Installing PDFCreator (Properly) On Windows 7
Monday 11th January, 2010 18:44 Comments: 0
I discovered a small problem when trying to sign a PDF file on Windows 7 using PDFCreator. It turns out that pdfforge (pdfforge.dll) hadn't been installed. I tried copying the dll across from SourceForge's SVN, but that was foolishly optimistic of me, as it seems that it relies on .NET Framework 1.1. being present. Windows 7 doesn't have it by default. To make matters worse, you can't install it on Windows 7 either. If you try, it fails. Microsoft fixed this in SP1, but you can't install .NET Framework 1.1. with SP1. Well, not unless you follow Saran's guide.
The trick is to slipstream SP1. I've done slipstreaming with drivers and service packs to operating systems in the past, but never with .NET Framework. To be honest I wish people wouldn't use 1.1, I'd much prefer they moved to 2.0 (or higher). Sadly sometimes you have to install such things:
1. Create a new folder named dotnet in C:\ drive.
2. Download Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Redistributable Package (dotnetfx.exe). Make sure the setup file is saved as dotnetfx.exe.
3. Download Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 (NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe). Rename the file to dotnetfxsp1.exe.
4. Copy both installation files into the same directory (i.e. C:\dotnet).
5. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
6. Change to the directory where the two installation files are stored (i.e. C:\dotnet).
7. Run the following bold commands one by one:
C:\dotnet>dotnetfx.exe /c:"msiexec.exe /a netfx.msi TARGETDIR=C:\dotnet"
Click on Yes and wait for this dialog which says installation complete.
C:\dotnet>dotnetfxsp1.exe /Xp:C:\dotnet\netfxsp.msp
C:\dotnet>msiexec.exe /a c:\dotnet\netfx.msi /p c:\dotnet\netfxsp.msp
Wait for the installer to disappear automatically.
8. Install Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 with slipstreamed Service Pack 1 by running netfx.msi from the working folder.
C:\dotnet>netfx.msi
After that, I reinstalled PDFCreator and the readme.txt in C:\Program Files\PDFCreator\PlugIns\pdfforge\ now says pdfforge was installed correctly. And I can now sign my PDF files again with PDFCreator!
Thanks Saran!
The trick is to slipstream SP1. I've done slipstreaming with drivers and service packs to operating systems in the past, but never with .NET Framework. To be honest I wish people wouldn't use 1.1, I'd much prefer they moved to 2.0 (or higher). Sadly sometimes you have to install such things:
1. Create a new folder named dotnet in C:\ drive.
2. Download Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Redistributable Package (dotnetfx.exe). Make sure the setup file is saved as dotnetfx.exe.
3. Download Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Service Pack 1 (NDP1.1sp1-KB867460-X86.exe). Rename the file to dotnetfxsp1.exe.
4. Copy both installation files into the same directory (i.e. C:\dotnet).
5. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
6. Change to the directory where the two installation files are stored (i.e. C:\dotnet).
7. Run the following bold commands one by one:
C:\dotnet>dotnetfx.exe /c:"msiexec.exe /a netfx.msi TARGETDIR=C:\dotnet"
Click on Yes and wait for this dialog which says installation complete.
C:\dotnet>dotnetfxsp1.exe /Xp:C:\dotnet\netfxsp.msp
C:\dotnet>msiexec.exe /a c:\dotnet\netfx.msi /p c:\dotnet\netfxsp.msp
Wait for the installer to disappear automatically.
8. Install Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 with slipstreamed Service Pack 1 by running netfx.msi from the working folder.
C:\dotnet>netfx.msi
After that, I reinstalled PDFCreator and the readme.txt in C:\Program Files\PDFCreator\PlugIns\pdfforge\ now says pdfforge was installed correctly. And I can now sign my PDF files again with PDFCreator!
Thanks Saran!