First, let me say that I LOVE PDFCreator and use it on a regular basis. It has been very useful to me for several years, now. I’ve even installed it on my friends’ computers for them.
My problem: I had PDFCreator 1.6.2 installed and working on my XP machine just fine. Then I changed the settings of the program to change a Word .doc to a jpeg. It did the job. But when I changed the settings back to create .pdf files again, the program quite working. It would not save the file. It went through some motions to “make” it but it never saved it.
I tried looking on the net to find a solution. No luck! I tried looking in these forums…still no luck!
So, I uninstalled the program, cleaned all left over files from Windows and the Registry manually. Re-installed the program. …Same results. The program went through some motions and then refused to save the file. After that, I went through the uninstall/re-install routine a few more times with each time resulting the same way as the original installation.
The last time I re-installed, I rolled back to 1.5.0. to see what would happen. This time the program refused to install in Printers and Faxes so it could be the Default Printer as was the case with all previous installations. The installation process seemed to finish, but notified me that it was with errors. So I uninstalled and cleaned up after that installation.
This computer is now devoid of any version of PDFCreator installed on it at all. This computer does not have a hardware printer installed on it, either and never has.
Now, what am I going to have to do to get this program to work again?..Or can I? Am I going to have to find a different software to do the same job?–I don’t really want to do that if I don’t have to.
Thank you, in advance for any solutions you can come up with for me to get this working again.
OK, I’m a complete newb here. There is supposed to be a Comment to my question but when I try to find it, I can’t. So what’s up?
EDIT: OK, I have a better feel for the board, now. I can only guess that someone commented and then deleted their comment?
Hi,
Hi Robin,
Thank you for your response. I’ve installed the latest version (1.6.2.) of PDFCreator as you’ve instructed. Because I’ve found no way to send the logs that you asked for directly by e-mail to you, they are posted below. I noticed in the setup log that it has found the older version that was installed before. I would very much like to know how that happened. I did use Revouninstaller to uninstall it and then I did a Search to make sure all orphaned folders and files were gone and then I manually went through the registry to do the same there. I used “PDFCreator”, “PDF Creator” and “pdfforge” as my search terms in both places. What did I miss?
Here are those Logs:
----- Setup - Start: 2013-03-27 18:05:57 -----
Install PDFCreator: 1.6.2
InstallerDirectory: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Desktop
X64: no
Start AnalyzeCommandlineParameters
Parameter /VERYSILENT: false
Parameter /SILENT: false
Parameter /FORCEINSTALL: false
Parameter /REMOVEOPTIONS: false
Parameter /DONTINSTALLPRINTERS: false
Parameter /EXPERT: false
No Parameter /LoadInf
No Parameter /SaveInf
No Parameter /REGFile
No Parameter /PPDFile
No Parameter /Printername
End AnalyzeCommandlineParameters
WindowsVersionNumber: 5.1.2600
Silent installation: false
GUITS (7000, 50): 141
Update: 0
Installed PDFCreator version: 0.0.0
Installed PDFCreator version is lower 1.5.1 = true
nationCode: 244
InstallPDFCreatorPrinter = true
OS: 1
AppPath: C:\Program Files\PDFCreator
InstalledPDFCreatorVersion: Not installed
DontInstallPrinters: false
SPT: false
Printerstatus before installing:
Spooler service: is running
Printermonitors [2]:
Standard TCP/IP Port
Local Port
Printerports [8]:
COM1:
COM2:
COM3:
COM4:
FILE:
LPT1:
LPT2:
LPT3:
Printerdrivers (Windows 4.0) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows NT x86) [1]:
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver
Printerdrivers (Windows x64) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows IA64) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows NT Alpha_AXP) [0]:
Printers [1]:
Fax
Printerdriver-Directory (Environment: Windows 4.0):
Result: Success = C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\WIN40
Printerdriver-Directory (Environment: Windows NT x86):
Result: Success = C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86
Install printerport:
Portname : pdfcmon
Result: Success
InstallMonitor:
Monitorname : pdfcmon
Environment : Windows NT x86
Result: Success
Install printerdriver for Win2kXP2k3 (32bit):
Drivername : PDFCreator
Environment : Windows NT x86
Result: Success
InstallPrinter:
Printername: PDFCreator
Drivername : PDFCreator
Portname : pdfcmon
Result: Success
Printerstatus after installing:
Spooler service: is running
Printermonitors [3]:
pdfcmon
Standard TCP/IP Port
Local Port
Printerports [9]:
pdfcmon
COM1:
COM2:
COM3:
COM4:
FILE:
LPT1:
LPT2:
LPT3:
Printerdrivers (Windows 4.0) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows NT x86) [2]:
PDFCreator
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver
Printerdrivers (Windows x64) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows IA64) [0]:
Printerdrivers (Windows NT Alpha_AXP) [0]:
Printers [2]:
PDFCreator
Fax
Installation “PDF Architect”: Success
IC:1|1.6.2|0|en|b6
— Systeminformation - Start —
Windowsversion: 5.01.2600
WinDir: C:\WINDOWS
Win64: false
ProcessorArchitecture: X86
.Net 2.0: false
SystemDir: C:\WINDOWS\system32
TempDir: C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\
CurrentDir: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Computername: COMPAQ_OWNER
Username: Compaq_Owner
UILanguage: 1033
Internet Explorer version: 6.0.2900.2180
Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Wbem\framedyn.dll: found
framedyn.dll: found in path
— Systeminformation - End —
— Environment - Start —
=::=::\
ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
CLIENTNAME=Console
CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=COMPAQ_OWNER
ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner
LOGONSERVER=\\COMPAQ_OWNER
MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH=C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\plugins\
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
OS=Windows_NT
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
SESSIONNAME=Console
SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
SystemDrive=C:
SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
USERDOMAIN=COMPAQ_OWNER
USERNAME=Compaq_Owner
USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner
windir=C:\WINDOWS
— Environment - End —
----- Setup - End: 2013-03-27 18:07:05 -----
The second log you asked for is next. As you can see, I did several tries all with the exact same results as I originally described in my post on March 23. The very last try was with PDFCreator selected as the Default Printer in Printers and Faxes under the Control Panel.
