Fatal Exception in Wsipx.vxd Printing to Epson Stylus Photo 870/760

When you print to an Epson Stylus Photo 870 printer or Epson Stylus Photo 760 printer, you may receive the following error message:

This error message can occur if the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol is installed but is not bound to a network adapter.

IPX/SPX Is Not Required on Your Network

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If IPX/SPX is not required in your network configuration, remove the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol from the list of installed network components:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
2. Click IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol, and then click Remove.
3. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.

After the computer restarts, verify that the problem no longer occurs.

If the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol is not listed in the list of installed network components or if the issue still occurs after you remove the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol, you may be able to resolve the problem by adding and removing the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
2. Click Add, click Protocol, and then click Add.
3. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Network Protocols box, click IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol, and then click OK.
4. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.
5. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
6. Click IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol, and then click Remove.
7. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.

After the computer restarts, verify that the problem no longer occurs.

If the problem still occurs, manually rename the Wsipx.vxd file and remove its entry from the registry:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VxD\Winsock
3. In the right pane, delete the "IPX/SPX Winsock Provider=wsipx.vxd" value.
4. Quit Registry Editor.
5. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
6. In the Named box, type wsipx.vxd. In the Look In box, click drive C or the drive that contains the Windows folder, and then click Find Now.
7. Right-click the found Wsipx.vxd file, and then click Rename. Rename the file to Wsipx.old.
8. Close the Find window, and then restart your computer.

IPX/SPX Is Required on Your Network

If IPX/SPX is required in your network configuration, this issue can occur if the IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol is installed but is not bound to your network adapter. To resolve this issue:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network.
2. Click your network adapter, and then click Properties.
3. On the Bindings tab, click to select the IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol check box, and then click OK.
4. Click OK. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.