WD2000: ErrMsg: "Word Cannot Bring up the Properties Dialog Box Because the Printer Returned an Error"

ID: Q223422

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

ERROR MESSAGE

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

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

The regional settings for your computer may be corrupted.

If you're using a network printer, the printer may have an invalid network name or the printer driver may require the printer port to be captured.

Files required by the printer driver are damaged or corrupted.

There is a problem with your fax setup.


WHAT TO TRY

The regional settings for your computer may be corrupted.

Try resetting the Regional Settings in Control Panel:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Regional Settings.


  3. On the Regional Settings tab, choose a different setting from the drop-down list (there are several country settings that use English). Then click OK.


  4. Restart your computer.


  5. Return to Regional Settings in Control Panel, and choose your original regional setting.


  6. Click OK, and then restart your computer again.




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If you're 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.


  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's 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.




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Files required by the printer driver are damaged or corrupted.

You will need your Windows 95/98 CD-ROM or the printer driver disk or CD-ROM from the printer manufacturer to complete this procedure.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.


  2. Right-click your default printer, and click Delete. If you're 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 isn't 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.


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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.

The "Word 2000 Fax Troubleshooter" gives detailed tips on solving a wide range of faxing problems. See the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/word/wordfax/
For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q211473 WD2000: Troubleshooting Fax Problems from Word
Q199043 WD2000: Error When Faxing from WinFax


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Additional query words:

Keywords : kbdta wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: January 28, 2000
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