Vista - XPS Document Writer problems

I have Vista Business on my new LifeBook S6311 and I cannot open the .xps
file that I have created.
"To view the document using the XPS viewer after you print it, click
Preferences, click the XPS Documents tab, and then make sure that the
Automatically open XPS documents using the XPS viewer check box is selected."
I assume the above instruction is for the printer, but when I try to change
the printing preferences there is an error message:
"Function address 0x6de466f2 caused a protection fault. (expection code
0xc0000005) Some or all property pages may not be displayed."
I tried to set IE as the default opener for xps files but that message was
that the file you are dowloading cannot be opened by the default program...
it has an incorrect file type."
Any suggestions most welcome.

--
Thanks

Ugh. Wicky. That's just an ugly ugly issue. I have a pretty fresh install of Windows Vista Home Premium. Just tried creating a .xps vai 'File > Print' in notepad. It opened with IE7. No problems.

That makes me want to ask you to consider opening your IE7, going to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Tab > Reset but thats a pretty drastic measure.

So first, why not Tools > Internet Options > Advanced Tab > Restore Advanced Settings > Apply > Ok. Afterwards, have you considered disabling 'Protected' mode in IE7 on Vista?

The protected mode designed to seperate your IE Browser from the rest of your computer and only allow it to access temporary internet files to provide additional malware/spyware/general internet bad-code?

You can disable in IE7 File 'Tools > Internet Options > Security Tab > Click on first zone, uncheck protected mode > Click on second zone, uncheck protected mode> etc 3rd zone > Apply > Ok > Relaunch the .xps with IE7.
AKA
ALT + T + O on your keyboard > Click on security > Click on first zone, uncheck protected mode > Click on second zone, uncheck protected mode> etc 3rd zone > Apply > Ok > Relaunch .xps with IE7.

How about running application producing the .xps files if its an older application designed for Windows xP in compatibility mode or run as administrator modes?

Also how about right clicking on the programs executable(something.exe), selecting properties, going to the compatibility tab and enabling compatibility mode for win xp sp 2 and checkmarking the run as administrator level?