If you have Office XP or older, you can't print a background fill or pattern
inserted with the "Format | Background" command. Such backgrounds are
designed to be viewed on web pages, but not printed. A workaround would be
to open the header, create a full-page text box formatted as Behind Text, and
fill the text box with the desired color or pattern.

"where's the best place to sell my domain" wrote:

I have created a document in word with windows 98 and it is not printing
the background colour which I set to light blue.

does anyone know how I can get it to print this too, as just the text and
images are being printed.

thank you