Microsoft KB Archive/223418

Knowledge Base

Error Message: Word Cannot Print. There Is No Printer Installed.

Article ID: 223418

Article Last Modified on 7/7/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q223418

ERROR MESSAGE

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

Word cannot print. There is no printer installed.

Note Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality with which you can 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

No default printer driver is installed.

[[#Cause0|]]

THINGS TO TRY

No Default Printer Driver Is Installed

If you do not have a default printer, use the Add Printer Wizard to install one.

In Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, or Microsoft Windows 2000, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Double-click Add Printer, and then follow the instructions to install your default printer driver.

In Microsoft Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions to install your default printer driver.

Note If your printer model is not listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, see the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for an updated driver. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx

If your printer is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.
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MORE INFORMATION

There Is a Damaged Entry in the Windows Registry

To reset the registry, set another printer as the default, and then set your original printer as the default.

To complete this procedure, you need your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, the printer driver disk, or the CD-ROM from the printer vendor.

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

• For Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me):
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Local Printer or My Computer, and then click Next.
  5. In the Manufacturers list, click Generic.
  6. In the Make/Model or Printers list, click Generic / Text Only, and then click Next.
  7. Click the LPT1 port, and then click Next.
  8. Click Next again for the printer's name, click No when you are prompted with the question of whether you want to print a test page, and then click Finish.
• For Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 2000:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Local Printer (Windows 2000) or My Computer (Windows NT 4.0), and then click Next.
  5. Click the LPT1 port, and then click Next.
  6. In the Manufacturers list, click Generic.
  7. In the Make/Model or Printers list, click Generic / Text Only, and then click Next.
  8. Verify the printer's name, and then click Next again.
  9. Click Not Shared, and then click Next.
  10. Click No when you are prompted with the question of whether you want to print a test page, and then click Finish
• For Microsoft Windows XP:
  1. Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes.
  2. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then click Next.
  3. Click Local printer attached to this computer, and then click Next.
  4. In the Use the following port box, select LPT1: (Recommended Printer Port), and then click Next.
  5. In the Manufacturer list, click Generic.
  6. In the Printers list, click Generic / Text Only, and then click Next.
  7. Verify the printer's name, and then click Next.
  8. Click Do not share this printer, and then click Next.
  9. Click No when you are prompted with the question of whether you want to print a test page, and then click Finish.

To switch the default printer to the new driver and back, follow these steps:

1. In the Printers window, right-click Generic / Text Only printer (or your other existing printer), and then click Set as Default.
2. Right-click your original printer, and then click Set as Default.
3. Try to print again.

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The Printer Driver Is Damaged and Requires Reinstallation

To complete this procedure, you need your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, the printer driver disk, or the CD-ROM from the printer vendor.

1. Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click your default printer, and then click Delete. If you are prompted with the question of whether you want to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.
3. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.

When you reinstall your printer driver, Windows writes the correct entries for the Ports, Printer Ports, and Windows sections in the Win.ini file, or in the registry respectively.

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.

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There Is a Device Conflict on the Printer Port

If you cannot print to your local printer at all, there may be a device conflicting with your computer's printer port, or the port may not be turned on. Try removing and reinstalling the printer port.

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. For Windows XP or Windows 2000, click the Device Manager button on the Hardware tab.
   

For Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Windows NT 4.0, click the Device Manager tab.

1. Expand Ports (COM & LPT), and then double-click the port that your printer is using.
2. If the Device status box says that the device is working correctly, you may have some other system problem. You may have to reinstall your operating system.
3. If the Device Status box indicates a problem, click OK, and then click Remove.
4. Click OK and then restart your computer.
5. After your computer restarts, do one of the following:
   • For Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000:
     1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
     2. Double-click Add New Hardware, and then allow Windows to detect the hardware in your computer.
   • For Windows XP:
     1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. If the Control Panel icons are not displayed, click Switch to Classic View under Control Panel.
     2. Double-click Add Hardware, and then allow Windows to detect the hardware in your computer.

If the port still does not work after you remove and reinstall it, you may have to examine the printer cable or the BIOS settings on your computer to verify that the port is turned on. Contact your computer documentation for instructions.

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Windows Printing Subsystem Files Are Damaged

The System File Checker verifies the integrity of system files. If it finds a damaged file, it allows you to restore the file. This tool is available in Windows 98.

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
2. On the Tools menu, click System File Checker.
3. Click Scan for altered files, and then click Settings.
4. Select the configuration that you want to use, and then click OK.
5. Click Start.
6. If System File Checker finds any changed files, follow the instructions to reinstall them.

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There Is a Problem with Your Fax Setup

If you receive this error message when you try to send a fax, there may be a problem with the way your fax software is set up.

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

211473 WD2000: Troubleshooting fax problems from Word

199043 WD2000: Error when faxing from WinFax

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REFERENCES

For additional information about printing problems, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

304422 WD2000: How to troubleshoot print failure in Word 2000

304433 WD2000: Troubleshooting printer output issues in Word 2000

209954 WD2000: Run-Time Error 1044 printing with no printer installed

128345 Troubleshooting printing problems in Windows 95/98/Millennium Edition

243075 How to Troubleshoot network printing problems

163551 Troubleshooting printing problems in Windows NT 4.0 and 2000

191516 Cannot Print in Windows

Additional query words: WD2000

Keywords: kbdownload kbprb KB223418

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