I close PowerPoint - but instead of closing it stops working

[Preoccupations]

I'm running PowerPoint 2007 SP1 (OS: Vista Ultimate SP1) on two machines. On
both, PowerPoint no longer closes properly: instead, a message appears,
saying the program has stopped working and Windows is checking to see if
there's a solution. This is then followed by either a new message saying
PowerPoint is restarting, or a message which says that Windows will close the
program and notify me if a solution is available.

This happens with no add-ins (these add-ins are, in any case, ones that ship
with the program) and also with add-ins disabled. Office Diagnostics finds
no problems. If I turn off my AV program, the behaviour of PowerPoint is the
same.

Any ideas?

[Echo S]

I just learned this week that outdated printer drivers can also cause this.
I would try installing a Windows-certified printer driver locally (not just
available on a network) and setting it as the default driver. Instructions
here:

How to install a local printer driver
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00605.htm

The driver mentioned in that FAQ is a good one to use as a test.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

"Preoccupations" <Preoccu...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0C776E26-5706-4C6C...@microsoft.com...

[Preoccupations]

Echo S — thank you! I *had* seen the printer idea before, but as I a) have a
Windows-certified, up-to-date printer driver installed and b) that printer is
set as the default printer, I didn't look into it. The link you supplied
made me wonder about the need to make a *local* printer the default: my
laptop's default printer is a networked one. I tried creating a new printer,
using the Print to File option and the (in my case) entirely fictitious HP
LaserJet 4V/4MV (as suggested in the link), and set this as the default — and
it works!

So, many thanks. I'd add the obvious thought: what on earth is PowerPoint
doing behaving like this?!

[Echo S]

Yay!

As for the "why," well...you got me. I got no clue, and I think it's about
the stupidest thing....

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

"Preoccupations" <Preoccu...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A0457091-096F-4803...@microsoft.com...

[R Eid]

I also am experiencing the same problem, but I already have an HP Officejet
Pro L7700 series printer and driver installed locally, so the problem is not
the same as http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00605.htm

However, this local printer IS SHARED on a wireless workgroup connection.

Any ideas?!

[Echo S]

Well, as I suggested in your other thread, try the printer driver mentioned
at that FAQ. It's more generic than the Officejet Pro driver.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

"R Eid" <RE...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6262958E-93AB-42BA...@microsoft.com...

[Kestral33]

I have an HP Photosmart C6150 that was causing problems. As soon as I
installed the "keep PPT Happy" local printer with the LaserJet 4 driver, the
problem went away. Gotta love it..

[Echo S]

Awesome. Glad to hear it.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

"Kestral33" <Kest...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3AD02FBF-51D4-4E4D...@microsoft.com...

[TonyC]

I'm late to this game, but if I do the "keep PPT Happy" thing for my
Photosmart C6180, am I going to have to select the C6180 each time I print
rather than just click print and get the product? If I do, that is
unacceptable. Secondly, is this an HP issue, a PPT issue, or both? I sure
hope there is no circular finger pointing going on here...evrything involved
was supposedly Vista certified.
--
The BC Gang

[Steve Rindsberg]

In article <6878267F-2AD2-4A9D...@microsoft.com>, TonyC wrote:
> I'm late to this game, but if I do the "keep PPT Happy" thing for my
> Photosmart C6180, am I going to have to select the C6180 each time I print
> rather than just click print and get the product?

The HappyPrinter thing is just a test. If you install a known-good printer
driver and your problems go away, you know that the problems were caused by a
(now) known-not-good printer driver.

PPT didn't change, the printer driver did, ergo it's a printer driver issue.
Of course it could be argued that PPT might be ... SHOULD be ... a WEE bit less
neurotic about printer driver specifics. MS realizes that this is a problem.

If leaving your Photosmart printer set as default causes problems, then I
suppose you'll have to switch printers before printing. If you normally just
click the print button to print, that's something of a nuisance to do, more of
a nuisance to have to REMEMBER to do it.

If you normally print using the print dialog though, it only means one more
click.

I'd keep an eye out for driver updates from HP.

> If I do, that is
> unacceptable. Secondly, is this an HP issue, a PPT issue, or both? I sure
> hope there is no circular finger pointing going on here...evrything involved
> was supposedly Vista certified.

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