PPT2000: Error Message:"PowerPoint cannot print to [Printer Name]"

ID: Q223018

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000

ERROR MESSAGE

When you print your PowerPoint Presentation, you may receive the following error message:

PowerPoint cannot print to Printer Name. It is not a valid printer type.
Where Printer Name is the name assigned to the printer you are trying to print to.

If you do not have your printer set up, use the Add Printer wizard to install it. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers. Then double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions.

NOTE: Microsoft Office 2000 has built-in functionality that allows you to get more information about difficult-to-troubleshoot alerts or error messages. If you want to enable this functionality for this and other error messages in Microsoft Office 2000, please download the Microsoft Office 2000 Customizable Alerts file from the Microsoft Office Update Web site at the following address:
http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/2000/downloadDetails/alerts.htm
NOTE: If you reached this article by clicking the Web Info button in an error message, you already have Customizable Alerts enabled.


CAUSE

When you first set up a printer, the Microsoft Windows operating system automatically sets it as the default printer. If you already have a printer installed on your computer, this message usually indicates a damaged entry in the registry, or a corrupted printer driver.

NOTE: Some printers have their own setup routines that bypass the Add Printer wizard. Follow the instructions in your documentation.


WHAT TO TRY

Method 1: Reset the Default Printer in the 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, follow these steps:
  1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Printers.


  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.


Change the default printer to the new driver and back to the default driver. To do this, follow these steps:
  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.


Method 2: Reinstall the printer driver If changing your default printer does not work, the driver files may have become corrupted. If you continue getting this error message, delete the printer driver and reinstall it. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Printers.


  2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you are prompted to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.


  3. Double-click Add Printer, and follow the instructions to reinstall your printer driver.


NOTES:
  • 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 is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.
  • If you are on a network, you may need to install the correct printer driver from a network printer share. Contact your network administrator for instructions.


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Additional query words: OFF2000 PPT_ERROR 1638445

Keywords : kberrmsg kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb kbinfo


Last Reviewed: June 28, 1999
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