Print problem in Word 2000 - references .xps file

I've had something change and don't know what. When I attempt to print a document out of "Words 2000" it now sends me to a file screen and says it is an "xps. file" and ask me to save it. I have never had this happen, anytime I ever wanted to print a document it would do it with no problem. Could someone tell me what I need to do to correct this problem. This is extremely aggravating.

Thanks,
Reid

 

It sounds like you're running on Vista, or you've recently installed Office 2007.

The XPS file extension is provided if the default printer has been changed from an existing physical printer. It is trying to "print" the file to what is basically an image file format for viewing in various Office Document Imaging programs.

check your installed printers and make sure that a physical printer is available and set as default.

A couple notes:
If you're running Office 2000, on Vista, I think you may find problems with certain features of Office 2000.
If you're running Office 2007 on the same active partition with Office 2000, again, i think you may find certain challenges when switching back and forth from running one version

 

Thank you very much for your help. The problem was, as you stated, the default had changed (I would love to know how) to "xps document writer" instead of my physical printer. I wonder how this change was made, I have never seen this before? I went in an deleted the problem and made my physical printer the default, problem solved.

Thanks again,
Reid