faesal-troubleshoot.blogspot.com

Cross browser compatibility (FireFox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari)

2008-03-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

It's hard to check your theme in all browsers. There are a number of tools which are available to help look at your theme in multiple browsers.

Browser Shots is freely available but can take a while to get your screenshots.
BrowserCam is paid service with a 24 hour trial.

On Windows you can use Internet Explorer and download Firefox or Opera. On Linux you can use Konqueror, a KHTML based browser, which Safari uses on MacOS, Opera, Firefox for Linux, and Internet Explorer can be run under WINE. On Mac OSX you can use Safari and download Firefox or Opera.

Actually debugging problems in your theme

2008-03-07T18:15:00.001-08:00

There is no easy solution to debug your theme. If you are having trouble you should try to use the simplest base theme possible or select a theme that is known to work that is as close to your end goal as possible. Learning the CSS classes in your theme is critical to understanding where your CSS changes will be applied. Try to find other themers by talking in IRC, providing documentation, and tutorials of what you have done. Make your existing theme available so that others can review and provide feedback on what you have done. Making friends with PHP programmers who can help you understand what the underlying PHP theme template is doing is also very important. Consider an exchange of skills to get support.

This page was written by Kieran Lal, and Trae McCombs from CivicSpace Labs with Theodore Serbinski. If you would like to contribute or help m

Cross browser compatibility (FireFox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari)

2008-03-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

Tools for managing inconsistencies in your theme

We recommend you start with a standards compliant browser for your themes such as Firefox. Firefox allows you to highlight portions of your web page and right click view selected source to understand what your themes CSS classes are. Understanding how CSS classes for you theme are applied to the underlying xhtml is the key to understanding your theme.
Use standard CSS naming conventions. We recommend adopting these naming conventions for you CSS classes.
Select a valid DOCTYPE type for your theme and include a DocType Declaration(DTD).
To help in analyzing your HTML and CSS we recommend you install the Firebug plugin for Firefox. It is an invaluable tool that allows you to look at your css and html and change it in real time to evaluate the effects of your changes. Another very useful Firefox plugin is the Web Developer toolbar. This has tons of handy utilities.
The view formatted source extension for FireFox displays formatted and color-coded source and optional CSS information for each element.
Before you start modifying your CSS to fix your bugs it is important to ensure you are styling valid HTML or xHTML. There is a web validator built into the Firefox Web Developer toolbar. Opera has built in validation, just press Ctrl+Alt+V.
A more advanced tool for analyzing HTML pages for looking over code, spotting errors is the Watchfire WebXACT tool.
If you find a problem with invalid XHTML in a module file an issue and include screenshots showing how this causes problems in the theme.
To see how your site will look to search engines you can use Lynx viewer.
Positioning problems in your site with Internet Explorer can be resolved using these references: Position Everything Internet Explorer Primer
A library of examples of problems can be found at Quirks mode.

It's hard to check your theme in all browsers. There are a number of tools which are available to help look at your theme in multiple browsers.

Browser Shots is freely available but can take a while to get your screenshots.
BrowserCam is paid service with a 24 hour trial.

Your page should not look the same everywhere

2008-03-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

Another very important thing to notice is the nature of HTML and CSS. They are meant to look different in different places. My mobile phone is not able to show your fancy 6 column fixed with javascript based layout. And it should not be able to. Safari and Konqueror decided to not allow certain styles in forms (security and desktop consistency). Large screens will resize your font and that might break your fixed with layout. People using older screens will have larger font sizes set. People with bad internet connections often disable images. Or even CSS.

So keep in mind that your style is nothing more than an advice for browsers to display it in certain ways. It is by no means a law.

Problem: The "Mail" button is missing

2008-03-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

You can customize the toolbar to add or remove icons, including the mail icon

Right-click the Star icon in the IE window
Choose Customize Command Bar
Choose Add or Remove commands
Click on the Read Mail item in the Available toolbar buttons list
Click the Add button to move the button to the Current toolbar buttons list
Click the Close button

If the button still isn't visible, it may be pushed off the side of the screen. To fix this:

Right-click the Star icon in the IE window
Uncheck Lock the Toolbars
Drag the dotted splitter in the command bar to the left until all of the buttons are visible

Problem: Crashes or hangs

2008-03-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

If IE crashes, the most likely problem is that there's a buggy add-on (Toolbar or Browser Helper Object). In order to verify and isolate the buggy add-on, follow these steps:

Start IE in No Add-ons mode, either by right-clicking the Desktop icon, or clicking START | RUN and typing: iexplore.exe -extoff
Determine if IE fails.
If not, use Tools | Manage Add-ons to disable all browser extensions and toolbars.
Restart IE and reenable browser extensions one-by-one.
Once you've found a broken extension, contact the manufacturer and ask for an update.

