Microsoft KB Archive/329845

= Error message: Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup =

Article ID: 329845

Article Last Modified on 2/1/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Word 2003
 * Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q329845



ERROR MESSAGE
When you try to print, you may receive the following error message:

Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup.

NOTE: Microsoft Office has built-in functionality that makes it possible for you to get more information about difficult-to-troubleshoot alerts or error messages. If you want to enable this functionality for this and other error messages in Office XP, download the Office XP &quot;Extended Alerts Button add-in&quot; file. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Office Update Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8fbee1d3-c5bb-4a36-a2f7-dc63de2a818c&DisplayLang=en

NOTE: If you reached this article by clicking the Web Info button in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.



THINGS TO TRY
Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Your Printer Driver Is Damaged
You may have a damaged printer driver. To complete this procedure, you need your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, or the media that contains your printer driver. To replace a damaged printer driver:
 * 1) Quit all Windows programs.
 * 2) Click Start, click Printers and Faxes, and then click Add a printer.
 * 3) Right-click your installed printer, and then click Delete. If you are prompted to remove extra files, click Yes.
 * 4) Click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions on the screen to reinstall your printer driver.

NOTE: If you are on a network, you may have to install the correct printer driver from a network printer share. Contact your network administrator for instructions.

The Windows Registry Has a Damaged Default Printer Entry

 * 1) Click Start, click Printers and Faxes, and then double-click Add a Printer.
 * 2) Click Next, and then click Local printer attached to this computer.
 * 3) Click to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play Printer check box, and then click Next.
 * 4) Click LPT1 port, and then click Next.
 * 5) In the Manufacturers box, click Generic.
 * 6) In the Make/Model or Printers box, click Generic/Text Only, and then click Next.
 * 7) In the Printer Name box, type TEST.
 * 8) Under Do you want to use this printer as the default printer, click Yes.
 * 9) Click Next, and then click Do Not Share this printer.
 * 10) Click Next, and then click No under Do you want to print a test page.
 * 11) Click Next, and then click Finish.
 * 12) Click Start, click Printers and Faxes.
 * 13) Right-click the Generic/Text Only printer or your other existing printer, and then click Set as Default.
 * 14) Right-click your original printer, and then click Set as Default.

A Device Conflict Exists on the Printer Port
A device may be conflicting with your computer printer port, or the port may not be turned on. You may have to remove and then reinstall the printer port:
 * 1) Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
 * 2) Click the Hardware tab.
 * 3) Click Device Manager.
 * 4) Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).
 * 5) Double-click the port to which your printer is connected.
 * 6) If the Device status box says that the device is working correctly, your computer may have another problem. Contact your printer manufacturer.
 * 7) If the Device status box indicates a problem, click OK, and then click Remove.
 * 8) Click OK, and then restart your computer.
 * 9) After your computer restarts, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Add New Hardware, and then wait for Windows to detect the hardware in your computer.

If the port does not work after you remove it and reinstall it, examine the printer cable and the BIOS settings on your computer to make sure that the port is turned on. See your computer documentation for instructions.

Files in the Windows Printing Subsystem Are Damaged
Use the System File Checker tool to scan all protected files and verify their versions:
 * 1) Click Start, and then click Run.
 * 2) In the Open box, type sfc /scannow, and then click OK.

NOTE: The /scannow switch scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions. This command requires access to the Windows installation source files.

For more information about the System File Checker tool for Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310747 Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

Your Fax Has a Problem
If you receive this error message when you try to send a fax, there may be a problem with your fax software.

See the &quot;Word 2000 Fax Troubleshooter&quot; for information about how to solve a wide range of fax problems. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/word/wordfax

321639 How to troubleshoot common fax problems in Microsoft Windows XP



MORE INFORMATION
For more information if you are unable to resolve this problem, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

128345 How troubleshoot printing problems in Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition

243075 How to troubleshoot network printing problems

321611 How to troubleshoot print failures in Word 2002

For information about how to contact your printer manufacturer for an updated printer driver, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

Additional query words: WD2002 WD2003

Keywords: kbdownload kbdta kbenv kberrmsg kbhw kbprb kbprint kbtool wd2002 KB329845

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