew features emerge. And The code for Making Links is identical in both the Windows version and the Mac version. a saved version of the PDF on Mac when opend by the PDF shows the links. If Opened in Apple's Pages just opened the links are there. If doing nothing to the pages file and its exported back to Word (or Excel if its an excel file) the made a PDF. all types of links will be hot. If the File from Pages, or exporte to any of the OpenOffice version and aDF is created the PDF works. So iApple is taken out of the equation.  its squarely between MS and Adobe. And Adobe gets along with no one. They are arogant and an island to themselves, cooperating with no one.