Primo PDF does not work, it disappears

[Ted=T]

Folks,
PrimoPDF disappears after an attempt is made to convert a file either directly from an application or via an invocation of the program PrimoPDF.exe itself.

My system is WIN/XP SP3 with 3 Mb of RAM memory.

Yes, the prior version of PrimoPdf worked before the SP3 upgrade.

I’ve downloaded and installed the latest version of Primo PDF today (several times) after I encountered the problem earlier today.

Yes it is on the C: drive, though the prior version worked (before SP3) from an alternate drive.

This is a local desktop PC, not attached to a network.

Any ideas?


I click on Create PDF via PrimoPDF.exe or from Word via the printer option; and PrimoPdf terminates without even a hint of what went awry.

I see it in the Windows Task Manager when I use PrimoPDF.exe, but within seconds of the click it disappears.

The event viewer shows an error/warning event showing:
Printer Driver PrimoPDF for Windows NT x86 Version-3 was added or updated. Files:- pscript5.dll, ps5ui.dll, primopdf.ppd.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
and when I obtain an explanation I see:


Details
Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 3
Source: Print
Version: 5.0
Component: Application Event Log
Symbolic Name: MSG_PRINTER_DELETED
Message: Printer %1 was deleted.

Explanation
This printer was deleted from the network.
(Only the administrator of the print server can delete a printer.)

User Action
Contact your printer administrator or add another printer.

The above could be the deletion (uninstall) event.
= = = = = =

Thanks.

[Ted=T]

I went to the printer / fax control panel.

I paused PrimoPDF "printer".

I sent a word file to PrimoPDF.

The PrimoPDF printer panel showed the document as I had paused the printer.

Once released (unpaused), the document disappears; no doubt into the bit bucket.

This is very disconcerting as PrimoPDF does not function and I have not found an analogous anomaly herein.

[Ted=T]

My next test was to take a lengthy document and send it to PrimoPDF.

Then, I opened the printer panel for PrimoPDF to see the document and the status change from spooling to deleting, with no other action, e.g.: the PrimoPDF window did not pop up.

But, still no PDF.

Close but no kewpie doll.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

Any thoughts as the cause of this persistent failure to print.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

Yes, I have uninstalled and reinstalled it several times.

I use REVO Uninstaller.

Also, I do have a C:\WINDOWS\TEMP folder.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

Very weird!!

But no doubt the fix will be simple.

[Ted=T]

I activated logging.

I cannot locate the log file, but the spooling process ends/hangs with above message

[Ted=T]

Encountered:
PDF creation failed -18


But could not delete the document from the PrimoPDF panel in Control Panel >> Printer and Faxes.

I deleted and reinstalled PrimoPDF and now it has reverted to just not printing after spooling, without any error message.

Version = 4.0.2.5

[Ted=T]

I created a 230 page sample document to spool to PrimoPDF.

But, I did not see or find any log files.

Nothing appeared in: C:\Windows\Temp\

Nothing appeared in: C:\Program Files\activepdf\PrimoPDF\

And, I ran an "undelete" program against: C:\Windows\Temp\ It found nothing.

[Ted=T]

Creation error 18 has disappeared and it still does not function.

Here are all my updates from M/S:
Windows XP Silicon Image - Storage - Silicon Image's Pseudo Processor Device
Thursday, June 19, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB951376)
Thursday, June 19, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB951376)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB950762)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Cumulative Security Update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows XP (KB950760)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - June 2008 (KB890830)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB951698)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP (KB950759)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Office 2003 Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB951476)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Silicon Image - Storage - Silicon Image SiI 3114 SoftRaid 5 Controller
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Root Certificates Update
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Microsoft Update

Silverlight Update for Microsoft Silverlight 1.0 (KB951213)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Automatic Updates

Windows XP Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB936929)
Sunday, May 18, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - May 2008 (KB890830)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB950749)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Office 2007 Security Update for Microsoft Office system 2007 (KB951808)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Office 2003 Security Update for Microsoft Office Word 2003 (KB950241)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Office 2003 Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB950380)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Office 2003 Security Update for Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 (KB950213)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Microsoft Update

Windows XP Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool (KB892130)
Thursday, May 08, 2008 Microsoft Update

[Ted=T]

I reverted to version 3.2 (14 Mb download) and the behavior is identical.

The document spools and is deleted without opening the PrimoPDF panel.

[zack.schofield]

It may be a permissions issue on the directory you have the .PS file in.

Try granting full permissions on the directory you have the files you are trying to convert and it should allow the interface to display.

[emrr19]

My situation appears to be a lot like Ted=T's.

My PrimoPDF works fine for Excel and Web (just two things I tested it on), but fails in the same manner as Ted=T's for MS Word Office 97.

I have deinstalled and reinstalled PrimoPDF version 3 and reinstalled Word.

[emrr19]

Just did a RESTORE to point prior to SP3 install and it all works again!