(Reference: http://support.microsoft.com/?id=928426)

If IE still crashes on startup, and you've got Google Desktop installed, please ensure that you update to the latest version of Google Desktop.

Solaris Troubleshooting and Performance Tuning

2008-03-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

These pages have been updated for Solaris 10. While some information is included for versions of Solaris back to 2.5.1 (when these pages were first written), some information for older versions of Solaris has been discarded where it interfered with the clarity of presentation. The focus of these pages is on Solaris 8-10.

The purpose of these pages is to provide a summary of tools and techniques available to troubleshoot problems on the Solaris platform. This collection reflects publicly-available information from Sun documentation, books on Solaris administration, web-based resources and magazine articles. Source documents are referenced on several of the included pages. (Particularly outstanding references may be found at the bottom of this page.)

The content on these pages is maintained by Scott Cromar. (Used with permission.) Comments on the contents of this page may be logged to The Solaris Troubleshooting Blog. Thank you to the people who have pointed out erroneous or poorly presented information.

How to Troubleshoot Your Refrigerator

2008-03-06T05:57:00.000-08:00

Step 1:
Make sure the cord is plugged in and that the breaker hasn't tripped.

Step 2:
Check the settings on the temperature control if the fridge is too warm or too cold. This is the dial that's usually located at the top front or right rear of the refrigerator.

Step 3:
Note the ambient temperature of the kitchen. If the fridge seems to be running for a long time, it may be that the room is just warm. If that's not the case, make sure the door isn't being left open and that the door gasket is sealing.

Step 4:
Vacuum the coils under the fridge. Dust may be keeping them from cooling properly.

Step 5:
Be sure that the appliance is at least 4 inches from the wall to ensure enough circulation to the coils on the back.

Step 6:
Notice if the light comes on, but the motor doesn't run. The temperature control may be turned off. If the control is properly set, you may have a bad thermostat.

Step 7:
Change the switch if the bulb is staying on when the door is shut. You can check this by pressing the button located along the hinged side of the door. The light should go off when you press it.

Step 8:
Listen for unusual noises. Are the shelves rattling? You may need to tighten the supports on the back wall. Items on the shelves may also be the cause of the sound, such as glass bottles clattering together.

Step 9:
Remove the base grill. Is the defrost pan the culprit? Make sure it's on its tracks and that the felt pads are in place.

Step 10:
Check the condenser fan under the fridge. Sometimes paper stuck in it makes a racket. If there is something there, be sure to disconnect the power before you attempt to remove it.

How to Troubleshoot the Worst PC Disasters

2008-03-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

What do you do when your computer suddenly seems possessed? Whether it's satanic software or a hard drive from hell, there are hundreds of vexing problems that can make it devilishly difficult to get anything done.

Don't call for an exorcist just yet. For most people, a little troubleshooting knowledge goes a long way. We'll show you how to solve puzzling network failures, save devices that were accidentally dropped in water, retrieve mistakenly deleted digital photos, and even revive a dead hard drive by popping it into a freezer.

Not every trick in these pages will work for everyone, but they're worth a shot when things go bad. With a pinch of luck and a bit of skill, you can send those digital demons back to wherever they came from.

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT PRINTER PROBLEMS

2008-03-06T05:51:00.000-08:00

PRINTER

1. Read the book. I cannot begin to tell you how many people have brought their printer to my shop with the User Manual and paid my wife (no computer expert) $32.50 to sit-down, read the book, and fix the printer. Unfortunately, some printer books aren't worth reading...

2. Check the manufacturer's web site. The problem you are having has most likely happened before. If the manufacturer has a good web site, you may find the answer there and save a lot of time, money, and frustration. Go to our Manufacturer Links page to get there fast.

