Windows Vista Forums

Default printer changes all by itself

  1. #1


    Jay Guest

    Default printer changes all by itself

    Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and went
    to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the default
    had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What is
    happening?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Cari \(MS-MVP\) Guest

    Re: Default printer changes all by itself

    If a printer is uninstalled by the User but is still available (connected),
    then Windows will reinstall it. The correct way to 'get rid of' a printer
    but keep it connected is to disable it.

    Some printers like to be default. This is nothing to do with Windows or
    Microsoft but a (usually) unwanted 'feature' of the printer drivers. Sounds
    like your HP printer(s) have drivers which like to force the issue.

    If you wish to totally uninstall a printer, make sure you disconnect the
    printer(s) in question from the PC and follow steps 1 through 5 at:
    http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

    As I mentioned above, if you cannot physically disconnect the printer(s)
    (perhaps they are elsewhere on a network you connect or belong to), then
    right click on the printer(s) and select Disable.
    --
    Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imaging
    www.coribright.com/windows

    "Jay" <Jay@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:108F1642-02CE-4ECD-9CED-184136D198B9@xxxxxx

    > Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    > was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    > done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and
    > went
    > to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the
    > default
    > had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    > look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    > (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What
    > is
    > happening?

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Jay Guest

    Re: Default printer changes all by itself

    Thank you much however I dont want to get rid of my HP drivers or my HP
    printers. I am concerned about the copies of drivers that I didnt create or
    ask for. I went ahead and deleted the copies of the drivers and made my Ebson
    driver my default but still when I upload a document to an email, even if
    Word is not open, I continue to receive error messages regarding Word. This
    does not happen with an Excel doc.

    "Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:

    > If a printer is uninstalled by the User but is still available (connected),
    > then Windows will reinstall it. The correct way to 'get rid of' a printer
    > but keep it connected is to disable it.
    >
    > Some printers like to be default. This is nothing to do with Windows or
    > Microsoft but a (usually) unwanted 'feature' of the printer drivers. Sounds
    > like your HP printer(s) have drivers which like to force the issue.
    >
    > If you wish to totally uninstall a printer, make sure you disconnect the
    > printer(s) in question from the PC and follow steps 1 through 5 at:
    > http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm
    >
    > As I mentioned above, if you cannot physically disconnect the printer(s)
    > (perhaps they are elsewhere on a network you connect or belong to), then
    > right click on the printer(s) and select Disable.
    > --
    > Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imaging
    > www.coribright.com/windows
    >
    > "Jay" <Jay@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:108F1642-02CE-4ECD-9CED-184136D198B9@xxxxxx

    > > Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    > > was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    > > done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and
    > > went
    > > to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the
    > > default
    > > had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    > > look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    > > (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What
    > > is
    > > happening?
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Clark Guest

    Re: Default printer changes all by itself

    Jay wrote:

    > Thank you much however I dont want to get rid of my HP drivers or my HP
    > printers. I am concerned about the copies of drivers that I didnt create or
    > ask for. I went ahead and deleted the copies of the drivers and made my Ebson
    > driver my default but still when I upload a document to an email, even if
    > Word is not open, I continue to receive error messages regarding Word. This
    > does not happen with an Excel doc.
    >
    > "Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:
    >

    >> If a printer is uninstalled by the User but is still available (connected),
    >> then Windows will reinstall it. The correct way to 'get rid of' a printer
    >> but keep it connected is to disable it.
    >>
    >> Some printers like to be default. This is nothing to do with Windows or
    >> Microsoft but a (usually) unwanted 'feature' of the printer drivers. Sounds
    >> like your HP printer(s) have drivers which like to force the issue.
    >>
    >> If you wish to totally uninstall a printer, make sure you disconnect the
    >> printer(s) in question from the PC and follow steps 1 through 5 at:
    >> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm
    >>
    >> As I mentioned above, if you cannot physically disconnect the printer(s)
    >> (perhaps they are elsewhere on a network you connect or belong to), then
    >> right click on the printer(s) and select Disable.
    >> --
    >> Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imaging
    >> www.coribright.com/windows
    >>
    >> "Jay" <Jay@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >> news:108F1642-02CE-4ECD-9CED-184136D198B9@xxxxxx

    >>> Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    >>> was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    >>> done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and
    >>> went
    >>> to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the
    >>> default
    >>> had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    >>> look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    >>> (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What
    >>> is
    >>> happening?
    Which version of Word are you using, and where are you changing your
    setting for the default printer?

