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White text over a dark background prints in black on Windows XP or on Windows 2000

Article ID: 838292 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

On a computer that is running the Microsoft Windows XP or the Windows 2000 operating system, when you try to print white text on a black background to a color printer that has been set to print in grayscale mode or in black & white mode, the white text does not print.

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CAUSE

The operating system uses Riched20.dll or Msftedit.dll during printing. This problem occurs because Riched20.dll or Msftedit.dll changes white text to black text if the text is positioned on a shaded background or on a colored background. This problem does not occur when the printer is set to print in color.

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RESOLUTION

Windows XP

Hotfix information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/ )

How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed.

Restart requirement

After you apply this hotfix, you do not have to restart the computer.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP, x86-based versions

Collapse this tableExpand this table

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Msftedit.dll	5.41.15.1507	504,832	18-Mar-2004	10:34	x86
Riched20.dll	5.30.23.1219	423,936	19-Mar-2004	02:37	x86

Windows XP, Itanium-based versions

Collapse this tableExpand this table

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Msftedit.dll	5.41.15.1507	1,763,840	18-Mar-2004	10:35	IA-64
Riched20.dll	5.30.23.1219	1,441,280	19-Mar-2004	02:31	IA-64
Wmsftedit.dll	5.41.15.1507	504,832	18-Mar-2004	10:34	x86
Wriched20.dll	5.30.23.1219	423,936	19-Mar-2004	02:37	x86

Windows 2000

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows 2000 Service Pack 3(SP3) installed.

Restart requirement

After you apply this hotfix, you do not have to restart the computer.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

Collapse this tableExpand this table

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Riched20.dll	5.30.23.1219	412,432	18-Mar-2004	16:29	x86

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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Print in color.
You can set the printer to print in color. Because the exact method to make this setting varies from printer to printer, see your printer documentation for more information about how to change the color printing setting for your printer.
Change the font color.
You can change the font color from pure white to an off-white color. This problem occurs only if the font color has the RGB values of Red: 255, Green: 255, and Blue: 255. Other color values that create light-colored text may print as a light gray text on the black background. Because the exact procedure to change the color of the text varies from program to program, see your program documentation or online Help for more information about how to change the text color.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the naming schema for Windows software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

816915

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816915/ )

New file naming schema for Microsoft Windows software update packages

For additional information about the terminology that is used to describe Microsoft product updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )

Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

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