3. Is it plugged-in? Make sure the printer is plugged into a live outlet. If it is plugged into a surge protector, make sure it is on. Try moving it from the surge protector to a known-good wall outlet.

4. Is it on? Ok, you can't print and Windows, etc. says it can't find the printer. Make sure the darn thing is turned on and there are no error lights (LEDs) lit. If there are error lights, refer to the user manual/manufacturer's web site. You should hear the print mechanism initialize when power is applied and most printers have at least one light which will be illuminated when it is on.

5. Is it on-line? Most printers have and on-line LED and button or the equivalent. The computer cannot communicate or send stuff to a printer that is not on-line; i.e., not connected to the cable between the printer and computer, and that is what "on-line" literally means. Again, I have gone to customer sites, pushed the on-line button, and charged them for my time and travel (I try to accomplish at least that much on the phone, but some...).

6. Is it beeping at you? Most printers will beep once or twice during or after initialization. If it beeps more than that or beeps constantly, the poor thing is either hurt or trying to tell you something is wrong. Look in the manual or go to the web site to learn what it is saying. Unfortunately, beep code documentation can be hard to find, the beep you hear may not listed, or the meaning of the beep is nebulous. Most, printers will beep when out of paper or out of ink and those are the most common causes for a printer turning into a road runner.

7. Does it test-print? Most printers have a built-in diagnostics program which can be very useful for troubleshooting problems and test-printing without a computer. They are usually initiated by pressing a button or two while turning on the printer. Check your user manual. If the printer test-prints OK, you have probably eliminated the mechanical print mechanism as the problem.

8. Does it have ink or toner? Is the Ink cartridge full, ribbon installed correctly, or laser cartridge full? An ink jet printer may have a black and a color cartridge. Check both of them or at least set the printer to use a cartridge with ink in it. You can usually extend the life of a laser cartridge long enough to order a new one by removing the cartridge and gently shaking it side-to-side to redistribute the tone. Sometimes you can get a ribbon going temporally by removing from the printer and manually advancing the ribbon past a worn spot by turning the sprockets.

9. Is it clean? Most ink jet printers have a simple user procedure for cleaning the print heads. You may have to clean them periodically or after the printer has been idle for a few days or weeks. If you see funny colors or print-outs are missing colors, a cartridge may be empty or a head dirty. You may have to clean a head many times to get it working again.

10. Does it have paper? Be sure the paper is installed correctly and there is enough of it. Most printers have a paper-out detector. On most dot matrix printers it is a photo diode. If form-fed paper is not aligned correctly (usually on the left side) the diode won't see it. DOS may indicate it has lost communications with a printer which is out of paper instead issuing a paper-out error.

11. Is it jammed? Paper jams are frequently the reason my wife is able to fix many printers. She's very good at it (and she has smaller fingers than mine). Always read the manual on how to clear a jam. Don't be a "gorilla" with your printer! You can easily damage a printer (strip gear threads, etc.), or even get hurt, if you do not follow instructions and are not careful. Turn the power off--unplug it. You have 110 volts running around the inside many printers. And print heads, gears, etc. like to nip fingers.

Laser printers have some very fine wires to remove static charges from the paper near the fuser mechanism which will break if you aren't very careful. Also, the fuser itself can be very hot (it fuses/melts toner to the paper).

Don't move a print head unless the instructions direct it. You can damage the belt, etc.

Address labels cause many paper jams and cannot always be seen. The old shirt cardboard trick can be used to dislodge them from many printers. Just feed a shirt cardboard (or cut a piece of like-sized cardboard form a file folder) through like a sheet of paper and wiggle the label loose and out.

Staples, paperclips, dog hair, and cookie crumbs are among the many things we have coaxed out of printers. A staple will raise havoc with the drum in laser printers. If you see vertical lines on pages printed by a laser printer (or copy machine), the drum is probably scratched. Replacing it can be a very expensive repair, indeed.

If jams persist, or the printer won't feed paper, there is a good chance that gears are stripped or rollers are worn-down or have flat spots. Fixing this sort of problem may require specialized tools and elaborate alignment procedures and is often best done at a printer repair depot. It is not usually economically feasible to send low-end ink jet and dot matrix printers, etc. to a repair depot. Sometimes roller problems can be fixed by cleaning the rollers.

