PUB2000: Publisher Quits with Illegal Operation Error the First Time You Start Publisher (310690)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Publisher 2000

This article was previously published under Q310690

SYMPTOMS

After you install Microsoft Publisher 2000, the program quits with an illegal operation error the first time that you try to start Publisher. If you click Details on the error message, you see the following information:

mspub caused a divide error in mspub.exe

CAUSE

This issue can be caused by a problem with the default printer driver.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: If Your Default Printer Uses a PostScript Driver

If your default printer uses a PostScript driver, follow these steps:
  1. Try using a non-PostScript printer driver for the default printer. Many PostScript laser printers support more than one printing mode; try using a printer driver for another mode of your printer. For example, use a Hewlett Packard (HP) PCL driver with an HP LaserJet PostScript printer rather than a PostScript driver.

    Refer to your printer manufacturer or printer documentation for more information about printer drivers for your particular printer.
  2. After you change the printer driver, restart Publisher. If the new printer driver resolves the issue, uninstall the original default printer and any related printers, and then reinstall the printers.
  3. Contact the manufacturer of the printer to find out whether there is a newer version of the printer driver available.

Method 2: If Your Default Printer Uses a Non-PostScript Driver

If your default printer uses a non-PostScript driver, try using Publisher Imagesetter as the default printer. Use one of the following methods to install Publisher Imagesetter.

How to Install Publisher Imagesetter on Microsoft Windows 2000

  1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Double-click the Add Printer icon.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Local Printer.

    NOTE: Make sure Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer is not selected.
  5. Click File (Print to File), and then click Next.
  6. In the list of manufacturers, click Generic.
  7. Click MS Publisher Imagesetter in the list of Printers.
  8. Click Yes when you receive a message that asks whether you want Windows-based programs to use this printer as the default printer, and then click Next.
  9. Click Do Not Share this Printer if prompted, and then click Next.

    (You are prompted to share the printer if you are installing Publisher Imagesetter on a Windows 2000 Server computer.)
  10. Click No when you receive a message that asks whether you want to print a test page, click Next, and then click Finish.

How to Install Publisher Imagesetter on Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows NT

  1. On the Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. In the Printers folder, double click Add Printer.
  3. Click Local Printer, and then click Next.
  4. Click Have Disk.
  5. Click Browse.
  6. Browse to the folder where Publisher is installed. The folder that Publisher is installed to is:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office

  7. Select mspub.inf, and then click OK.
  8. Click OK.
  9. In the list of printers provided, click MS Publisher Imagesetter, and then click Next.
  10. For the available ports, click File, and then click Next.
  11. Click Next to leave the default name as MS Publisher Imagesetter.
  12. Click No to not print a test page, and then click Finish.
  13. In the Printers folder, right-click the Publisher Imagesetter icon, and then click Set As Default on the shortcut menu.
NOTE: You may be prompted to provide your Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0 CD-ROM to install the proper driver files.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB310690