You experience problems when you try to print a document in a 32-bit program on a computer that is running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista

Consider the following scenario:

• You install a 64-bit version of Windows Vista.
• You install printer drivers.
• In a 32-bit program, you open the Print dialog box.

In this scenario, you experience one of the following symptoms:

• If you click Properties two times, two Properties dialog boxes appear. Then, the 32-bit program stops responding. Also, the printer drivers and the Splwow64.exe process stop responding. Moreover, you experience high CPU usage.
• If you open a Print dialog box in Internet Explorer, click Preferences, close the Preferences dialog box by clicking a button, and then click Preferences again, Internet Explorer stops responding.
• If you click the Advanced tab in a Microsoft Office program, the program may stop responding. When you try to close the program that has stopped responding, you receive an error message that resembles the following:
  You cannot close <Application name> because a dialog box is open. Click OK, switch to <application> and then close the dialog.

These problems occur because of an issue with the Splwow64.exe process.

Service pack information

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

Hotfix information

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

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions

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 Windows Vista Service Pack 1.