You receive a "Problem retrieving printer information" error message in Access 2000 (222638)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 2000
This article was previously published under Q222638
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

This article applies to a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) and to a Microsoft Access project (.adp).

For a Microsoft 2002 version of this article, see 294555.

ERROR MESSAGE

When you try to preview or print a report in Microsoft Access, you may see the following error message:
There was a problem retrieving printer information for the <PrinterName> on <PortName>. The object may have been sent to a printer that is unavailable.
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

Microsoft Access is having difficulty communicating with the printer. You may receive this error for one of the following reasons:

THINGS TO TRY

The regional settings for your computer may be corrupted

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Regional Settings.
  3. On the Regional Settings tab, choose a different setting from the drop-down list (there are several country settings that use English), and then click OK.
  4. Restart your computer.
  5. Return to Regional Settings in Control Panel, and choose your original regional setting.
  6. Click OK, and then restart your computer.
Back to Top

If you're using a network printer, the printer driver may require the printer port to be captured

Before beginning this procedure, check with your network administrator to make sure that you have the correct path for the network printer.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Right-click the icon for your printer, and click Properties.
  3. On the Details tab, click Capture Printer Port.
  4. In the Device box, click a port that's not used by another printer.
  5. In the Path box, type the network path to the printer, and then click OK to close the Capture Printer Port dialog box.
  6. In the Print to the following port box, click the port that you chose in step 3, and then click OK.
Back to Top

The printer may have an invalid network name

Before beginning this procedure, check with your network administrator to make sure that you have the correct name and path for the network printer.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Right-click the icon for your printer, and click Properties.
  3. On the Details tab, click Delete Port.
  4. In the Delete Port dialog box, select the printer that you want to remove and click OK.
  5. On the Details tab, click Add Port.
  6. In the Add Port dialog box, click Network and type the network path to the printer, and then click OK.
  7. In the Print to the following port box, select the port that you entered in step 6, and then click OK.
Back to Top

The printer driver may be corrupted

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you're asked if 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, the Microsoft Windows operating system corrects many system files and registry keys.
NOTE:
  • If your printer model isn't listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for an updated driver. If your printer isn't on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.
  • If you are on a network, you may need to install the correct printer driver from a network printer share. Contact your network administrator for instructions.
Back to Top

Increase the time-out setting for a printer driver

Increasing the time-out setting for a printer driver to 90 may resolve this error message. On the Details tab of the Printer Properties dialog box, extend the two time-out values to 90. They default to 15.

Back to Top
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/2/2005
Keywords:kbdownload kberrmsg kbinfo KB222638
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.