Outlook 2000 help

I have been trying to figure this problem out for months now. I have researched and researched, but came to no conclusion other than the fact it could be a office 2000 or windows related problem. I have a toshiba satellite pro 6100, and whenever i try to print “within” outlook, the printer properties does not come up, but instead it flashes at the taskbar. I know you can double click the taskbar and then you can print or you can copy/paste the document elsewhere and print too. But i really want to know why this is happening, it only happens when i try to print a any document within outlook. Can anyone help please.
Thanks much