Help: Msword Won't Print Err=1044

This started a few days ago. I'm stumped.
Machine/Software: DIY Asus MB, AMD cpu, HP 8600 printer; WinXP-3, Office 97-sp3. Yes, ancient! But it services my purposes and has "never" given me any problems. Until...

Out of the blue, Word won't print. All other Office applications as well as other programs print. When attempting to print from Word, I get various messages, as in: no printer connected; printer not selected; cannot print err=1044; sometimes a debug script:

WordBasic.FileOpen "C:\Documents Work\Work\Correspondence\Letter head.doc"
WordBasic.FilePrint 0 [this line is highlighted in yellow]
WordBasic.FileExit 2

Other "won't print" messages to this effect.

Yes to all the usual: printer connected, drivers updated, test page prints, default printer set, printer selected in Word, Office erased and reinstalled [twice]. Just before this started, I recall a passing screen suggesting some problem with the Normal.Dot file [unsure], but trying to track that down has been futile. I've been all over the Net trying this and that solution; none have helped. Advice/leads/solutions all appreciated.

...Happy Holidays... robert

 

Well, The brute force method worked: re-install Windows, Office and the print driver. Not sure which one was the culprit, but suspect that it was at the ops level. The time it took to do the re-installs was much less than the time spent over the last week trying to "fix" the problem. Probably a lesson in that.
...robert

 

Alas, after printing for several hours, the problem re-emerged in its original form: "printer not connected" [etc]. I'm at a loss at this point. Will retry installing the ops and see what happens.
...robert

 

If you don't have another printer installed, download and install novaPDF Lite. It wont conflict with any installed printer(s).
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/novapdf_lite.html
Try and print from Word by selecting novaPDF as the printer.

Here's the location of the Normal.dot file (MSO 2003).
D:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

 

Eldon...
Thanks for helping.
The novapdf.exe file that I downloaded won't open/install. No idea what that is about.
...robert

 

Eldon...
I found a program, novapl.exe that would load. Did so. When attempting a print of a *.doc file with novapl "printer" selected, I get the error message "Word cannot change printers. No printers are installed." This happens regardless of which printer is set as the default in the printer configuration window. Also, in a novapl window, the program/printer will not print a test page.

This problem is at work, and I'm going home. So, I won't be able to try a solution till I get back in the office.
Again, thanks.

...robert

 

You mentioned the Normal.dot file.
Did you find it? What happens when you double-click it?

 

Double-clicking the normal.dot file brings up a blank sheet in Word. Typing a few words and then attempting to print results in the printing error described previously. Today's error says, "No printer installed." As above, printer is installed, selected and working. For example, printing is routine from MS WordPad [*.rtf files], etc. Thanks for sticking with this one. "You're my only hope, Obi-Wan Eldon." [Tickets to the opening of Episode VII in hand!]
...robert

 

The normal.dot file is MS Word's default template file used for creating new documents or editing existing documents based on this. To eliminate faults arising from the normal.dot being corrupt try resetting it as per: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/247028

You could also try the steps listed at: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/168198

Does your error occur on new documents or existing ones or both?

 

It will take me a day or so to go through this. I'll get back when I have some new findings. Thanks.
...robert

 

Clearly the problem is with Word.
Do you have the Microsoft Office setup disc?

 

Yes, and I've totally removed all of Office 97 and re-installed it, twice. That didn't seem to solve the problem. I can, of course, try that again. One option is not to install SP-3 for Off97 and see how the original program runs. Another option is to remove all of Office97 and then re-install just Word. In the rush of all this - it's my office word processor - I seem to recall that Word printed once after one of the re-installs and then reverted to the problem under discussion. I'll try the last option and report back. Again, thanks.
...robert

 

My apologies...
I missed that you already re-installed MS Office - post #2.
This problem is baffling.

 

Just now... deleted all of Off97, re-installed just Word, printing okay. Installed Off97 SP3 and printing failed. Repeated this twice with same results. Re-installed Word and then Excel and Access w/o SP3. Printing still okay. So, it seems to come down to the SP3 disk. This is baffling as the problem "just stated" w/o any software changes. My SP3 disk is the same one that I have always used, and it installs w/o problem suggesting that the SP3 disk/files are okay. So, the "solution" for the moment is not to install SP3 from my disk. This doesn't make a lot of sense, but I can now print, so can't argue with that. Any ideas?

 

You said this problem is at work.
Is this your company? Microsoft Office 97... really? It's only 18 years old. Think about it.

 

Nooo! I work for myself; clinical psychologist doing individual psychotherapy. Once a EE, then cross trained. So, I'm the only one using it. I use Excel for my personal accounting, Access for billing, and Word for office letters - all very simple. So, operationally, never needed anything more. Besides, I have a lot of VBA macros that I have programmed and really don't want to go through the struggle of porting them. Vis the problem, I note that the Office service pack is only #'s 1 & 2, not 3. That said, your nudge to upgrade does strike a cord, given all the above. My use is not net-centric, so don't really need the bells/whistles of recent versions. Any suggestion as to a "sweet spot" in the Office lineup? Many thanks.
...robert

 

While I use MSO 2007 Enterprise with Windows 7 Ultimate, I also still use MSO 2003 Professional with Windows XP Professional. For the latter I have the "Compatability Pack for the 2007 Office system" installed. That allows me to open, edit and save to, the newer formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx/.ppsx) introduced in MSO 2007. That gives me the best of both worlds. I don't believe any home/small office user needs anything more than MSO 2003.

Also have a look at the free edition of WPS Office.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/kingsoft_office_suite_free_2012.html
It includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and a presentation program. It supports the older and newer MSO formats, and you can select the toolbar or ribbon UI. You can continue to use Access in MSO 97.
Unfortunately, the free edition doesn't support macros.

I will go with MSO 2003 Professional.

 

Thanks for the info. One last question... will MSO2003 accept the excel macros from MSO97? Thanks for you help and suggestions. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
...robert

 

Thanks Robert.
I spent many hours teaching myself Word, Excel and PowerPoint. About the only thing I can't do, is use macros - I have no need for them.
Therefor, unfortunately I have no idea whether the macros from MSO 97 will work in MSO 2003.

Ask around (even your patients) if someone uses MSO 2003, and then if you may check your macros on their PC. They will either work or not, they won't mess-up MSO.