QuickBooks Stuck On Installing ABS PDF Driver? Fix It Now

When installing QuickBooks Desktop on your computer, sometimes, you might experience unexpected issues such as the program freezing or stopping to respond. More often than not, you are likely to find the QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver screen. Here is what the window might look like:

The ABS PDF Driver is an important component that must be installed as QuickBooks requires it to print transactions. If you are stuck installing the ABS PDF Driver screen, this could be because of an issue with the system or network connection. Fortunately, you can resolve this problem very easily using proven techniques. 

Let’s quickly explore this article to understand all the factors behind this issue and learn different troubleshooting fixes for it.

Common Errors Related to ABS PDF Driver in QuickBooks

Whenever you find QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver, you are likely to see the following error codes on the screen. Sometimes, you might find these error codes in the log file present in the temp folder available on your computer. 

To correctly troubleshoot ABS PDF driver installation issues in QuickBooks, you must learn about different factors that can trigger them. Let’s scroll down to the next section for that.

Reasons Behind Stuck QB When Installing ABS PDF Driver 

Here are the points that explain why you might find QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver: 

• QuickBooks may not have the required permissions or storage required to be installed on the computer. 
• The crucial Windows and Microsoft components such as Microsoft MSXML, Windows Installer, or .NET Framework could be missing or damaged. It is possible that you might have accidentally switched off these components. 
• Windows Firewall and antivirus software might interfere with the installation of QuickBooks Desktop on your system. 
• A slow and inconsistent Internet connection can prevent you from downloading QB components. 
• The OCX files required by ABS PDF Driver might be missing or damaged.
• Corruption in different system files and folders might trigger issues when downloading & installing QB Desktop components. 
• Various programs running in the background might consume system resources, leading to different error codes. 
• You might not have updated Windows, and thus, it may have become incompatible with QuickBooks. 

Now that we know several reasons behind this installation issue, let’s move to the next section to discover some hacks to resolve it.

Easy Fixes to Try for ABS PDF Driver Issues in QuickBooks

Here’s the table that illustrates proven solutions that you can use when you find the QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver. Explore the entire table and make sure that you can install QB Desktop correctly. 

Let’s now jump to the following section to find out comprehensive methods to resolve this problem. 

QuickBooks Stuck On Installing ABS PDF Driver? 12 Hacks to Resolve That

Here are detailed solutions that you should use whenever you find QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver. Ensure that you utilize these solutions in the exact order as stated below. 

1. Manually Run the ABS PDF Installer On Your Computer

To resolve the QuickBooks stuck installing ABS PDF Driver screen, you need to manually run the ABS PDF installer. Here’s how you can do so:

• First, download and install QB Tool Hub on your PC. Now, launch the QB Tool Hub by double-clicking its icon on the Windows Desktop.

• Navigate to the tab for Program Problems. 
• Click on Quick Fix my Program.
• Open the Start menu, type in Run, and hit Enter. Select Run to open it.
• In the run window, enter %TEMP% and select OK.

• Click on the Temp folder.
• Find the folder named Prx_usXXrX or Enterprise_usXXrX.

Remember: Here, X in the folder name is your QuickBooks version, and r is for the release version. For instance, if you use QuickBooks Pro 2018 R7, the folder will show as Pro_us28r7.

• Go to the Third Party folder and click on ABS.
• When you see the ABSPDF412Setup file, double-click on it to run it. This will begin the installation.
• Finally, when done, open QB Desktop and register the license.

If you still discover that the QuickBooks is stuck on installing the ABS PDF driver, try the following resolution.

2. Utilize the QuickBooks PDF & Print Repair Tool 

Quite often, a damaged PDF reader can trigger QB stuck when installing the ABS PDF driver. You should use the QuickBooks PDF & Print Repair Tool to resolve PDF problems. Here’s how you can do so:

• Firstly, access QuickBooks Tool Hub and jump to the Program Problems menu.
• Tap the QuickBooks PDF & Print Repair Tool icon and allow the tool to run

• Once the tool has finished its execution, close the QuickBooks Tool Hub window.
• Finally, reopen your computer and try installing QuickBooks Desktop once again.