Changing to a different kind of paper may help. Refer to your user manual for guidance.

On humid days, slightly damp paper can cause jams by sticking together causing more than one sheet to be fed at a time. Try removing the paper from its tray, etc. and fanning it. Make sure the edges or corners aren't curled and the tray is either not too empty or too full. Read the book...

Troubleshoot printing problems (Acrobat 5.0-7.0 on Windows)

2008-03-05T18:15:00.000-08:00

What's covered

Determine the cause of the problem

Resolve problems printing a specific PDF file from an Acrobat product

Resolve problems printing any file from any application

Resolve problems printing any PDF file to a PostScript printer

Resolve problems printing any PDF file to a non-PostScript printer

This document provides troubleshooting suggestions from Adobe Technical Support that may help you resolve general printing problems in Adobe Acrobat products. You may find a solution to a specific printing problem by searching the Support Knowledgebase on the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/products/acrobat.html .

This document uses the term Acrobat product to refer to Adobe Acrobat (Professional and Standard), Adobe Acrobat Elements, and Adobe Reader.

Determine the cause of the problem

Before you can troubleshoot the problem, you need to determine its cause.

To determine the cause of the printing problem:

1. Print another PDF file, such as the first page of Acrobat Help:

-- If that file prints correctly, the PDF file that doesn't print correctly may be damaged. See "Resolve problems printing a specific PDF file from an Acrobat product" in this document.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, go to step 2.

2. Print another type of file (for example, a .txt file) from another application (such as Microsoft Word or WordPad):

-- If that file prints correctly, the problem isn't system-wide--it's specific to the Acrobat product. However, the way Acrobat interacts with the system may affect printing performance. Go to step 3 to eliminate some system-related causes of the problem.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, the problem is system-wide--it isn't specific to Acrobat or PDF files. The problem could be low system resources, insufficient memory on your printer, or a poor connection between your computer and the printer. Go to step 3 to eliminate some likely causes of the problem.

3. Restart your computer, and then print a PDF file:

-- If the file prints correctly, your system may have been out of memory or resources.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, go to step 4.

4. Turn off your printer for at least 15 seconds to flush its memory, and then turn it back on and print a PDF file:

-- If the file prints correctly, the printer's memory was too full.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, go to step 5.

5. Print from another computer:

-- If the file prints correctly, the computer you first tried to print from may be unable to connect to the printer or the network correctly. Contact your network administrator or consult your network documentation.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, go to step 6.

6. Print a PDF file to another printer:

-- If the file prints correctly, the computer you first tried to print from may be unable to connect to the original printer because of a communication, hardware, or memory problem. Make sure that the printer is turned on and connected properly, and then run a self-test on it to make sure that it's working correctly. For instructions, see the documentation that came with the printer. You may want to contact your network administrator for assistance.

-- If the file doesn't print correctly, see "Resolve problems printing any file from any application" in this document.

Resolve problems printing a specific PDF file from an Acrobat product

If you have problems printing an individual PDF file, do one or more of the following, printing after each task:

1. Print the PDF file as an image.

Printing the PDF file as an image may enable the file to print, but it doesn't identify the source of the problem; proceed through this document to identify the source.

Note: When you print a PDF file as an image, it may take longer to print.

To print a PDF file as an image:

Acrobat 7.0 and 6.x:

1. Choose File > Print, and then click Advanced.

2. Select Print As Image and any other desired printing options.

3. Click OK to close the Advanced Print Setup dialog box, and then click OK.

Acrobat 5.x:

1. Choose File > Print.

2. Select Print as Image, and then click OK.

2. Save the PDF file as a new file.

Resave the document by choosing File > Save As, and giving the file a new name. The Save As command causes Acrobat to rewrite the file.

3. Enable the PostScript error handler.

If you print to a PostScript printer, enable the PostScript error handler for the printer (if the printer driver includes this option). The PostScript error handler prints a list of PostScript errors that occur when you print. For help interpreting and resolving PostScript errors, see document 328515, "Troubleshoot PostScript Errors."

To enable the PostScript error handler:

Windows 2000 and XP:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers (Windows 2000) or Start > Printers and Faxes (Windows XP).