    Do you know what causes the new printers to be added, when you reboot or
    when you try to print a document?

    Back in the old days, when you created a document with a specific
    printer as the default, it would use fonts or setting associated with
    that printer. Changing default printers would change the look of the
    document to match the new printer. I don't think this is still true in
    most cases, but you might try creating a new document with the Epson
    printer set to default, in the printer dialog box and Word, and see if
    you have the same type of problems.

    Maybe re-save your current documents with the Epson printer as default
    and see if you continue to have problems with that document.

    Does it make any difference which font you use for the document, and
    which one are you using?

    Clark

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Jay Guest

    Re: Default printer changes all by itself

    I am using MS Office 2007 and I always use Times New Roman. Now when they are
    added, no clue. I only notice them when I open the printer dialog box to
    print something. I only added the Ebson Driver because MS advised of the work
    around. I don't even have an Ebson printer. I get error messages every time I
    upload my resume to either an email message or to a web page that has the
    capability. This may be something i have to live with

    "Clark" wrote:

    > Jay wrote:

    > > Thank you much however I dont want to get rid of my HP drivers or my HP
    > > printers. I am concerned about the copies of drivers that I didnt create or
    > > ask for. I went ahead and deleted the copies of the drivers and made my Ebson
    > > driver my default but still when I upload a document to an email, even if
    > > Word is not open, I continue to receive error messages regarding Word. This
    > > does not happen with an Excel doc.
    > >
    > > "Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:
    > >

    > >> If a printer is uninstalled by the User but is still available (connected),
    > >> then Windows will reinstall it. The correct way to 'get rid of' a printer
    > >> but keep it connected is to disable it.
    > >>
    > >> Some printers like to be default. This is nothing to do with Windows or
    > >> Microsoft but a (usually) unwanted 'feature' of the printer drivers. Sounds
    > >> like your HP printer(s) have drivers which like to force the issue.
    > >>
    > >> If you wish to totally uninstall a printer, make sure you disconnect the
    > >> printer(s) in question from the PC and follow steps 1 through 5 at:
    > >> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm
    > >>
    > >> As I mentioned above, if you cannot physically disconnect the printer(s)
    > >> (perhaps they are elsewhere on a network you connect or belong to), then
    > >> right click on the printer(s) and select Disable.
    > >> --
    > >> Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imaging
    > >> www.coribright.com/windows
    > >>
    > >> "Jay" <Jay@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > >> news:108F1642-02CE-4ECD-9CED-184136D198B9@xxxxxx
    > >>> Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    > >>> was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    > >>> done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and
    > >>> went
    > >>> to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the
    > >>> default
    > >>> had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    > >>> look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    > >>> (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What
    > >>> is
    > >>> happening?
    >
    > Which version of Word are you using, and where are you changing your
    > setting for the default printer?
    >
    > Do you know what causes the new printers to be added, when you reboot or
    > when you try to print a document?
    >
    > Back in the old days, when you created a document with a specific
    > printer as the default, it would use fonts or setting associated with
    > that printer. Changing default printers would change the look of the
    > document to match the new printer. I don't think this is still true in
    > most cases, but you might try creating a new document with the Epson
    > printer set to default, in the printer dialog box and Word, and see if
    > you have the same type of problems.
    >
    > Maybe re-save your current documents with the Epson printer as default
    > and see if you continue to have problems with that document.
    >
    > Does it make any difference which font you use for the document, and
    > which one are you using?
    >
    > Clark
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Clark Guest

    Re: Default printer changes all by itself

    Jay wrote:

