PRB: PrintForm Blank Page or GPF Due to Video Color Depth >256

The PrintForm method in Visual Basic is designed to send a bit-for-bit image of a non-MDI form to the printer.

Using the PrintForm method to print a form to a Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet Series II can give a general protection (GP) fault from Windows due to the cause described below. An HP LaserJet Series IV can print a blank page due to the cause described below. Similar behavior may occur with other printers.

The problem can occur even on a simple form, such as a form with a PrintForm method in the click event of a single command button.

This memory problem can be caused by using a video driver with a color depth setting greater than 256 colors, or greater than 8 bits per pixel.

For example, a color depth setting of 65,000 colors, or 16 bits per pixel, can cause this memory management problem. A color depth setting of 24 bits per pixel for the video driver can also cause this memory problem.

To eliminate the GP fault or blank page problem, reset the color depth of the video driver on your system to 256 colors or less, or 8 bits per pixel or less.

This behavior is caused by memory management limitations between the video driver and Windows.