Article ID: 817134 - Last Review: September 12, 2011 - Revision: 4.0

You receive a "Windows cannot print" error message when you print a large presentation in PowerPoint

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For a Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 version of this article, see 285479 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/285479/EN-US/ ) .

SYMPTOMS

When you try to print a large Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, you may receive an error message that resembles the following error message:

Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup. Try one or more of the following:

Check the printer by printing a test page from Windows.
Make sure the printer is turned on and online.
Reinstall the printer driver.

None of the suggestions in the error message resolve the behavior.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the Microsoft PowerPoint presentation contains pictures or other graphics that make the file size very large.

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To resolve this behavior, reduce the size of the pictures in the presentation. To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of PowerPoint that you are using.

Note You do not have to know in advance which picture is causing the issue.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003

Start PowerPoint, and then open the presentation that is causing the printing issue.
On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Picture to make the Picture toolbar available.
On the Picture toolbar, click Compress Pictures.
In the Compress Pictures dialog box, under Apply to, click All pictures in document.
Under Change resolution, click Print.
Under Options, click to select both the Compress pictures and Delete cropped areas of pictures check boxes, and then click OK.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007

Start PowerPoint, and then open the presentation that is causing the printing issue.
On the Picture Tools tab, click Compress Pictures in the Adjust group.
In the Compress Pictures dialog box, click Options.
Under Target output, click to select the Print (220 ppi): excellent quality on most printers and screens option.
Under Compression options, click to select both the Automatically perform basic compression on save and Delete cropped areas of pictures check boxes, and then click OK.
Click OK.