    > I am using MS Office 2007 and I always use Times New Roman. Now when they are
    > added, no clue. I only notice them when I open the printer dialog box to
    > print something. I only added the Ebson Driver because MS advised of the work
    > around. I don't even have an Ebson printer. I get error messages every time I
    > upload my resume to either an email message or to a web page that has the
    > capability. This may be something i have to live with
    >
    > "Clark" wrote:
    >

    >> Jay wrote:

    >>> Thank you much however I dont want to get rid of my HP drivers or my HP
    >>> printers. I am concerned about the copies of drivers that I didnt create or
    >>> ask for. I went ahead and deleted the copies of the drivers and made my Ebson
    >>> driver my default but still when I upload a document to an email, even if
    >>> Word is not open, I continue to receive error messages regarding Word. This
    >>> does not happen with an Excel doc.
    >>>
    >>> "Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:
    >>>
    >>>> If a printer is uninstalled by the User but is still available (connected),
    >>>> then Windows will reinstall it. The correct way to 'get rid of' a printer
    >>>> but keep it connected is to disable it.
    >>>>
    >>>> Some printers like to be default. This is nothing to do with Windows or
    >>>> Microsoft but a (usually) unwanted 'feature' of the printer drivers. Sounds
    >>>> like your HP printer(s) have drivers which like to force the issue.
    >>>>
    >>>> If you wish to totally uninstall a printer, make sure you disconnect the
    >>>> printer(s) in question from the PC and follow steps 1 through 5 at:
    >>>> http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm
    >>>>
    >>>> As I mentioned above, if you cannot physically disconnect the printer(s)
    >>>> (perhaps they are elsewhere on a network you connect or belong to), then
    >>>> right click on the printer(s) and select Disable.
    >>>> --
    >>>> Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imaging
    >>>> www.coribright.com/windows
    >>>>
    >>>> "Jay" <Jay@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >>>> news:108F1642-02CE-4ECD-9CED-184136D198B9@xxxxxx
    >>>>> Vista Home premium, In the past I have had problems with Word crashing and
    >>>>> was told to change my default HP printer for anything other than HP. I had
    >>>>> done so and it still doesnt work correctly. Today I open a document and
    >>>>> went
    >>>>> to print it. My default was on an Ebson printer but this morning the
    >>>>> default
    >>>>> had changed all by itself to, get this, a copy of on of my HP printers. I
    >>>>> look deeper and all of my HP printers have make copies of themself called
    >>>>> (copy 1) I did not do this and I did not change my default printer. What
    >>>>> is
    >>>>> happening?
    >> Which version of Word are you using, and where are you changing your
    >> setting for the default printer?
    >>
    >> Do you know what causes the new printers to be added, when you reboot or
    >> when you try to print a document?
    >>
    >> Back in the old days, when you created a document with a specific
    >> printer as the default, it would use fonts or setting associated with
    >> that printer. Changing default printers would change the look of the
    >> document to match the new printer. I don't think this is still true in
    >> most cases, but you might try creating a new document with the Epson
    >> printer set to default, in the printer dialog box and Word, and see if
    >> you have the same type of problems.
    >>
    >> Maybe re-save your current documents with the Epson printer as default
    >> and see if you continue to have problems with that document.
    >>
    >> Does it make any difference which font you use for the document, and
    >> which one are you using?
    >>
    >> Clark
    >>
    As Cari mentioned, you could disable certain printers and see what
    happens. You could also start checking more often to see when the
    printers are added.

    Are you really saying Ebson and not Epson? If Ebson, is that part of a
    software package?

    I have had no problems with Word 2007 and any printers, two of which are
    HP. There was someone who was trying to print .PDFs using the Word
    converter and could not because of an anti-virus. It was locking up the
    process for some reason. It was the Kapersky, I believe. And you do
    have the Word updates?

    I certainly haven't see all the possibilities, but the only workaround
    for some printers I have seen was for Quicken where they put other types
    of printers on the same port as the real printer to be able to print
    from Quicken. Is that the sort of process you are using?

    Maybe you could describe the "Workaround" process you are using?

    Clark

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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