I haven't used ImgBurn in a while - had some hardware issues 1 or 2 versions back - so I decided to get the latest version. I was surprised, as were many others, at the inclusion of "OpenCandy" in the installer, and shocked at the number of strongly negative posts about that. Let me start off with 2 comments:
I think ImgBurn is an incredible project, and worthy of generating a little cash for the author, but I DETEST Adware things that install on my computer. I don't even like it when Windows tries to go behind my back.
So, I set out to do a little experimenting - in Virtual PC (for safety). I'm not an expert computer whiz, or a hardcore hacker - just an intelligent guy who wanted to fix a problem. For the benefit of anybody out there in my position - love ImgBurn, HATE OpenCandy - here's what I learned (and yes, you can BEAT this, keep reading...):
The wonderful tool 7-Zip can open the installer and extract most (all?) of the necessary files. ImgBurn, once extracted, will run.
The scripts for the installer (Nullsoft), however, generate ALL KINDS of (i.e. many) registry keys necessary for proper running of ImgBurn (mostly shell integration). This means that you probably should use the installer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * So, to BEAT OPENCANDY, just disconnect your Internet (temporarily)! Unplug the cable (if you have one), or disable your connection - it's that simple! OpenCandy exists ONLY because of the Internet and cannot do its job if the Internet is not connected; the DLLs used (placed in a "Local Settings/Temp/nsx3.tmp" folder) test for connection, and just give up if it doesn't exist. Without the Internet, the installer completes and DOES NOT INVOKE ANY MORE OPENCANDY dialogs. LIGHTNING UK! has already suggested this, along with the "/NOCANDY" command line switch. A domain block, as was also suggested, is a little beyond some people, and unnecessary. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As a followup, let me say that (from testing) after the first reboot following installation (do it!), the temporary folder and its DLL contents is deleted. Leave your Internet unplugged or disabled until after the reboot, just to be safe. Using some other great software (Regshot) confirmed this - nothing remained on my system except that necessary for ImgBurn. This is what the OpenCandy license (in the installer) says, but I DON'T TRUST THEM. For the record, LIGHTNING UK! (ImgBurn's author) is correct; you can complete the OpenCandy dialogs and not install anything but ImgBurn, but on MY system, the "Custom Installation" selection appeared to be disabled (i.e. grayed out). Thats just SNEAKY and UNDERHANDED. Most people see that and think - "Crap, I CAN'T do a custom installation". Not true, of course, but an attempt at trickery, in my view. To LIGHTNING UK! I appreciate you trying to get a few dollars/pounds for your years of working on ImgBurn. And OpenCandy is not illegal, or probably not even considered dishonest. But it CHEAPENS your efforts and reduces your program to a simple carrier for adware, and trouble. I think of a classically trained actress, with experience in fine drama, whose agent - after 9 successful years - says "Hey babe - youse got to doll yourself up a bit in this business! Howse about more lipstick and lots of rouge, and a really short skirt would wow the producers!" So she changes her look to resemble a prostitute. Ok, maybe she gets a few more roles, but they won't be Shakespeare! If you (LIGHTNING UK!) are a professional programmer - do you want to be known as the guy who "f'ed up an excellent package" with OpenCandy? It might hurt your resumé. - Surveyor
P.S. Just search "ImgBurn" "OpenCandy" to see how this affects your reputation. I hope you're getting a LOT of dough from OpenCandy...