Certain programs don't recognize printers anymore

[SEAKOT]

Running Windows XP on my Dell workstation. I have 2 printers that I flip-flop
between, but one is always selected as my default. Recently had to run
registry repair and recovery and since then, I cannot set either of the
printers as a default. In addition (and more alarming), I have certain
programs that don't even recognize that I have printers installed such as
Adobe Photoshop, any .pdf file, any internet explorer file. They all ask me
to set up a printer, but they are all set up in the control panel and
available. Other programs are using them like MS Word and my Outlook account.
Does anyone have any ideas or helpful thoughts????

Thank you,
Katie

 

[Andrew E.]

A good utility for youre set-up might be "Print Migrator",download from
microsoft.It might/might not help in this situation,but probably will at some
other time...

 

[Tom Ferguson]

Delete both printers one at a time. (Is there any other way to do it, you
might well ask.) And use any printer driver cleanup utility that might be
available on the printer maker's www site. Next, install one printer and
test it. Then install the other. This should clean up any corrupted/missing
registry entries for the printers.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

I'd use System Restore to go back to before you ran the Registry Cleaner,
and then get a refund from the software manufacturer. XP and Vista do NOT
like Registry cleaners, and under normal circumstances, they should NOT be
used. A clean install is much more preferable.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

most likely the applications are reading a registry key where the default
printer data is stored.

Verify that user accounts have write access to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device


if the registry tools locked this key or cleared the data some applications
will complain.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.