Word Runs Slowly Under Windows NT with Network Printer

 Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
Article ID: Q112379
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Windows NT, version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation, versions 3.5, 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, versions 3.5, 3.51

SYMPTOMS

Word may run slowly under Windows NT when the default printer is a network printer being shared from another Windows NT computer.

CAUSE

Under Windows NT, if the printer being used is a network-shared printer from another Windows NT computer, Windows NT uses the printer driver from the other machine. Windows NT will not use a printer driver on the local machine.

When Word requests information from the printer driver, the Windows NT computer sharing the printer must process these requests. Thus, all printer driver information requests (such as a list of supported fonts and paper sizes) are processed over the network.

If the network is down or is experiencing high amounts of traffic, Word's frequent querying of the printer driver is slowed, which slows Word's performance in general.

WORKAROUND

Under Windows NT, you can print to a network-shared printer from another Windows NT machine but still use a locally installed printer driver. Under such an installation, the printer driver that Word works with when running will always be available locally and will not rely on the network to process printer driver queries.

To install a local printer driver and connect it to the network-shared printer:

  1. Start Windows NT Print Manager.

  2. On the Printer menu, click Create Printer.

  3. Type a name in the Printer Name box.

  4. From the Driver option, select the appropriate printer driver.

  5. If you are using Windows NT 3.1, select the Network Printer option for Print To. If you are using Windows NT 3.5 or 3.51, select Other for Print To.

  6. In the Print Destinations window that appears, select the Local
Port 
    option in the Available Print Destinations list and choose OK.

  • In the Port Name window, type the UNC path reference to the network printer to be printed to--for example, type "\\SERVER\PRINTER" (without the quotation marks).

  • Click OK.

  • If all other settings in the Create Printer window are set correctly, click OK.

  • In Print Manager, from the Default list, select the name of the printer you just created .

    • KBCategory: kbenv
    KBSubcategory:
    Additional reference words: wordnt ntword winword2 winword word6 winnt
    word95 word7 2.x 6.x word97
    Keywords : kbenv kbprint kbenv
    Version : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
    Platform : WINDOWS

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    Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
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