Publisher 2003 - won't let me print anything

[Hansenotm]

Created new document today. Every time I try to print the software kicks me
out and says Publisher has an error - do I want to send report. I have tried
creating a new document and it won't let me print directly from Publisher.
I've not had this problem before. (Yes, I rebooted (several times) and
checked for updates.)

I have an hp laptop with an hp printer. I've been using this since January
with no problem.

I was able to trick it into printing by going through Windows Explorer and
right clicking it and using that menu to print. However, even though it
printed, it opened and closed Publisher with the error message AGAIN. Help!

 

[Brian Kvalheim [MSFT MVP]]

Can you give us the details of your error report?

Microsoft Office Publisher 2003 and older are critical about printer
drivers. Usually upgrading (or downgrading in some cases) will fix
the problems you are encountering.

If you have not already done so, you would want to visit the
manufacturers website of your printer to download and install the
latest printer driver that is available. It's important to note that
the CD-Rom that came with your printer will most likely NOT have the
most recent driver for your printer.

Popular Printer Driver Sites:
-----------------------------
Canon
http://www.usa.canon.com/html/cprSupportDetail.jsp?minisite=10000&a=b&navfrom=DrivD

HP
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/support.html

Lexmark
http://www.lexmark.com/US/support/drivers/index.html

Epson
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/index.jsp
and visit the downloads/drivers section

Brother
http://www.brother.com/E-ftp/info/index.html
-----------------------------

Search for the printer driver that represents the make and model that you
are using and download that driver. I would make sure you select "Save"
when prompted for download, not "Run". Typically many save to My Documents.
Do not install or run the setup.

Go to Start > Settings > Printers and right click on your current printer
and choose delete from the menu that appears. If prompted to remove all
files, choose yes. Then restart your computer.

Once your computer restarts, go to the folder where your new printer driver
was downloaded and double click the file to extract the printer driver.
This should prompt you through the setup routine for the new driver. If
your computer "detects new hardware" upon restart, it's ok to hit cancel
on that dialog. Go ahead and continue your setup routine of your newly
downloaded printer driver.

If the file that you downloaded is not an executable, but only a file
that is *.inf, then you will need to follow these steps:

1. Go to Start >Settings > Printers
2. Choose "Add Printer"
3. Choose Next
4. Select "Local Printer" then click Next
5. At the next dialog box choose "Have Disk"
6. Browse to the location of your newly downloaded *.inf file
7. Follow the remaining prompts (you may have to insert your Windows CD)
8. I would recommend restarting your computer at this point.

Now try a new print from Publisher.

This should fix your troubles. If not, either contact your printer
manufacturer directly and inform them of the problem you have experienced.
They might request that you try an older printer driver.

--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Publisher MVP
http://www.publishermvps.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

 

[Hansenotm]

I realize now I did clearly state all my parameters. My laptop is on a
wireless network. Our home pc is hooked up to the HP PSC 2410xi. I am not
plugged into a printer. So, when I tried to have hp check for updates and
drivers, it said it couldn't find the printer. Which makes sense to me.
However, I don't know how to get around that. Sorry, I'm not more literate
about this. Do you think if I reload Publisher that would do anything?

Regarding the message I get from Publisher - when I click print, a box pops
saying "Microsoft Office Publisher encountered a problem and needs to close".
It does and then reopens at the beginning. I did tell it to send a report.

I am able to print from other programs. Do you have any suggestions now that
you have this added information?
Thanks,

 

[Hansenotm]

I tried to do what you suggested. The problem is I can not execute your
instructions. My laptop is on our wireless network. I do not have the
printer plugged into my laptop, but into our home pc network. When I try to
get hp to let me update my drivers it does not let me choose the path. So,
it thinks I don't have a printer plugged in. Did I say that so it made sense?

The error message I get from Publisher is "Microsoft Office Publisher
encountered a problem and needs to close...I send off the error message to
MSC, the file closes and reopens Publisher back to a new document.

My other programs are printing fine. It is late. I will try something new
tomorrow.
Thanks,

 

[Mary Sauer]

On the report error dialog there is a detail link. What does the error say?

 

[Brian Kvalheim [MSFT MVP]]

Can you click on the DETAILS link in the Send Error report dialog box and
give us the details of the error message?

--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Publisher MVP
http://www.publishermvps.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

 

[Hansenotm]

Well, this morning I opened Publisher to try to replicate the error. Here is
what happened -

1. created a NEW document AND it printed Yeah! (and it did not close itself
- can't get it to do this again)

2. opened "problem" document and tried to print it - got the error message
Error Signature (which is not what you asked me for) and looked at the
error detail - It was very long message AND I could not copy or capture it in
anyway I know of - so I don't have it to give you - Is there a way I can grab
this detail without having to write it out on paper? It is pretty long. If
it is required, then I'll just have to do that. Why won't it let me grab/copy
it? That would be very helpful.

3. So, I think to myself - it is a corrupted document - just delete and
start over

4. I turn off computer, let sit while I make breakfast, then turn computer
back on

5. I then open Publisher, create a new document, tell it to print, it loads
and prints (gives me an error message) and closes Publisher

6. Next cycle, I re-open Publisher and create new doc and loads and prints.

7. So, I have a new trick - it will let me print a new document, but it
closes itself now and doesn't give any visible message.

8. the only way I can get the error message to repeat is to re-boot the
system and I then will get the message 1 time.

9. While I can use it this way short term, I am not going to be happy if I
can't figure out how to fix it.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[Hansenotm]

Please see my reply this morning to Brian. Is there a way I can capturethe
error detail without having to write it out?

Thanks,

 

[Mary Sauer]

Try the print screen and paste to Word or Paint or Publisher.
You don't need all the numbers, just what is on top.