Error message when you try to print in Word 2002 or in Word 2007: "Word cannot print"

No default printer driver is installed

If you do not have a default printer, use the Add Printer Wizard to install one. To do this, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

1. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
   
2. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions on the screen to install the default printer driver.

Note If the printer model is not listed in the Manufacturers and Printers boxes, see the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) for an updated driver. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

If the printer is not on the HCL, contact the printer manufacturer for drivers and instructions.

There is a damaged entry in the Windows Registry

To repair the damaged entry in the Windows Registry, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Double-click Add a Printer.
3. Click Next.
4. Click Local printer attached to this computer.
5. Click to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play Printer check box.
6. Click Next.
7. Click LPT1 port, and then click Next.
8. In the Manufacturers box, click Generic.
9. In the Printers box, click Generic/Text Only, and then click Next.
10. Under Printer Name, type TEST.
11. Under Do you want to use this printer as the default printer, click YES.
12. Click Next, and then click Do Not Share this printer.
13. Click Next, and then click No under Do you want to print a test page.
14. Click Next, and then click Finish.
15. In the Printers folder, right-click the Generic/Text Only printer, and then click Set as Default.
16. Right-click your original printer, and then click Set as Default.

The printer driver is damaged, and it requires reinstallation

To complete this procedure, you must have the Microsoft Windows Installation Disc, or the printer driver disk or CD-ROM from the printer manufacturer. To reinstall the printer driver, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click your default printer, and then click Delete. If you prompted to remove extra files left on the system, click Yes.
3. Under Printer Tasks, click Add a printer, and then follow the instructions on the screen to reinstall the printer driver.

When you reinstall the printer driver, Windows writes the correct entries for the ports, printer ports, and Windows sections in the Win.ini file.

Note If you are on a network, you may have to install the correct printer driver from a shared printer. Contact the network administrator for instructions about how to do this.

There is a device conflict on the printer port

If you cannot print to the local printer at all, there may be a device that is conflicting with the computer printer port, or the port may not be turned on. To remove and reinstall the printer port, follow these steps:

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
3. Expand Ports (COM & LPT), and then double-click the port that the printer is using.
4. If the Device status box says that the device is working correctly, you may have some other system problem.
5. If the Device Status box indicates a problem, click OK, and then click Remove.
6. Click OK, and then restart your computer.
7. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. If Control Panel icons are not displayed, click Switch to Classic View under Control Panel.
8. Double-click Add Hardware, and then wait for Windows to detect the hardware in your computer.

If the port still does not work after you remove and reinstall it, examine the printer cable or the BIOS settings on the computer to make sure that the port is turned on. See the computer documentation for instructions about how to do this.

Files in the Windows printing subsystem are damaged

You can use the System File Checker tool to scan all protected files and verify their versions. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start.
2. Click Run, type sfc /scannow in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
   Note This command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions. You may have to provide access to the Windows installation source files.

For more information about the System File Checker for Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310747 Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

There is a problem with the fax configuration

If you receive this error message when you try to send a fax, there may be a problem with the way that the fax software is configured. If the fax software is provided by a third party, view the documentation that is included with the software for information about how to resolve this issue.