2. Right-click the printer, and then choose Properties from the menu.

3. Click the General tab, click Printing Preferences, and then click Advanced.

4. Expand the Document Options, and then expand the PostScript Options.

5. Set Send PostScript Error Handler to Yes.

Windows NT 4:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers.

2. Right-click the printer, and then choose Document Defaults from the menu.

3. Click the Advanced tab.

4. Expand the Document Options, and then expand the PostScript Options.

5. Set Send PostScript Error Handler to Yes.

Windows Me, 98, and 95:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers.

2. Right-click the printer, and then choose Properties from the menu.

3. Click the PostScript tab, and then select Print Postscript Error Information.

4. Exit from all other applications.

In Windows Me, 98, or 95, keep at least 50% of the system resources free when printing from an Acrobat product. If the system resources are below 50%, exit from all applications but the Acrobat product. You may need to restart Windows to update system resource information.

To check the amount of available resources, right-click My Computer, choose Properties from the menu, and then click the Performance tab.

5. Re-create the PDF file.

Re-create the PDF file by using a different method. For example, use Acrobat Distiller or the Adobe PDF Printer.

6. Download the PDF file again.

If you downloaded the PDF file from the web, download it again--it may not have successfully downloaded the first time.

7. Print the PDF file in batches.

Print the PDF file in batches to determine if a particular page, or object on a page, is causing the problem. If you can identify a particular object on a page that won't print, remove or re-create the page or object.

8. Adjust the transparency flattening. (Acrobat Professional 6.0-7.0 only)

If a document contains transparent objects, Acrobat flattens it before printing it. Flattening removes transparency information and converts images to a format the printer can interpret. Adjust the transparency flattening to determine if transparency is causing the problem.

To adjust the transparency flattening:

1. Choose File > Print, and then click Advanced.

2. Choose Transparency Flattening from the list on the left.

3. Adjust the Raster/Vector Balance:

-- If you print to an inkjet printer, drag the Raster/Vector Balance slider to the lowest setting.

-- If you print to a PostScript printer, drag the Raster/Vector Balance slider to the highest setting.

4. Select Convert All Text To Outlines.

5. Deselect Clip Complex Regions, click OK, and then click Print.

9. Select the default print settings. (Acrobat 6.0-7.0 only)

Print using the default settings to determine if a variant print setting is causing the problem.

To select the default print settings:

1. Choose File > Print, and then click Advanced.

2. Choose Acrobat Default (Acrobat 7.0) or Acrobat 6 Default (Acrobat 6.0) or from the Settings menu, and then click OK.

3. Click OK to close the dialog box, and then click Print.

10. Merge or flatten layers. (Acrobat 6.0-7.0 Professional only)

If you print a PDF file that contains layers, only the content that is visible on-screen is printed. Acrobat Professional, however, lets you specify which layer is visible and printable. Merge or flatten the layers in the PDF file to determine if a layer is causing the printing issue. Merged layers acquire the properties of the layer into which they are merged. Flattening layers discards any content that isn't visible.

Note: Merging or flattening layers can't be undone.

To merge or flatten layers:

1. Make a backup copy of your PDF file.

2. Open the copy and choose Advanced > PDF Optimizer, and then click the Clean Up tab.

2. Select Remove Hidden Layers Content and Flatten Layers, and then click OK.

3. In the Layers palette, choose Options, and then select either Merge Layers or Flatten Layers.

11. Print a composite of the file. (Acrobat 6.0-7.0 Professional only)

If you print a PDF file with color separations, print a composite of the file to determine if a color plate is the problem. When you print a composite, all the colors print on one plate, regardless of whether individual colors are selected.

12. Change the PostScript options. (Acrobat 6.0-7.0 Professional only)

Print by using variations of the default PostScript options to determine if a variant print setting causes the problem.

To change the PostScript options:

1. Choose File > Print, and then click Advanced.

2. Select PostScript Options from the list on the left.

3. Select any PostScript options that aren't selected and deselect any options that are selected.

4. Click OK to close the dialog box, and then click Print.

Resolve problems printing any file from any application

If you have problems printing any file from the computer, contact Microsoft Technical Support or the printer manufacturer. Make sure that the printer is on, and check the physical connections between the printer and the computer--the solution may be as simple as reconnecting a loose cable.

