Microsoft Word and Works crash on my Win2K laptop when I'm offline and
my default printer is unavailable. Excel and Access have no problem.
I found that if I change my default printer to a local driver like
Acrobat PDFWriter, the problem goes away. I don't want to change the
default printer all the time, so is there a better way to solve this? |
Request for Question Clarification by
mvguy-ga
on
30 May 2003 08:47 PDT
If I were to refer you to a command-line utility that would change the
default printer, would you have the expertise to download the utility
and write a batch file that would run it whenever you run Word or
Works?
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Clarification of Question by
welday007-ga
on
30 May 2003 09:07 PDT
I have written batch files in the past, but if you could help me with
the command to launch the utility, I would appreciate it. Will it be
possible to launch the utility again to revert to the network printer
when Word closes? If not, I might as well change it manually.
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Request for Question Clarification by
mvguy-ga
on
30 May 2003 11:35 PDT
I haven't tried it, so I hestitate to give you an official answer. But
here's what I suggest trying. Then let me or some other researcher
know if it works.
Download the program on this page:
http://download.com.com/3000-2018-10127836.html
Write a batch file that says something like this (substituting the
correct directories and parameters and stuff like that):
setdefaultprinter name_of_printer_that_works
word
setdefaultprinter name_of_default_printer
That _should_ change your default printer, then run Word, then set
your printer back when it's through. Unfortunately, the documentation
is sparse (type "setdefaultprinter /?" without the quotes from the
command line), so I can't give much more help.
Good luck!
Mvguy-ga
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Clarification of Question by
welday007-ga
on
30 May 2003 12:05 PDT
How do I get the batch file to run when I open Word, or do I need to
run it myself with a shortcut?
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Request for Question Clarification by
mvguy-ga
on
30 May 2003 16:18 PDT
I would use the batch file to open word. You could either start the
batch file on the command line or make a shortcut for it.
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Clarification of Question by
welday007-ga
on
31 May 2003 07:22 PDT
And how do I switch the default printer back when Word closes?
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Request for Question Clarification by
mvguy-ga
on
31 May 2003 09:39 PDT
Try using the setdefaultprinter command using the name of the default printer.
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Clarification of Question by
welday007-ga
on
31 May 2003 10:10 PDT
When? Is there something that happens when I close Word that would
initiate the setting of the default printer back to my network
printer? I don't want to have to do anything manually after I close
Word. I might as well go to Settings/Printers then.
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Request for Question Clarification by
mvguy-ga
on
03 Jun 2003 08:48 PDT
Here's what I'm suggesting: Write a three-line batch file. The first
line changes your default printer to something that works with Word.
The second line launches Word. The third line sets the default
printer back to what it was originally. To start Word, then, launch
the batch file rather than Word itself. That way, everything should be
taken care of automatically.
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Request for Question Clarification by
endo-ga
on
04 Jun 2003 22:33 PDT
Hi,
On a totally different router, can you try this please?
On the Advanced tab on Printer Properties, click to clear the "Print
Directly to Printer" check box; this will allow the computer to spool
the job while the printer is offline.
Thanks.
endo
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Clarification of Question by
welday007-ga
on
07 Jun 2003 05:05 PDT
I like endo-ga's advice, but the Print directly to the printer is already unchecked.
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Request for Question Clarification by
endo-ga
on
07 Jun 2003 05:48 PDT
Hi,
Is there anything that is written to the even log when this happens?
You can access that by going to Control panel->Administrative
tools->Event Viewer.
Do you have the latest printer driver for your printer? What
make/model is it?
If you have the latest official printer driver, could you please try
another generic driver that Windows provides.
If nothing is written in the Event log and you have the lastest
printer driver, then I don't have any more specific advice, other than
make sure you have all the service packs installed for Windows 2000
and Office. What version of Office are you running? But I'm even
reluctant to write that because service packs can sometimes cause more
problems than they solve and your problem is not listed in any of the
service pack fixes.
Thanks.
endo
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