If you still fail to install QB Desktop due to a stuck ABS PDF driver, consider checking your Internet connection speed as described below.

3. Check Your Internet Connection Speed 

The slow Internet connection can hinder you from downloading and installing QuickBooks Desktop. In general, you should maintain at least 10 Mbps Internet speed when installing QuickBooks. Here are two ways to find out the existing Internet connection speed on your computer:

a. Use a Third-Party Website to Find the Internet Speed

You can utilize any third-party website, such as Internet Frog, to find out your current Internet connection speed. These websites often provide quite accurate assessments of your Internet speed along with other valuable information. 

b. Utilize the Network and Sharing Center in Windows to Check the Internet Speed

Here’s how you can find the current Internet speed using the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel:

• Click Start on Windows Desktop and search for ‘Network and Sharing Center.’
• Identify the Network and Sharing Center icon and click it.
• In the Control Panel window, go to the View Your Active Networks section.

• Tap Connections and find out the Internet speed via the Wi-Fi Status window.

If you notice that your Internet speed is slow, try changing your Internet service provider. When you have a high speed Internet connection, consider installing QB Desktop. If you still face the ABS PDF driver stuck screen, you can download the latest Windows updates, as discussed below.

4. Download & Install Windows Updates

Outdated Windows on your computer can stop the installation of QB Desktop. As a result, you might see QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver. Hence, you should install Windows updates to resolve this issue.

If, however, you continue to notice QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver, consider enabling the Microsoft .NET Framework as outlined below.

5. Turn On the Microsoft .NET Framework Component

You are likely to find the QuickBooks application stuck when installing the ABS PDF driver if the Microsoft .NET Framework component is turned off. It is necessary to ensure that the .NET Framework component remains functional when you install QB Desktop. Here’s what you need to do:

• Firstly, access the Start menu on Windows Desktop and tap the Control Panel icon.
• Move to the Control Panel and choose Programs and Features.
• Click Uninstall a Program and open the full program list by clicking Turn Windows Features On or Off.

• Find .NET Framework 4.5 and mark its checkbox if it is unmarked. However, if you find that the checkbox is already marked, you need to clear it.
• Tap OK and restart your computer. After that, switch on the .NET Framework 4.5 by marking its checkbox. 
• Repeat all the previous steps to repair .NET Framework 3.5SP1, 4.6, 4.7, and 4.8.
• Finally, you can install QB Desktop on your computer easily & effectively. 

Do you still notice the QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver? If that’s the case, consider fixing Microsoft MSXML as described below.

6. Repair the Microsoft MSXML Component If You Find the QuickBooks Stuck On Installing ABS PDF Driver

‘The Microsoft MSXML component helps QuickBooks Desktop read XML-based files and apps. Moreover, it handles data transfer processes for QB Desktop using different programs. If this component is damaged, you are likely to notice a stuck ABS PDF driver when installing QuickBooks. Here’s how to fix this component:

• First & foremost, open the Start menu and type CMD in the search box. 
• Now, right-click the Command Prompt icon and select the Run as Administrator option.
• At this point, move to the Command Prompt window and type the following command: cd\windows\syswow64 

Note: If you use a 32-bit system, you don’t have to type the command described above. 

• You also need to type the following command: regsvr32 MSXML6.dll
• Hit Enter and allow the commands to execute on your computer.
• Once the commands are run, you can reopen your computer. After that, you can install QuickBooks Desktop successfully. 

Is QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver? If so, try the next solution.

7. Perform Disk Cleanup On Your Computer

Having unnecessary files on your computer can trigger problems when downloading and installing QuickBooks Desktop. As a result, you are likely to notice QuickBooks stuck when installing the ABS PDF driver. You need to erase temporary files to fix this issue. Here are the steps that you should follow:

• Firstly, open the Windows Start menu, and after that, search for ‘Disk Cleanup’ in the search box.