Also, note any recent changes to the computer system that may affect printing, such as the following:

-- updating hardware or software

-- adding new hardware or software

-- deleting software

-- installing or removing fonts

-- connecting to a network

-- rearranging or cleaning up files on the hard drive

Keep a record of changes made to the system to help you troubleshoot printing and other problems. If the problem persists, work through the other sections in this document, as applicable.

Resolve problems printing any PDF file to a PostScript printer

If you have problems printing any PDF file from an Acrobat product to a PostScript printer, do one or more of the following, printing after each task:

1. Use the latest version of the Acrobat product.

Visit the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html for current version information and updates, or choose Check For Updates Now from the Help menu.

2. Use an updated printer driver.

Use the Universal Installer (WinInstaller) to automatically install the PostScript printer driver that is compatible with your version of Windows. The most recent version of the Universal Installer is available on the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html .

Note: If you use a network printer, the print server may not be set up to run alternate drivers for different operating systems on client computers. You may be using a printer driver that's compatible with the print server's operating system but not with your computer's operating system. To install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system, reconfigure the network printer using the Add Printer Wizard. For instructions, see task 8.

3. Use an updated PPD file.

A PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file describes the capabilities of a PostScript printer for settings such as margins, color, and resolution. Incorrect or outdated PPD files can increase print times. Configure your printer in the Printers Control Panel with the PPD file recommended by the printer manufacturer.

To obtain a PPD file for your device, contact the printer manufacturer or visit www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html .

4. Set up the printer driver to output optimized PostScript code.

If you set up the printer driver to output PostScript code that's optimized for portability and in binary format, the amount of scaling the driver must do is minimized, thus preventing it from losing portions of images.

Windows XP and 2000:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers.

2. Right-click the printer, and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.

3. Click the General tab.

4. Click Printing Preferences, and then click Advanced.

5. Expand the Document Options, and then expand the PostScript Options.

6. Set PostScript Output Option to Optimize for Portability.

Windows NT 4.0:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers.

2. Right-click the printer, and choose Document Defaults from the pop-up menu. Click the Advanced tab.

3. Expand the Document Options, and then expand the PostScript Options.

4. Set PostScript Output Option to Optimize for Portability.

Windows Me, 98, or 95:

1. Choose Start > Settings > Printers.

2. Right-click the printer, and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.

3. Click the PostScript tab, and then set PostScript Output Format to PostScript (Optimize for Portability).

5. Move the PDF file to a local hard disk.

If the file that won't print is on a removable drive (for example, a Zip or Jaz disk) or on a network drive, move the file to a local hard disk. Adobe recommends storing files on a local hard disk when you open, save, or print them to reduce potential problems and damage to your files.

6. Create more free disk space.

Make sure that plenty of free hard disk space is available: Adobe recommends that free space is equivalent to three to five times the size of the file you print. To create more space, search for and delete temporary (.tmp) files on your computer, and clear the disk cache that the web browser uses. For instructions about clearing the disk cache, see the documentation for the browser. If you use Windows NT, 2000 or XP, you can also free up disk space bypassing the spool file, which stores temporary files to the system disk during printing. For instructions to bypass the spool file, see the documentation included with Windows.

7. Print from a local printer.

If you print to a network printer, try printing the file from a computer that is connected directly to a local printer:

-- If an Acrobat product is installed on the computer, print the PDF file from Acrobat.

-- If an Acrobat product isn't installed on the computer, save the PDF file as a PostScript file, and then copy the PostScript file to the printer from a DOS prompt. For instructions, refer to the Windows documentation.

If the file prints correctly, network-related issues may be the cause. Contact the network administrator for assistance.

8. Install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system.

If you use a network printer, install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system. Print servers don't always provide drivers for operating systems running on client computers, so you may be using a printer driver that's appropriate for the print server's operating system but not for your computer's operating system.

To install a printer driver that's compatible with your operating system:

1. Choose Start > Settings, and then double-click Printers (Windows Me, 2000, 98, or NT) or Printers and Faxes (Windows XP).

2. Right-click the network printer, and then choose Delete from the menu.

3. Double-click Add Printer, and then click Next.

4. Select Local Printer Attached to This Computer, deselect Automatically Detect and Install My Plug and Play Printer, and then click Next.

5. Select Create a New Port.

6. Choose Local Port from the Type of Port pop-up menu, and then click Next.

7. In the Port Name dialog box, type the path for the print server and printer (for example, \\printservername\printername), and then click OK.

