Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
It's not much to look at, but this program quickly and easily helps users convert files into PDF format, and comes at no cost.
PDFCreator has a very basic interface that won't win it any beauty contests. However, by keeping the visuals to a minimum, users will be able to quickly and easily navigate the program and get right to the task at hand. PDFCreator appears as a small, white, rectangular box with a thin strip of command icons along the top. Here you can print, look at options, navigate your files, and open new files. Below the strip is an open space that displays your selected file's name, size, and status.
After selecting a file for conversion, users are taken to another simple screen. This one asks users to create a file name, creation date, author, keyword and subject for the soon-to-be-created PDF. At the bottom of the screen are commands for saving the PDF or emailing it. The email option instantly adds the PDF as an attachment in your Outlook email.
We were impressed with the speed and ease we converted our files to PDF with PDFCreator. There may be more flashy conversion programs available, or ones that try to do more than this one, but for those just looking for an inexpensive and simple PDF converter, this one fits the bill nicely.
Publisher's Description
From Pdfforge:
PDFCreator is a tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application. With PDFCreator, you can create PDFs from any program that is able to print, encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened or printed, send generated files via e-mail, create more than just PDFs: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, and EPS, and autosave files to folders and filenames based on tags like username, computer name, date, and time, merge multiple files into one PDF. PDFCreator also runs on terminal servers without problems.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 144 votes
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Current version:
1.8 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"MALWARE WITHOUT OPT-OUT"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
None.
Why put yourself through trying to uninstall junk, and the junk installer itself OPENCANDY that can't easily be removed.Cons
I contacted PDFForge who stated that no malware is installed without express permission.
I tried it out, and it worked. You have to uncheck all the multiple boxes on one window, as there are nasties there. Then you get several windows each offering malware with an "Express" link (which will install it) and a "Custom" link (which then leads to options to proceed WITHOUT installing.) All fair and good.
This was a trial run while updating several items on my PC. I then restored the disc image taking me back to the same starting point to carry out the various jobs cleanly.
This time I got a page to install GROOVESHARK and MYFREEMUSIC. The "Express (recommended)" button was selected, and the "Custom" button was grayed out, ie not available. At the bottom "By clicking Next you agree to the etc etc...". So NO WAY TO INSTALL WITHOUT THE MALWARE.
I backed out, restored the disc image again just in case, and installed Softland's doPDF - wonderful.Summary
AVOID !!!!!!!
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"Garbage Malware -- AVOID!"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
None, piece of junk.
Cons
Installs malware--nuff said.
Summary
CNET needs to take this down, it's dangerous!!!
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"Works After Removal of Junkware"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
Creates PDFs by being available as a "printer" in your list of printers.
Cons
Installs several pieces of junk software and takes over all of your browsers search tools as well as installing a toolbar called Oogle. Took me a few minutes, but I was able to get rid of all of them. Only giving it 2.5 stars for this issue. Program still functions to create PDF documents if you can wade through the junkware and figure out how to remove it from your machine.
Summary
Go to add/remove programs in Control Panel and uninstall anything that has the same date/time as PDF Creator. Go to you browser settings and result your default search engine to what it was originally and delete the one PDF Creator installed (Conduit). Go into your browser add-ons/extensions and remove/delete the newest "Trustworthy Toolbar". That should clean things up for you. So far, do good for me.
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"Went from awesome to malware garbage overnight"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
The actual PDFcreator application is still mostly useful, if you can somehow install it without the other junk.
Cons
Installer is full of addons of dubious origin at best. They keep changing which malware/adware/spyware is bundled with it, so it's hard to say at any given moment exactly how bad it is.
I'm far from the type of user who blindly clicks 'next' on every install, and even I ended up with the PDF Architect tool installed unintentionally, as it appeared to be a core component, rather than a separate page of 'optional' trashware in the installer.Summary
This product went from a 5-star must have on every Windows PC I use to a piece of junk that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole almost overnight.
I should just add as a note, to be fair to cnet, the product was probably perfectly fine at the time they reviewed it. They didn't use to bundle anything beyond adobe or some such other mostly harmless mainstream product in the installer.
It's an absolute disgrace to the open source community that someone would put out an OSS product on SourceForge, then bundle so much junk with it. An equally bad reflection that SourceForge and cnet continue to host it. Hopefully that is just because it's been lost in the mix and that will be remedied soon.
The one saving grace is that the core product is GPL licensed, and hopefully someone with more Windows knowledge than I will fork this project and make some new binaries available, minus the bundled garbage.
Updated on Mar 19, 2013 -
"Damaging to CNET reputation"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
Source Forge origin
Cons
Slippery slope leads to enticement to license PDF Architect and installation of Conduit Toolbar malware.
Summary
Urgent that CNET review their endorsement of this and pull it until malware installation issues resolved.
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"Spam Garbage!"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
No benefits.
Cons
* It's not "free" as advertised, once you download it you learn that it costs money to use it.
* Forces a toolbar install, even when you decline to install it.
* The toolbar resets your entire browser and makes a new home page asking if you want your computer cleaned.Summary
5 minutes to install, half an hour to uninstall and return my browsers to normal. Garbage, spam, a computer infestation.
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"AVOID THIS APP - USELESS AND WASTE OF TIME"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
Zero pros 0
Cons
Downloaded this app to merge some of my .pdf files.
This review goes both to PDFCreator and its sneaky companion PDF Architect, which for unknown reasons comes inside the same package.
Cnet.com really damages its own brand - how could they recommend this app ? It's 100% user unfriendly, it freezes, pop-up boxes come up stating the app can't find one of it's own files... ??? Haven't seen anything like that.Summary
As mentioned - don't waste your time with this thing. After 30 minutes of attempts, I uninstalled it. Downloaded then another PDF app "PDFill FREE PDF Writer" - it's like day and night - user friendly and effective, it goes by itself.
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"Installed 4 programs not listed on the manifest..."
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
Absolutely nothing.
Cons
Didn't work for the function I needed it for.
Installed 4 pieces of software that were could not be opted out of.
Uninstaller was hidden.
Installs malware according to malwarebytes and spybot...Summary
Piece of crap that should be blacklisted off of cnet as it cannot be trusted and it makes the cnet guarantee quality mean nothing.
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"It is simple and does exactly what I needed"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
I have documents that I want to convert to PDF and send out. Very simple and this does that well. I had another one that did more, but I didn't need more.
Cons
None for what I need
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"Full of Malware"
Version: PDFCreator 1.6.2
Pros
none that i can see
Cons
Tries to install hideous crap in your browser.
Summary
Run away. Is there anything better out there?