• Identify the Disk Cleanup icon and click it. After that, select the C: drive in the ‘Disk Cleanup : Drive Selection’ window.
• Tap OK, and after that, immediately jump to the ‘Disk Cleanup for Windows (C:)’ window.

• Mark the various options to select different files that you want to erase. Once done, tap the Clean Up System Files button.
• Wait until all the selected files are erased. After that, reopen your computer and start the QB installation once again.

If, however, you continue to experience failure when installing the QuickBooks ABS PDF driver, try stopping various programs running in the background, as detailed below.

8. Stop All Programs Running in the Background

You might fail to install the ABS PDF driver if various programs are running in the background. These programs can interfere with the QB Desktop installation, resulting in the ABS PDF driver issues. To resolve this problem, you should ensure that no application runs in the background when you start the QB installation. Here’s what to do:

• Firstly, press the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys to open up the Task Manager on the screen.
• In the Task Manager window, select the Processes tab, and after that, identify various apps that are currently running.

• At this point, select different programs and tap the End Task button.
• Once done, close the Task Manager window and install QB Desktop once again.

Do you still notice the QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver? If so, consider disabling the UAC feature, as discussed below.

9. Switch Off the User Account Control (UAC) Feature

The User Account Control (UAC) facility can effectively block the ABS PDF driver when you attempt to install QuickBooks. To fix this issue, you should temporarily turn off the UAC feature on your system. Here’s how you can do so:

• Firstly, press Windows + R and open up the Run window on the screen.

• Type Control Panel in the Run window, and after that, tap OK.
• In the Control Panel window, move to User Accounts, and after that, select User Accounts (Classic View).

• Click Change User Account Control Settings and shift the slider to Never Notify. 
• At this point, tap OK to switch off the UAC feature.

Now, restart your computer and check if you can install QB Desktop. If you still get the ABS PDF driver stuck issue, follow the next troubleshooting method.

10. Disable Windows Firewall When Installing QuickBooks

Windows Firewall can interfere with the QB installation process. Consequently, you might see the QB application stuck when installing the ABS PDF driver. To resolve this issue, you need to disable Windows Firewall on your system. Once done, you can successfully download & install QB Desktop on your computer. 

If you find that QuickBooks cannot install ABS PDF driver even after turning off Windows Firewall, consider disabling your antivirus app as discussed below.

11. Turn Off Your Antivirus Software On the System

The antivirus software installed on your computer can mistakenly identify QB Desktop installation as a potential threat. As a result, it might block the QB Desktop installation on your computer. To fix this issue, open your antivirus program and disable the real-time protection feature.

Once done, try installing QB once again. If you still notice the ABS PDF driver stuck on the screen, try running System File Checker as described below. 

Read More: Create QuickBooks Antivirus Exclusions

12. Run the System File Checker Tool On Your Computer

 Corrupted Windows system files can quickly hinder the QB Desktop installation on your system. To repair all these files, you can use the System File Checker tool. Here’s how you need to do so: 

• Firstly, you have to press Windows + X on your keyboard to open up the Start menu.
• Now, tap the Command Prompt (Admin) option to launch the Command Prompt in admin mode.
• At this point, you need to type the following command in the Command Prompt: sfc/scannow

• Tap Enter to execute the command. Once done, you can reboot your computer immediately.

Finally, you can install QuickBooks Desktop on your system without facing any challenges.

Summing Up 

In this extensive article, we showed you what you need to do when you find the QuickBooks stuck on installing ABS PDF driver. Hopefully, you can now install QB Desktop on your system effortlessly. If, however, you continue to encounter difficult problems or have a query, you can immediately contact an experienced QB professional for real-time support. 

Common Queries Related to QB Desktop Installation Issues

Gabby Taylor

Gabby Taylor, combines financial expertise with literary prowess. With over a decade in finance, she crafts insightful narratives on navigating fiscal complexities