8. Follow the on-screen instructions to install a driver that matches the brand and model of your network printer.

9. Save the printer memory.

Select Save Printer Memory in the Print dialog box of the Acrobat product. If Save Printer Memory is selected, all fonts for a given page download to the printer before the page prints; if Save Printer Memory is deselected, print jobs require more printer memory.

Resolve problems printing any PDF file to a non-PostScript printer

If you have problems printing any PDF file from an Acrobat product to a non-PostScript printer, do one or more of the following, printing after each task:

Disclaimer: Some of these solutions require you to change the printer driver properties. The locations for specific properties vary by printer and by printer driver. Therefore, Adobe Technical Support cannot provide detailed information about the location for each property. Contact the printer manufacturer or refer to the printer documentation for more information.

1. Switch to the standard VGA driver.

Switch to the standard VGA driver to determine if the video driver causes the problem. If the error doesn't occur when you use the standard VGA driver, contact the video card manufacturer for an updated driver. If you already use the current version, try using a different video resolution (for example, 800 x 600 rather than 1024 x 768).

Note: Standard VGA drivers display 16 colors only. Switch to Super VGA for applications that require a minimum of 256 colors, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, or Adobe Illustrator.

To switch to the standard VGA driver:

Windows NT, 2000 or XP:

Start Windows in VGA mode.

Windows 98:

Note: You may need your Windows 98 CD-ROM to install the standard VGA driver.

1. Right-click the desktop, and then choose Properties from the pop-up menu.

2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced.

3. Click the Adapter tab.

4. Make a note of the Adapter Type you currently use, and then click Change.

5. Click Next in the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box that reports "This wizard searches for updated driver . . . ."

6. Select "Display a List of All the Drivers in a Specific Location, So You Can Select the Driver You Want" in the next dialog box, and then click Next.

7. Select Show All Hardware.

8. Choose [Standard Display Types] from the list of manufacturers, and then choose Standard Display Adapter [VGA] from the list of Models.

9. Click Next.

10. Click Yes in the Update Driver Warning dialog box that prompts "The driver that you have chosen was not written specifically for the selected hardware . . . ."

11. Click Next in the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box that reports the driver location.

12. Click Finish when you receive the message "Windows has finished installing the driver you selected for your hardware device."

13. Click the Monitor tab.

14. Note the Monitor Type you currently use, and then click Change.

15. Click Next in the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box that reports "This wizard searches for updated driver . . . ."

16. Select "Display a List of All the Drivers in a Specific Location, So You Can Select the Driver You Want" in the next dialog box, and then click Next.

17. Select Show All Hardware.

18. Choose [Standard Monitor Types] from the list of manufacturers.

19. Choose Standard VGA 640 x 480 from the list of models, and then click Next.

20. Click Finish when you receive the message "Windows has finished installing the driver you selected for your hardware device."

21. Click Apply.

22. Click OK when you receive the message "These settings will take effect when your computer is restarted." To revert to the original video driver, select the Adapter Type and Monitor Type you noted in steps 4 and 14.

Windows 95:

1. Right-click the desktop, and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.

2. In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab, and then click Advanced Properties.

3. Select the Adapter tab, note the Adapter Type you currently use, and then click Change.

4. In the Select Device dialog box, select Show All Devices.

5. Select Standard Display Types from the top of the Manufacturers scroll box.

6. Select Standard Display Adapter (VGA) from the Models scroll box, and then click OK.

7. Click the Monitor tab, note the Monitor Type you're currently using, and then click Change.

8. In the Select Device dialog box, select Show All Devices.

9. Select Standard Monitor Types from the top of the Manufacturers scroll box.

10. Select Standard VGA 640 x 480 from the Models scroll box, and then click OK.

11. Restart Windows 95.

2. Ensure that the printer has enough memory.

Ensure that the printer has enough memory to print all page elements. To print at 300 dpi, the printer should have at least 2 MB of available RAM. To print at 600 dpi, the printer should have at least 4 to 6 MB of RAM. For instructions on determining available printer memory, see the printer documentation.

3. Use the printer's PostScript mode.

If the printer has a PostScript option, use the PostScript mode. For details, see the printer documentation.