Excel 2010 may crash when using HP Printers

When you attempt to create headers and footers or print preview a workbook in Microsoft Excel 2010, Excel may crash when using a Hewlitt Packard (HP) printer. In addtition, Excel may crash when you save a workbook after you perform printing related activities. The following printers are affected.

• HP Deskjet 2300 Series
• HP Deskjet 5700 Series
• HP Deskjet F4200 Series
• HP Photosmart C4200 Series
• HP Photosmart C8100 Series
• HP Photosmart D5060 Series
• HP Photosmart D5300 Series
• HP Officejet J6400 All-in-One Series
• HP Officejet L7500 All-in-One Series

Excel 2010 has the ability to perform processes on multiple threads. Older printer drivers only work with one thread and therefore can crash Excel when multiple threads are used.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is an issue in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Ensure that you have the latest version of the printer driver installed. Due to the age of the printers that display this issue, even having the latest printer driver may not fix the problem.

Method 1: Use a different printer

If you have another printer available to you , select a different printer.

Steps to select a different printer.

1. Click File, and then click Print.
2. Under Printer, select the printer on which you want to print.
3. Click Print.

Method 2: Use the Microsoft XPS Document Writer

If you do not have another printer driver available to you, you can use the Microsoft XPS Document Writer printer driver to create an XPS format document and then print the XPS document to your printer.

Steps to use the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

1. Click File, and then click Print.
2. Under Printer, select Microsoft XPS Document Writer.
3. Click Print. A Save the file as dialog box appears.
4. In the File name: box, give your print out a name and click Save. Write down the location where you saved the file.
5. Go to the file location you wrote down and double-click on the file. The file will open in the XPS Viewer.
6. On the File menu, click Print.

For more information on XPS documents, see the following web link.

XPS documents: frequently asked questions

Note This is a "FAST PUBLISH" article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use for other considerations.