Word Printer Setup Changes the Default Printer in Windows

• Microsoft Word for Windows versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word for Windows versions 6.x and earlier, when you change the printer using the Print (Printer Setup in version 1.x) from the File menu, selecting Printer, choosing a different printer and pressing the "Set as Default Printer" will change the default printer for the Microsoft Windows environment.

NOTE: This behavior was changed in Microsoft Word for Windows 95. When you click Print on the File menu and select a different printer within the name area, only the printer driver for Word for Windows 95 is affected: this procedure will not change the printer driver for all Windows programs. When you exit and then restart Word, the printer driver is reset to the Windows system default printer.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q134933
   TITLE     :Word 7 Does Not Allow You To Set Default Printer

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 122-123 "Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, page 271 "Microsoft Windows Graphical Environment User's Guide," version 3.0, page 170