Solved cannot change default printer

I have windows vista, 64 bit, something automatically changed my default printer settings and now I cannot designate a default printer and it will not allow me to print anything but a word document and email. I cannot print a pdf or an excel sheet, each time I get an error message saying that I have to have a printer installed. I have a printer, the same one I have BEEN using, but it doesn't read that it is there. I have seen previous posts saying to go into regedit and change the HKEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE/MICROSOFT/WINDOWSNT/CURRENT VERSION/WINDOWS and change the entry for the device, deleting the printer name and leaving 'winspool, Ne00' and then to restart. I've done that and it doesn't help.

PLEASE HELP. I've spent several days now trying to figure this out.

You may want to try a system restore from about a week before the problem began. Your stuff will not be affected.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html
If that does not work, uninstall printer, boot computer and install again.

richc46 said:

You may want to try a system restore from about a week before the problem began. Your stuff will not be affected.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html
If that does not work, uninstall printer, boot computer and install again.

Click to expand...

THANK YOU for your suggestion. I had already restored once and it did not fix it, so I saw your suggestion, and my first thought was, "I already tried that", but I decided to try again and see if I could restore to an even older point, and to my surprise, IT FIXED MY PROBLEM! THANKS!

You are very welcome. It is sometimes good to go back about a week before the problem began. Everyone at the Forum wishes you a Happy New Year.