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When trying to view a pdf file, an error comes up stating "Windows needs to install MS Windows Journal. All the other PC's in the group have the same configuration but this is the only one that is coming up with errors. Can anyone help?

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A short follow-up that builds on ’s quick help and ’s confirmation that the problem was fixed. When one machine in a group starts asking for the Journal component while the others do not, the underlying issue is almost always how Windows is trying to open the file. The steps below show safe diagnostics and fixes that avoid repeatedly reinstalling components.

From a command prompt you can inspect and repair the association without using the GUI. This shows what Windows currently maps .pdf to and what program command is used to open it:

assoc .pdf
ftype <filetype-returned-by-assoc>

If the returned filetype does not point to your PDF reader, set it (replace the executable path with the actual path on your PC):

assoc .pdf=AcroExch.Document
ftype AcroExch.Document="C:\Path\To\AcroRd32.exe" "%1"

If you prefer the registry route, export and compare these keys between a working PC and the problem PC, then import only after backing up: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pdf and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\<YourPdfFileType>\shell\open\command. Always Export the key first (File → Export). Importing a trusted .reg file is faster than hand-editing values.

Easier, safer first steps: run the PDF reader installer and choose Repair (it restores the correct commands), and enable visible extensions (Folder Options → View → uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”) so you can confirm the file really is .pdf. Create a system restore point or export the registry before making changes.

Use the command/registry edits only if comfortable. If the machine legitimately needs Tablet/Journal files, install that component; otherwise restoring the PDF association or repairing the reader is the most reliable long-term fix. Thanks to for moving the topic.

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Member Avatar for JC7

Hi,

MS Windows Journal is a program used on XP Tablet PC Edition.
If the file you are trying to open was created in this program and you are trying to open it through regular XP-pro or XP-home you will need the following download:

If the file you are trying to open was not created in MS Windows Journal, try right-clicking the pdf file (or any pdf file on that PC), selecting Properties and changing the "Opens with" configuration to tell windows to use Adobe acrobat or other pdf viewer installed on the PC for opening pdf files.

commented: Good advice! -- dlh +1
Member Avatar for Catweazle

I'll move this to 'Windows Software', as it has to do with software programs rather than Windows itself. Great answer, by the way, JC7 :)

Member Avatar for jg1154

Thank you for the suggestion. It worked.

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