FreePDF x64 english

install FreePDF XP on a Windows XP x64 computer

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After the revolution of the 32bit processors that came along with 32-bit software in the nineties we are heading for a new change: 64bit processors with 64-bit software.

Since 2004 64-bit processors are available in sufficient quantities. The operating systems LINUX and Windows XP as well as Windows 2003 Server are available in 64-bit versions since 2005. Since 2006 these versions are stable enough to work on them. But 64-bit Software for these operating systems is rare and almost not available yet. Where can you get this software from ?

Though you can install 32-bit aplications on Windows XP x64 and run them, the avaiability of drivers and system software, such as antivirus software, is strongly limited. Once you installed the 32-bit applications of MS-Office 2003 on your 64bit operating system you probably want to print a document. You wouldn't expect that you have to install a Canon BJC8000 printer-driver if you  want to print on a Canon S520 printer. You ask me where this is documented? Nowhere!

For installing an free PDF generator on your 64-bit version of windows XP you will need much expertise. To make a free PDF-generator available for everybody we published the following step-by-step tutorial.

1. install AFPL Ghostscript 8.53

Install AFPL Ghostscript 8.53 x64 (or a more recent version) installieren. This is done with the setup program gs853w64.exe (or with the more recent version, which can be retrieved from http://www.ghostscript.com).

We provide the download here: Ghostscript_8.53_x64

1b. optionally install GSView 4.7 x64

Install GSView 4.7 x64 (not mandatory for installing FreePDFXP)
This is done with the file gsv47w64.exe that can be downloaded here: GSView_4.7_x64

2. install RedMon v1.7 x64

Install RedMon v1.7 x64 (or a more recent version).
You can download the software here or on http://www.winimage.com/misc/redmon

I installed the german version (redmon17x6de4.zip)
the offical Homepage of redmon is: http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/redmon

Downloads

english version: Redmon_1.7_x64_english

german version: Redmon_1.7_x64_german

french version: Redmon_1.7_x64_french

swedish version: Redmon_1.7_x64_swedish

3. export the Registry Key of AFPL Ghostscript

Start RegEdit and export the following registry-key
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/AFPL Ghostscript]
(I added an example file with my registry key in the file  gs.reg).

4. edit the Registry Key and import it

Save the file (in my example "gs.reg") with the imported registry key in a different file (in my example "gs6432.reg") and change the registry keys in the file as follows:

    4.1.)  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/AFPL Ghostscript
    to     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/AFPL Ghostscript

    4.2.)  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/AFPL Ghostscript/8.53
    to     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/AFPL Ghostscript/8.53

After the change my file  gs6432.reg looked like this:
      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/AFPL Ghostscript]

      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node/AFPL Ghostscript/8.53]
      "GS_DLL"="C://Program Files//gs//gs8.53//bin//gsdll32.dll"
      "GS_LIB"="C://Program Files//gs//gs8.53//lib;C://Program Files//gs//fonts;C://Program Files//gs//gs8.53//Resource"

Import the new file into the registry database. To achieve this, launch Windows Explorer and right-click on the file. In the context menu choose "Merge".

Explanation for 4.

If you acces the registry of Windows XP x64 from a 32-bit application and this 32bit application wants to read the registry-key "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE", then Windows XP x64 redirects the 32bit appliation to a node (a registry-key) called "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Wow6432Node".
As FreePDFXP and the setup programm of FreePDFXP are 32-bit software, these programs can find Ghostscript x64 only with the registry entries in your gs6432.reg file.

Alternative
Alternatively you can install the 32-bit version of Ghostscript. RedMon always must be installed as a 64-bit Version.

You may download the files gs.reg and gs6432.reg here:

gs.reg gs6432.reg

5. Install the Virtual Machine of Visual Basic 5.0

msvbvm50.exe is the setip program for the Virtual Machine of Visual Basic 5.0.
The setup programm of FreePDFXP needs this Virtual Machine !! You can try the installation of FreePDFXP without the Virtual Machine of Visual Basic 5.0. But if you receive the error-message "msvbvm50.dll not found", the Virtual Machine of Visual Basic 5.0 is missing on your system and you'll have to install it.

You can download the installation program here: msvbvm50.exe

You can read Microsoft's original article here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180071/EN-US

6. install FreePDFXP

Run the setup programm of FreePDFXP ( FreePDFXP3.05.EXE).

Now the setupprogram can find the Ghostscript executables and the Ghostscript libraries.

The officcal homepage of FreePDFXP is http://freepdfxp.de

We supply the version 3.05 for download here: FreePDFXP3.05.EXE

END OF INSTALLATION !

This step-by-step tutorial was edited by H.G. Engelhard Heß, living in Stuttgart GERMANY. It is the intellectual property of H.G. Engelhard Heß, Stuttgart GERMANY, an may be copied and reprinted (also in parts), as long as this original copyright notice is not removed and as long as you mention the intellectual property of H.G. Engelhard Heß, Stuttgart GERMANY.

This installation tutorial can also be downloaded in German language.

FreePDFXP_x64.txt

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