I just discovered that if I start Frame, exit, and startup again, I get multiple instances of FrameMaker.exe.

Jeff: These look like "unreleased processes," don't they? This is in the Processes tab of the Task Manager. Something isn't right here; I wish I knew what.

In case this is helpful to anyone else, here is what I've learned. This is after many hours of troubleshooting and two calls (one a chat) to Adobe Support. I'll try to be concise.

First problem: Frame would not start. I could see FrameMaker.exe as a process in the task manager, but absolutely nothing on the screen. After quite a bit of investigation, the Adobe tech told me this is a problem with the Adobe licensing system. So we renamed a licensing folder. Now I can see Frame. I thought everything was fine.

Second problem: I notice if I start and close Frame, it's still running in the Task Manager (as shown in a previous post). If I start and close 3 times, I'll have 3 Frame processes running. The second Adobe tech checks many things (remotely) and tells me this is a result of the previous licensing fix (my first problem). Acrobat does the same thing--leaves one or multiple processes running after it's closed. The tech said this won't cause any problem and that I can ignore it. (It's true that Frame seems to work fine now.) But isn't this using/wasting memory I asked? No, because it's running "in the background." However, Task Manager says these processes are using memory. Also, I can't delete a folder that contains the Frame doc I last used. A message says it's being used. So I'm thinking the process is not letting go. But even after I end the process I can't delete this folder.

I agree with what Russ said above, "This is definitely not right." It seems there should be a better solution.

It seems this is all a result of a broken licensing system, and I am left with two Adobe applications that aren't behaving as they should. BTW, before I called Adobe the first time I ran an Adobe utility for "license recovery," but this did not fix the first problem (i.e, that Frame did not appear).

Oh, yes. Our company has lots of security software running.

That could certainly be correct. However, there are five of us in our group with the same computers and software, including company security software, but I'm the only one with this problem.

Update:

Adobe was trying to help me with this problem, but I think they've given up. The Adobe Support Portal says my case is still open, but they haven't responded for about 3 weeks now.

Each day after using (and exiting) Frame and Acrobat I have to manually close the Frame and Acrobat processes. One Adobe tech said I could ignore them, but I don't think that's wise because multiple Frame and Acrobat processes will accumulate, and Task Manager says each one is using memory.

Thank you to forum members for your suggestions. It doesn't appear that others have had this problem or that anyone really knows a solution. It does seem likely that this is or is related to a Frame and Acrobat licensing problem. 

I just tried this--another user logged on and started Frame and Acrobat, then exited. Both processes persisted. So this seems to indicate the problem is not my user account.

(It's Win XP.)

Jeff,

I had fresh installed FrameMaker about 2 weeks ago, shortly after this mess started. Since Adobe told me this was an Adobe licensing problem, last week I uninstalled Frame AND Acrobat AND everything with Adobe in its name. Unfornately Acrobat would not uninstall through Add/Remove Programs or with the CD. So I had to manually uninstall it. The Adobe Tech told me to use the instructions for manual uninstall of Reader 8. I have Acrobat Pro 9. He said there are no manual uninstall instructions for Acrobat Pro 9. Should anyone be surprised that these instructions did not apply very well? I got Frame and Acrobat installed again. I still have processes that run when you close Frame or Acrobat.

Now I have Distiller doing the same thing. If I create a PDF through Frame (Save As PDF), Distiller shows in the Task Bar, but you can't open it. I can't create another PDF unless I kill Distiller first.

I think I will have to ask IT to re-image my computer. I hate to do this because it will mean at least 1 day of lost work, but I see no good alternative.

Thanks for your help, Jeff.