Printing problem within ms works

Question

I can't print from ms works spreadsheets. I can print from every other application. I have a Dell inspirion & an HP deskjet d2330.I've tried everything from reinstalling works, putting the computer back to original factory settings. Microsoft, dell & Hp tried but couldn't help. Does anyone have any suggestions?

txtchr · Answer

I read your thread on the First Time Users Forum.  A few questions:  can you not print any Excel spreadsheet, or just one particular one?   The reason I ask:  I teach computer software at a high school.  Sometimes my students, when first learning Excel, love to scroll down to the very bottom of the spreadsheet (all 65,000+ rows, and to column IV).  They will then inadvertantly hit a character and delete it from a cell way down there.  Pressing CRTL+Home gets them back to A1 where they are supposed to be in the lesson.  But then when they go to print, Excel recognizes that something was way down there, and attempts to print over 36,000 pages!  Only because we have high-speed network printers and we can yank the cord to cancel the print-job for these errors do we avoid wasting all that paper.  Our printers can handle that memory; yours I venture to say, cannot.   So, pull up your print preview.  Are you being shown only the page that you wish to print (in other words, it shows at the bottom Page 1 of 1 or Page 1 of 2) instead of something bizarre like Page 1 of 255?  That may be the reason for the memory error.   Let me know and we'll work from there, hopefully.   Mary :)

robmas · Answer

I can't any excel spreadsheet. I'm very knowledgeable when it comes to computers. When I try to print preview I get a message that says ot of memory.

robmas · Answer

The computer gets turned off everyday. Yes, I was able to print spreadsheets. I wil try that but I think I already did.

txtchr · Answer

This may be a little more than I can handle, and something may be going on that I'm not sure of.

Since you said you had restored your computer to original factory settings, I can figure that there is nothing lurking in your memory (like you haven't restarted your computer for weeks). Have you ever been able to print from the spreadsheet program? Is this something new? You said you can't even pull up the print preview without it going to an "out of memory" message?

Since I work with Excel and some of the menu options are different than in Works spreadsheet, I'm going to give you some Excel instructions that hopefully you will be able to find. Open up your spreadsheet document. Highlight a small area (let's say A1 to D10). Pull down File --> Print Area --> Set Print Area. Then pull up your Print Preview. Are you still out of memory?

Mary :)

Message Edited by txtchr on 02-11-2007 07:31 PM

txtchr · Answer

Try turning off and re-setting the printer.  Part of the problem is that this is a low-end printer with integrated memory, so it can't handle complex print jobs.  You should have been able to pull up a print preview, even without a printer installed (this can be done on a laptop with no printer cabled to the laptop whatsoever).   What processes do you have running on your Inspiron?  Your printer is relying solely on the memory of your computer, so if your computer is running low on memory, that can have an effect on its ability to print.  Pull up your Windows Task Manager.  How many processes do you have running?  What is your current CPU usage, particularly when you have your spreadsheet program open?  What program is using up the largest percentage of resources?   Mary :)

robmas · Answer

There were 51 processes running with 0 cpu usage before I opened the spreadsheet. After I opened the spreadsheet I had 53 processes opened and 2% cpu usage.I'm not sure what processes I can close.If I do msconfig and go to services and disable all would that help or hurt?

robmas · Answer

With the printer not connected I can print preview. As soon as I connect the printer I get the out of memory message.

robmas · Answer

Thanks for the advice. I only wish HP shared your view that it is the printer. I'm trying to return it. Unfortunately I didn't pick it out. Thanks again.

txtchr · Answer

This seems to be a printer specific issue.  You can carry this one step farther and go to the Inkjet Printer Board since I am not really familiar with this particular model printer with integrated memory, although I have always owned HP inkjets (I currently have multiple DJ5650s in my my household).   Or, you can take a look here:  HP:  How to Increase System Resources without Adding RAM.  Don't know if this will help.  I am not an expert on determining what is or should be running on your system.  You can check some items by going to Start --> Run --> msconfig --> click Services --> then look and see what's running there.  Disregard the Microsoft services and anything from your antivirus software or something that makes your video card run (like NVIDEA or Intel).    Some of this is a little out of my league and I don't want to guide you in the wrong direction.   Truthfully, my advice, and don't take this the wrong way:  buy a better printer.  The old saying works here:  'you get what you pay for.'  The HP site lists this printer at $39.99 retail.  I pay nearly that for one of my color cartridges.  My DJ5650s were all in the $80 range and have never given me a bit of hassle, printing multiple, high-quality print jobs (using Photoshop and InDesign as well as multiple Office programs).    I wish I could help more, but honestly, this is not a problem with your spreadsheet in Works.  It's your printer.   Mary :)

txtchr · Answer

Honestly, Robmas, I have had my particular issues with HP. Although I have owned HP printers for as long as I have owned computers (too many years to count), and HP has a large complex nearly 5 miles from my house (formerly Compaq headquarters here in Houston), I have had beefs with them over their decisions about their printers and how they manufacture them.

In fact, not too long ago I encountered one of their reps at a conference. I griped at him about the fact that HP had abandoned the "single-feed envelope" option on their desk-jets. He told me that "people now use labels instead of printing single envelopes" to which I told him he was full of bunk. I have figured out a way around that issue, but I learned a lesson: no matter what we really want and express to them, they are not listening.

I truly wish I could have helped you resolve your issue. I hoped it wasn't the printer, but I'm certain it is, especially since you said that once you disconnected it you could pull up a print preview. Good luck, and make sure to read multiple reviews when and if you purchase a new printer.

Mary :)

Message Edited by txtchr on 02-12-2007 07:14 PM

Productivity Software

Printing problem within ms works

Was this post helpful?