Microsoft KB Archive/223420

= WD2000: Error Message: Windows Cannot Print Due to a Problem with the Current Printer Setup =

Article ID: 223420

Article Last Modified on 4/29/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q223420



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.

Try one or more of the following:


 * check the printer by printing a test page from Windows.


 * Make sure the printer is turned on and online.


 * reinstall the printer driver.

NOTE: Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality that allows 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 Microsoft Office 2000, please download the Microsoft Office 2000 Customizable Alerts file from the Microsoft Office Update Web site at the following address:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8FBEE1D3-C5BB-4A36-A2F7-DC63DE2A818C

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



CAUSE
This error message may appear when your printer has damaged printer files, the Windows Registry section containing your printer information is damaged, there is a device conflict within Windows, the Windows printing subsystem is damaged, or there is a problem with your fax setup.

See the "What to Try" section for the resolution that applies to your situation.



Common Causes
 Cause: Your Printer Driver Is Damaged

This error message can be the result of a damaged printer driver. To complete this procedure, you need your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, or the disk provided by your printer manufacturer.

To replace a damaged printer driver, follow these steps:

 Quit all Windows programs. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.

NOTE: In Microsoft Windows XP, click Start, point to Printers and Faxes, and then click Add a printer under Printer Tasks. Continue with step 3. Right-click your installed printer, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu. If you are prompted to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes. Double-click Add Printer, and then follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.

NOTE: In Microsoft Windows XP, click Add a printer under Printer Tasks.

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

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 Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

</li> Cause: The Windows Registry Has a Damaged Default Printer Entry

To reset the Windows registry, choose another printer as the default printer, and then choose your original printer again as the default printer.

If another printer is not set up on this computer, follow these steps first:

 Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.</li> Double-click Add Printer.</li> Click Next.

NOTE: In Windows XP, click Start, point to Printers and Faxes, and then click Add a Printer under Printer Tasks. Continue with step 4.</li> In the Add Printer Wizard, click Local, Local Printer, or My Computer, and then click Next.</li> In the Manufacturers list, click Generic.</li> In the Make/Model or Printers list, click Generic / Text Only, and then click Next.</li> Click the LPT1 port, and then click Next.</li> Click Next again, and then click Finish.</li></ol>

To switch your default printer to a new printer driver and then back to your original printer driver, follow these steps:

 Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.

NOTE: In Windows XP, click Start and then click Printers and Faxes. Continue with step 2.</li> In the Printers dialog box, right-click Generic / Text Only printer (or your other existing printer), and then click Set as Default on the shortcut menu.</li> Right-click your original printer, and then click Set as Default.</li> Try to print again.</li></ol> </li></ul>

Other Causes
<ul> Cause: A Device Conflict Exists on the Printer Port

A device may be conflicting with your computer's printer port, or the port may not be turned on. You may need to remove and reinstall the printer port. To do this, follow these steps:

<ol> <li>Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.</li> <li>Do one of the following:

In Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0:

<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Click the Device Manager tab.</li> <li>Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).</li> <li>Double-click the port that your printer is connected to.</li></ol>

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In Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP:

<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> <li>Click the Hardware tab.</li> <li>In the Device Manager section, click Device Manager.</li> <li>Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).</li> <li>Double-click the port that your printer is connected to.</li></ol> </li> <li>If the Device status box says that the device is working correctly, your computer may have another system problem. You may need to reinstall your operating system.</li> <li>If the Device status box indicates a problem, click OK, and then click Remove.</li> <li>Click OK, and then restart your computer.</li> <li>After your computer restarts, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Add New Hardware, and then allow 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. Consult your computer documentation for instructions.</li></ol> </li> <li>Cause: Files in the Windows Printing Subsystem Are Damaged

The System File Checker verifies the integrity of system files. If the System File Checker finds a damaged system file, the System File Checker allows you to restore the file. To verify the files on your system, do one of the following.

NOTE: The System File Checker is accessible only in Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Microsoft Windows XP.

In Microsoft Windows 98:

<ol> <li>Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.</li> <li>On the Tools menu, click System File Checker.</li> <li>Click Scan for altered files, and then click Settings.</li> <li>Choose the configuration that you want to use, and then click OK.</li> <li>Click Start.</li> <li>If the System File Checker finds any altered files, follow the instructions to reinstall them.</li></ol>

For additional information about the System File Checker, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

185836 Description of the System File Checker Tool (Sfc.exe)

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In Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP:

The System File Checker tool gives an administrator the ability to scan all protected files to verify their versions. For additional information about the System File Checker for Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

222471 Description of the Windows 2000 System File Checker Tool

</li> <li>Cause: Your Fax Setup Has a Problem

If you receive this error message when you attempt to send a fax, there may be a problem with the setup of your fax software.

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

211473 WD2000: Troubleshooting Fax Problems from Word

199043 WD2000: Error When Faxing from WinFax

</li></ul>

More What to Try
For additional information if you are unable to resolve this problem, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

128345 Troubleshooting Printing Problems in Windows 95/98/Millennium Ed

243075 How to Troubleshoot Network Printing Problems

304422 WD2000: How to Troubleshoot Print Failure in Word 2000

304433 WD2000: Troubleshooting Printer Output Issues in Word 2000

211526 WD2000: Cannot Print After Canceling Using HPDJ820CXi Driver

Keywords: kbdownload kbprb KB223420

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