3/27/2013 6:07:59 PM: PDFCreator Program End
3/27/2013 6:08:02 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:08:02 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:08:02 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:08:02 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:08:02 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
3/27/2013 6:10:05 PM: PDFCreator Program End
3/27/2013 6:10:49 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:10:49 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:10:49 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:10:49 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:10:49 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
3/27/2013 6:11:12 PM: PDFCreator Program End
3/27/2013 6:11:16 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:11:16 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:11:16 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:11:16 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:11:16 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
3/27/2013 6:11:59 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:11:59 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:11:59 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:11:59 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:11:59 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
3/27/2013 6:12:33 PM: PDFCreator Program End
3/27/2013 6:12:37 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:12:37 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:12:37 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:12:37 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:12:37 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
3/27/2013 6:13:38 PM: PDFCreator Program Start
3/27/2013 6:13:38 PM: Windowsversion: Windows XP 5.1 Build 2600 (Service Pack 2) [TerminalServer WinXP WinXPHomeEdition WinXPSP2 IsWinXPPlus IsWinXPHomeEdition]
3/27/2013 6:13:38 PM: InstalledAsServer: False
3/27/2013 6:13:38 PM: MyAppData: C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\Application Data
3/27/2013 6:13:38 PM: PDFCreator spool directory (Write access: true): C:\DOCUME~1\COMPAQ~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\PDFCreator\Spool\
Hi,
Hi Robin,
So sorry it’s taken me so very long to get back to you. Life around here has gotten a bit out of hand lately. I just haven’t had time to do much on the computer until now.
I have 3 different CurrentControlSets in my registry. CurrentControlSet, CurrentControlSet001, and CurrentControlSet002. …Control\Print\Monitors\pdfcmon is in 001 and 002. Beyond that I can not find “DWORD” or “name : Logging value” or anything like that. They just simply do not exist or I don’t know how to find them. AND %Windir%\Temp\_pdfcmonLog.txt. is looong gone. You see, I run CCleaner every night before I shut down and have it set to get rid of any and all files that I don’t think are needed. I guess I need to re-think doing that, eh?
To top it all off, my computer just lost its NTLDR.DLL this morning. I now have to use a “rescue disk” to be able to boot the thing up to be able to do ANYTHING with it …including writing this answer to you.
So, because I haven’t been able to find anywhere on the net that explains how and/or why NTLDR.DLL goes missing nor how to just replace the thing and go on computing , I am going to have to back up what few files I actually keep on the thing, do a complete destructive OS re-install, de-crapify the thing of all unwanted/obsolete programs (which takes the longest) and rebuild my software the way that I want it instead of the way that HP wants it. This usually takes me right at about a week to two weeks before I get the thing back to where it was before any kind of trouble hits that requires an OS re-install. So you won’t see me here for at least that length of time. [This isn’t the first time I’ve ran into a NTLDR.DLL is missing problem with computers. A couple of
friends of mine had the same thing happen and I had to OS re-installs for them, too. This is why I already have that very useful “rescue disk” on hand.]
I don’t know if the thing (whatever that was) that led the NTLDR to go missing is what lead up to the problem with PDFCreator or if it was the other way around or what. But I’m hoping that with a fresh OS re-install with a fresh install of PDFCreator will fix the issues that were causing the current problem that we are working on here.
In a way, having to do an OS re-install may be a blessing in disguise? But, it does mean that we will never be able to find out what the exact problem was. That may have been rather interesting. I will let you know how a fresh install of PDFCreator does when I finally get this thing back to
where it was before all the trouble started and able to be put on line
again.
Thank you so very much, again, for trying to help me.
Hi,