How to troubleshoot printing problems in Word 2002 (Part 1) (291336)

MORE INFORMATION

Specific Error Messages When Printing

The following are some error messages you may receive when you attempt to print from Microsoft Word. Please see the referenced articles to resolve printing problems related to these specific error messages and situations.

One or more margins are set outside the printable area of the page.

This error message can be caused by one of the following:

• If you set your document margins closer to the edge of the paper than your printer is capable of printing, the following warning message appears for each copy that you send to the printer:
  One or more margins are set outside the printable area of the page. Choose the Fix button to increase the appropriate margins.
  WHAT TO TRY:
  
  When you receive the error message, click Fix in the error message dialog box to automatically change any margins in the unprintable region to the minimum margin setting.
  
  For additional information about page margins, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  291335 Page borders may be displayed or printed incorrectly in Word 2002 and in Word 2003

  -or-
• When you print or view a document in print preview, page borders in your document may not be printed or may not appear, or the following error message may appear:
  One or more margins are set outside the printable area of the page. Choose the Fix button to increase the appropriate margins.
  WHAT TO TRY:
  
  To correct this problem, change the margin settings for the page border. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  291335 Page borders may be displayed or printed incorrectly in Word 2002 and in Word 2003

Error Message: "Microsoft Word Has Encountered a Problem and Needs to Close

You may receive the following error message: This behavior can occur when either of the following conditions is true:

1. When you open, print, or repaginate a document or you scroll through a document using the Microsoft IntelliMouse wheel on a Microsoft Windows 98 computer.
   
   -or-
2. When you click Cancel to cancel the printing of your Word document.

WHAT TO TRY:

• If you have a Microsoft IntelliMouse, this problem may be corrected by upgrading to Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition.
  
  For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  220460 WD2000: IPF in Gdi.exe When Opening, Printing, or Repaginating Large Document

  
  -or-
• If the problem occurred after you cancelled printing a document in Microsoft Word, try the following to work around this problem:
  • In Microsoft Word, change to a different installed printer, and then change back to your original default printer and try printing again.
    
    -or-
  • Turn on Background Printing. To do this, click Options on the Tools menu, then on the Print tab, under Printing options, click to select the Background printing check box, and then click OK.
    
    -or-
  • Restart Windows. Save your document and quit Word. Also quit any other programs you may have open. Then, quit and restart Windows. Start Word, open your document, and try printing again.
  For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  211526 WD2000: Cannot Print After Canceling Using HPDJ820CXi Driver

Printing dialog box flashes -or- Printer Driver Busy -or- Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup.

When you cancel printing in Microsoft Word and then try to print again, the following symptom or error messages may appear: WHAT TO TRY

If the problem occurred after you cancelled printing a document in Microsoft Word, try the following to work around this problem:

• In Microsoft Word, change to a different installed printer, and then change back to your original default printer and try printing again.
  
  -or-
• Turn on Background Printing. To do this, click Options on the Tools menu, then on the Print tab, under Printing options, click to select the Background printing check box, and then click OK.
  
  -or-
• Restart Windows. Save your document and quit Word. Also quit any other programs you may have open. Then, quit and restart Windows. Start Word, open your document, and try printing again.

The margins of section n are set outside the printable area of the page.

When you print your document, one of the following error messages may appear: where n is the number of the section that contains the problem.

If you click Yes in the above error messages, your document is printed, but some text may be cut off or truncated. If you click No, the printing of the document is canceled.

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

There is a Printer Error. -or- Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup.

When you try to print, one of the following error messages may appear: WHAT TO TRY

• No Default Printer Driver Is Installed. This error message can appear if you do not have a default printer installed in Windows. To install a default printer, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. If you do not have a printer installed: Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.) Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions.
     
     NOTE: If your printer model is not listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwtest/default.mspx) for an updated driver. If your printer is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.
  2. Right-click your installed printer driver, and then click Set as default printer on the shortcut menu that appears.
  -or-
• A 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:
  
  
  1. Quit all Windows programs.
  2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  3. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you are asked whether you want to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.
  4. Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.
     
     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.
  -or-
• A Device Conflict Exists on the Printer Port. If you cannot print to your local printer at all, a device may be conflicting with your computer's printer port, or the port may not be turned on. Try to remove and reinstall the printer port. To do this, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. Do one of the following:
     • In Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0: Click the Device Manager tab, double-click Ports (COM & LPT), and then double-click the port that your printer is connected to.
       
       -or-
     • In Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows XP: Click the Hardware tab. Under Device Manager, click Device Manager, double-click Ports (COM & LPT), and then double-click the port that your printer is connected to.
  3. 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.
  4. If the Device Status box indicates a problem, click OK, and then click Remove.
  5. Click OK, and then restart your computer.
  6. After your computer restarts, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to 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.
  
  -or-
• 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.
  
  -or-
• 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.
  
  NOTE: The System File Checker is accessible only in Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows 2000.
  
  -or-
• The Windows Registry Has a Damaged 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:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Local, 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, and then click Finish.
  To switch your default printer to a new printer driver and then back to your original printer driver, follow these steps:
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  2. 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 that appears.
  3. Right-click your original printer, and then click Set as Default.
  4. Try to print again.

