Excel: General Protection Fault in Module GENDRV.DLL

 Last reviewed: October 6, 1997
Article ID: Q89981

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you run Microsoft Excel under Microsoft Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, and you print a document or view it in print preview, you may receive a general protection (GP) fault in module Gendrv.dll.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you change the printer driver to Gendrv.dll and you previously used a different printer driver with the document.

Microsoft Excel saves printer information with each file. Gendrv.dll and other printer drivers access some of this information through a print quality table. Most printer drivers (those that use Unidrv.dll, for instance) use positive values in this table; however, Gendrv.dll uses negative values. Because Gendrv.dll does not do any error checking, it hangs (stops responding) when it encounters the positive values created by another driver.

This problem has been reported to occur with the following printers and printer drivers: 

   Canon LBP
   Canon LBP4
   DecLaser 1100
   Epson LQ 1050
   Epson2lq.drv
   Gendrv.dll (dated 8/4/92)
   Gendrv.dll (dated 11/1/93)
   Gendrv.dll (dated 1/4/94)
   Gendrv.dll (dated 12/31/93)
   HP Vectra 486
   IBM 4019 Laser Printer
   IBM 40xx
   IBM Laserprinter 10L
   Okidata 810
WARNING: The information in this article has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Some or all of the information in this article has been taken from unconfirmed customer reports. ANY USE BY YOU OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this information "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, copy the Gendrv.dll file dated 7/31/92 to your Windows\System directory.

The following file(s) are available for download from the Microsoft Software Library: 

 ~ Gendrv.exe (size: 58455 bytes)
For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

WORKAROUNDS

If you are unable to obtain the Gendrv.dll driver, use any of the following methods to work around this problem.

Method 1: Copy all of the data in the worksheet to a new file. The printer 

          information will not be copied.

          Note that character formatting may be lost when you use this
          workaround.
Method 2: Another workaround is to save the file in SYLK format. Close the 
          file, then open the SYLK file and print it. SYLK format will save
          the printer information.
Method 3: Select the entire document, and click Copy on the edit menu. In 
          the same sheet, click Paste Special on the Edit menu, and select
          Values or Formulas. Then, click Paste Special, and click Formats.

Additional query words: 4.0 4.00 4.0a 4.00a 5.00 5.00c gp gpf windrvr
wfw wfwg
Keywords : kbfile kbprint
Version : 4.00 4.00a 5.00 5.00c
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: October 6, 1997
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