GP Fault or Hourglass (Computer Hangs) Printing Help Topic
  
PSS ID Number: Q110202
Article last modified on 09-10-1996
 
6.00
 
WINDOWS
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
 - Microsoft Windows Printing System version 1.0
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SYMPTOMS
========
 
With Windows Printing System as the Default Printer
---------------------------------------------------
 
If you choose the Print button in a Help procedure (How To) window in Word
for Windows online Help to print the current Help topic, a general
protection (GP) fault may occur when Windows Printing System (WPS) is the
default printer.
 
After you exit the GP Fault dialog box, the Help session closes. If you
restart Help, you can choose the Close, Print, Index, and On Top buttons in
the How To window, but nothing happens. You must quit and restart Windows
to regain the functionality of these buttons.
 
With Generic/Text Only Printer Driver (Version 3.1) as the Default Printer
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If you choose the Print button in a How To window in Word for Windows
online Help to print the current Help topic, an hourglass pointer appears
and your computer hangs (stops responding) when the Generic/Text Only
printer driver is the default printer.
 
You must quit and restart Windows (you may need to restart [reboot] your
computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL) to regain any Windows functionality.
 
With HP DeskJet Printer Driver Version 4.0, or 4.1 as the Default Printer
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A GP fault occurs when you attempt to print from a How To box in Help, if
you are using the Hewlett-Packard DeskJet printer driver version 4.0 or
4.1. The GP fault occurs in the video driver module.
 
CAUSE
=====
 
When either printer driver is the current default printer, the GP fault or
hanging problem occurs if the Help topic contains a graphic image or
bitmap, regardless of whether the graphic is a hot spot or not (a hot spot
is a region that activates another Help topic or action when you click it
with the mouse). The problems do not occur if the Help topic contains no
graphics or bitmaps.
 
NOTE: This problem is actually larger in scope; it occurs in any secondary
windows (Help procedure windows are secondary windows) that contain bitmaps
or graphic images when you print using either of these two printer drivers.
 
STATUS
======
 
We are researching this problem and will post new information here in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
 
WORKAROUNDS
===========
 
If you are using the Deskjet printer driver 4.5 or earlier, upgrade to a
later version, 5.0 or 6.1.
 
Method 1: When you want to print a Help topic that appears in a How To
          window, switch to a different default printer driver before you
          print.
 
Method 2: Copy the material from the How To window and paste it in a Word
          document, then print the material from Word. There is no Copy
          button or Menu item in the How to window. To copy the contents of
          the How to window to the Clipboard, press CTRL+INS while the How
          to window is active.
 
          NOTE: Pressing CTRL+C will not work.
 
REFERENCES
==========
 
"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 16-21
 
KBCategory: kbprint
KBSubCategory:
Additional reference words: word6
6.00 w4wprint wps win31 1.00 cbt hlp hang
winword hung crash crashed locks locked frozen freezes crashing quit quits
stopped crashes gpg word6
 
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1996.