Word cannot bring up the properties dialog box because the printer returned an error.

When you click Properties in the Print dialog box, the following error message may appear: WHAT TO TRY

• The regional settings for your computer may be damaged. Try to reset the Regional Settings (Regional Options in Microsoft Windows 2000; Regional and Language Options in Windows XP) in Control Panel:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Control Panel.)
  2. Double-click Regional Settings (Regional Options in Windows 2000; Regional and Language Options in Windows XP).
  3. On the Regional Settings tab (General tab in Windows 2000; Regional Options tab in Windows XP), choose a different setting from the list (there are several country/region settings that use English). Then click OK.
  4. Restart your computer.
  5. Return to Regional Settings (Regional Options in Windows 2000; Regional and Language Options in Windows XP) in Control Panel, and choose your original regional setting.
  6. Click OK, and then restart your computer again.
  -or-
• If you are using a network printer, the printer may have an invalid network name or the printer driver may require the printer port to be captured. Before beginning this procedure, check with your network administrator to make sure you have the correct path and name for the network printer. To capture a port for your network printer, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  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 is 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 you chose in step 4, and then click OK.
  -or-
• Files required by the printer driver are damaged. To complete this procedure, you need your Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, the printer driver disk, or the CD-ROM from the printer manufacturer.
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you are 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.
  
  NOTE: If your printer model is not 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.
  
  -or-
• There is a problem with your fax setup. If you receive this error message when you attempt to send a fax, there may be a problem with the way your fax software is set up.

Cannot print because there is no default printer selected.

When you try to print, the following error message may appear: WHAT TO TRY

• There is no default printer driver installed. If you don't have a default printer, use the Add Printer Wizard to install one.
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  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 isn't listed in the Manufacturers and Printers lists, check the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) (http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwtest/default.mspx) for an updated driver. If your printer isn't on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.
  
  -or-
• The printer driver is damaged and requires reinstallation. You will need your Windows 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. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you are asked whether you want to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.
  3. Double-click Add 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-
• 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 do not already have another printer set up on this computer:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers. (On Windows XP, click Start and point to Printers and Faxes.)
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Click Local, 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, and then click Finish.
  Then switch the default printer to the new driver and back:
  
  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.

This is not a valid print range.

When you specify a page or a range of pages to print, the following error message may appear: WHAT TO TRY

To specify a page or a range of pages to print in a multiple-section document, you must supply both the page and section number of the range you want to print. In a multiple-section document that contains more than a single page 1, Word cannot determine which "page 1" to print unless you also supply a section number.

• To print a range of pages across sections, use the following syntax in the Pages box within the Page range section of the Print dialog box:
  
  p<page number>s<section number>-p<page number>s<section number>
  
  For example, type p4s2-p5s5 in the Pages box.
  
  -or-
• To print more than one range of nonadjacent pages or nonadjacent sections, type the page and section numbers, separated by commas (,) in the Pages box:
  
  p<page number>s<section number>-p<page number>s<section number>, p<page number>s<section number>-p<page number>s<section number>
  
  For example, type p4s2-p5s5, p1s7-p8s7 in the Pages box.

Word cannot read the header or footer in this document.

If you try to print a selection from a document that contains more than one header or footer, the following error message may appear: WHAT TO TRY

You are trying to print a selection that contains more than one section. To print across sections in a document, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Print.
2. Click to select the Pages option.
3. In the Pages box, type the range of pages and sections you want to print. For example, to print from page 4 in section 2 to page 5 in section 5, type p4s2-p5s5.
4. Click OK.

No printers are installed. -or- Word cannot print. There is no printer installed.

This error message may be caused by one of the following:

• When you try to print in Microsoft Word, one of the following error messages may appear:
  No printers are installed. To install a printer, point to Settings on the Windows Start menu, click Printers, and then double-click Add Printer. Follow the instructions in the wizard.
  -or-
  Word cannot print. There is no printer installed.
  WHAT TO TRY:
  
  Remove and reinstall your default printer driver. To do this, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and click Printers.
  2. Right-click your default installed printer driver and click Delete on the shortcut menu that appears.
  3. Click Yes to the following message:
     
     Are you sure you want to delete the printer 'printername'?
     
     NOTE: Click Yes if the following message appears:
     
     Some files were used only for this printer and are no longer needed. Would you like to delete these files now?
  4. Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard.
  For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  224169 WD2000: Error Message: No Printers Are Installed

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

  223418 Error Message: Word Cannot Print. There Is No Printer Installed.

  -or-
• When you try to print a file from the Windows Desktop or the Windows Explorer by right-clicking the selection and then clicking Print on the shortcut menu that appears, the following error message may appear:
  Word cannot print. There is no printer installed.
  When you click OK, an additional Visual Basic error message appears:
  Run-time error: "1044": Word cannot print. There is no printer installed.
  WHAT TO TRY:
  
  Windows must have a default printer installed for Microsoft Word to use. To install a default Windows printer, run the Add Printer Wizard. To do this, follow these steps:
  
  
  1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and click Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard.
  NOTE: Some printers have their own setup routines that bypass the Add Printer Wizard. Follow the instructions in your printer documentation.

For additional information and troubleshooting steps, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: