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Adobe Acrobat: The Organizer Database is damaged and will be reset... How to Fix It

After a crash, you receive an error message:

The Organizer Database is damaged and will be reset…

So what went wrong, and how can you fix an error like this? Adobe Acrobat 8 sometimes returns an error message, “The Organizer database is damaged and will be reset the next time Acrobat is launched. Quit the application and close any currently open web browsers.” This error can occur when you open Acrobat, when you quit Acrobat, when you open or close a PDF file, or when Acrobat unexpectedly quits; and it recurs even if you relaunch Acrobat. Following your normal error recover pattern does not seem to solve the issue, and it seems to occur repeatedly as if to taunt you.

Solution: Recreate the organizer folder.

This error occurs when an Organizer data file is damaged. Delete the organizer folder, which contains the Organizer data files, to force Acrobat to create new, undamaged replacement files.

To delete organizer on Mac OS:

  1. Quit Acrobat.
  2. In the Finder, choose Go > Home.
  3. In your Home folder, open the Library folder.
  4. In the Library folder, open the Acrobat User Data folder.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • If you are using a PowerPC-based Macintosh computer, then open the 8.0_ppc folder.
    • If you are using an Intel-based Macintosh computer, then open the 8.0_x86 folder.
  6. Move organizer to the Trash.
  7. Restart the computer.
  8. Open Acrobat.

To delete organizer on Windows:

Note: These instructions require that you locate hidden folders. By default, Windows Explorer doesn’t show hidden folders. To make hidden folders visible, see “Show hidden files and folders (Windows XP, Vista)”

  1. Close Acrobat.
  2. In the Windows Explorer, navigate to one of these folders:
    • Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\[your user name]\Application Data\Adobe\Acrobat\8.0
    • Windows Vista: C:\Users\[your user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\8.0
  3. Delete organizer.
  4. Restart the computer.
  5. Open Acrobat.

91 comments to Adobe Acrobat: The Organizer Database is damaged and will be reset… How to Fix It

  • Twilight Renegade

    Do people really look at the organizer database? Its just something that’s deep inside the material files. yes, this works for windows computers with an organizer database issue. YES, this organizer database is damaged and will be rest… and It can be solved this way for Mac users very very easily. So what about linux?

  • Black 46

    Keep it up!Keep building a following that actually follows. I’m jealous

  • Dorris Lofts

    Im using my iphone and I seem to be able to open the page correctly. what a bunch of whiners you have out there…

  • Tyson Roses

    what is this! are you kiddin me!

  • Free Mac! Mac Go Braugh!

    This blog look’s awesome and the information is dead on! I am sure glad I came across yours because I was just about to give up on mine!

  • cheap punk

    Will you come do a guest blog on my site? I really need som help, and you’re getting like 30+ responses to your blog entries…

  • Cheap Health Destroyer!

    HELP! The adobe acrobat organizer database is damaged and will be reset. Please quit all open adobe programs and internet programs!

  • Stefan Wilmott

    I hadn’t been using my rss reader for a while and I have a huge backlog of stuff to catch up on. glad to have taken the time to catch up on your blog though. Cheers.

  • acne man: AKA Milan Cerutti

    When my Adobe Acrobat Organizer Database crashed and will be reset, I was overcome with horror. It was like trying to count all of my Bacne in the mirror. Horrible and overpowering.

  • affordable web design

    As a web disigner I can say that your site was pretty interesting.Thanks for the insights, and by the way, When I look at the source code for your homepage, I can’t really figure it out. Does that make me as dim as I feel.

  • Dia Ianacone

    Great Post very thought provoking, many thanks! Ok, not really, but I did solve the adobe acrobat organizer database issue that I had!

  • Don Hoe

    I wondered what kind of files the *ai were, and now I know. Thanks!

  • hm… Seems like you made a comment just fine… Just in case you happen to be spam, I have removed any links to your site anywhere. Good luck.

  • [name removed]

    Ok, so really, whats the big deal here? My database was damaged a while ago, but I seem to be able to use my program just fine. It having a damaged acrobat organizer database really all that dangerous?

  • Leif Inseur

    I had hoped that the database issue would just solve itself, but this helped a ton! Thanks!

  • Life Insurance

    Thanks for the help with my adobe acrobat organizer database. When I saw that the organizer dattabase had been damaged and will be reset, I was really, really bummed. Thanks a million!

  • Private De Fondler

    I just noticed that I signed my name “life insurance” Last time. While that’s what I do, its not reflective of my martial heritage.

  • viagra needed

    My Adobe Acrobat Organizer Database is about as limp as my… well, bottom line here, its limp.

  • Imogene Accurso

    Just did a Dig for this :)

  • 63644

    Organizer Database is Damaged and will be reset.Organizer Database is Damaged and will be reset.
    Organizer Database is Damaged and will be reset.
    Organizer Database is Damaged and will be reset.

    This was driving me absolutely crazy. So glad you helped me to get this thing fixed. I wish I had been able to find this about a week ago. That might’ve saved me a ton of heartache!

  • Barb Conners

    IS it bad enough that I have to hear about a damaged organizer database from adobe acrobat all day long, now I have to see in all your comments… cmon people!

  • Levira Eron

    Can I thank you enough for fixing this issue? My worries are over.

  • Cy Allenson

    This adobe acrobat problem is OFFICIALLY SOLVED!!!

  • [ fake robot name ]

    Hello. I wished to make you aware that some elements of your web site are difficult to comprehend for me, as I am color blind. I am a sufferrer of deuteranopia, but there are more varieties of color blindness that may also have difficulties. I will read the majority of the webpage Okay, and the areas I have problems with I am able to read by employing a custom browser. Just the same, it’d be cool if you would consider we color-blind folk when carrying out the next web site design. Many Thanks.

  • black jack

    Adobe Acrobat 9 Organizer database is damaged and will be reset. Please quit any open adobe programs and online programs. Yeesh, what a mess. Thanks for a thorough solution!

  • black jack online

    OK, now that I have my adobe acrobat 9 database un-damaged and reset, how can I turn this into a page-turning visual portfolio?

  • Small Ratings

    Look, my website ratings are totally in the can, and you seem to have 80 comments on this one piece about the adobe acrobat 9 organizer database is damaged and will be reset… how about you share the love, and let me post all your content verbatim on my website??

  • Adobe Lover

    So… doesn’t adobe have their own answer for this? Why am I on your site seeking an answer?

  • ok… uh no images on this page for you to worry about, so I’m gonna have to call you a robot. Sorry HAL, but you got caught, and summarily blacklisted. Next time, try harder.

  • Vin Modile

    So… What you say here is that I can quickly fix this problem… I’ve been struggling with this junk for 5 restarts… I should’ve started here!

  • Enoch Kirschenmann

    Hi I found this site by mistake when i was searching yahoo for this. Man, I need to solve this issue!

  • When I search for how to fix a damaged adobe acrobat organizer database, this answer was number 4. However, it solved my problem right the first time, while others did not… Thnaks

  • Cassy Asio

    Do you edit your comments? I have been leaving comments here every day with links to my site, but they either don’t get approved, or the links are removed. What gives? Are you really only interested in getting information on damaged acrobat databases out there?

  • Carrie Insurce

    When I saw that my adobe acrobat database had been damaged, I thought I was sunk. Thanks for helping a sistah out!

  • ShamWows

    Hey, This site is amazing! I had a damaged organizer database, but these instructions fixed it right up! Keep up the amazing posts. I just bookmarked it

  • MD

    Great read, well-written. The solution I think is that when visitors hover watch their mouse into your name and see that url directing to a blogger profile in their status bar, its more likely that they won’t actually click.

  • Porfirio Brockhaus

    If my adobe acrobat organizer database will be reset again, I’ll kill you.

  • James Kennie

    This stuff fixed my machine after restart. SWEET!

  • acomplia online

    So glad I found this solution. WE should move this answer up in google. Damaged Organizer database will be reset? not any more. Woo hoos!

  • slo games

    My organizer database was damaged and was going to be reset. THanks for the fix.

  • Everette Bucco

    I really like the fresh perpective you did on the issue. Really was not expecting that when I started off studying. Your concepts were easy to understand that I wondered why I never looked at it before. Glad to know that there’s an individual out there that definitely understands what he’s discussing. Great job

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