Microsoft KB Archive/223421

Knowledge Base

Error message: "Cannot print because there is no default printer selected. Please select a printer."

Article ID: 223421

Article Last Modified on 3/9/2006

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q223421

ERROR MESSAGE

When you try to print in Microsoft Word 2000, the following error message may appear:

Cannot print because there is no default printer selected. Please select a printer.

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 Web Info in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.

THINGS TO TRY

There is no default printer driver installed.

If you do not have a default printer, use the Add Printer Wizard to install one. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.
2. Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions.

Some printers have their own setup routines that bypass the Add Printer Wizard. Follow the instructions in your documentation.

NOTE: If your printer model is not listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for an updated driver. If your printer is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.

The printer driver is damaged and requires reinstallation.

You will need your Windows 95/98 CD-ROM or the printer driver disk or CD-ROM from the printer vendor to complete this procedure.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you're asked whether you want to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.
3. Double-click Add Printer, and 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.

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.

If you don't already have another printer set up on this computer, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Double-click Add Printer.
3. Click Next.
4. Click Local Printer or Network Printer, 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, and then click Finish.

Then switch the default printer to the new driver and back. To do this, follow these steps:

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

Additional query words: WD2000

Keywords: kbdownload kbprb KB223421

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