Windows 7 Print Spooler Will not stay running
I have an issue with a Window 7 pro machine in a domain environment. The print spooler service on the machine will not remain running. I can go into services and manually start the service. However as soon as I attempt to add a printer I get the error shown in the attachment. When I go back into services the print spoller is stopped again. Some relevant background info for this problem is as follows. Last week i had an HP printer with a bad board. I have since deleted the printer from the machine but it seems to still be looking for the printer.
ASKER
performed bother registry changes, restarted the computer, no joy, the print spooler was not running, i started it, went to add a printer and got an error again. This a 32 bit version of windows 7 so the link was not it either.
Thank you
Thank you
I find it is usually best to start with the simple fixes and work our way up to more complex if neccesary. A few questions also; first, was the hp printer a network printer or locally connected to the Win 7 box in question? Also, you mentioned you are in a domain environment, is your server acting as a print server?
A few things to try if you have not already done so:
Brandon GIlmer
Network Operations Center Tech
Sago Networks
A few things to try if you have not already done so:
Go into control panel / add remove programs and make sure there are no hp printer support software programs installed. If you find them uninstall them and reboot.
Go into device manager (right click my computer / properties / hardware/ device manager
Make sure there are no printers installed from here. If there are, uninstall them from here. Also make sure there are no exclamation marks next to anything significant.
Make sure there are no printers installed from here. If there are, uninstall them from here. Also make sure there are no exclamation marks next to anything significant.
Brandon GIlmer
Network Operations Center Tech
Sago Networks
ASKER
hey Cranakis, no hp software installed on local machine. All priters are shared out from the server. The machine was never attached locally. No issues in device manager either.
I will say remove all printer driver from the machine first and see if it's back to normal. If it does it mean one of the driver causing the issue and then you can add the printer back one by one and try to identify which one causing the issue.
*Even the printer is shared from the server, the printer driver will still install on the local machine.
2.) From the Control panel window, double-click ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS
3.) In the Administrative Tools window, select PRINT MANAGEMENT
4.) The Print Management window will already have custom filters listed which will
show all installed printers. Since this tool has visibility to the network, we want to make
sure we are focusing on the context of the printers installed on the local computer.
Select and expand the corresponding location on your PC.
5.) You should see all of the installed drivers (driver packages) and printers. You need to remove
any HP entries for your model listed under printers as you can’t remove any driver packages that are referenced by installed printers.
Select Printers under the (local) computer listing and in the center pane, right-
click on HP printer and select DELETE from the menu. Do this for any entry beginning with “HP your printer model”.
6.) Confirm the printer deletion.
7.) Proceed up to the DRIVERS category under the (local) computer as illustrated below.
If there are any HP Driver packages installed on the computer, they will be
listed there. Rick-click the listing for your HP printer and select REMOVE DRIVER PACKAGE from the menu.
8.) You will see a Print Management dialog appear as the system locates all associated
files and prepares for the deletion process. Once the files are located, the DELETE button
will become accessible.
*Even the printer is shared from the server, the printer driver will still install on the local machine.
2.) From the Control panel window, double-click ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS
3.) In the Administrative Tools window, select PRINT MANAGEMENT
4.) The Print Management window will already have custom filters listed which will
show all installed printers. Since this tool has visibility to the network, we want to make
sure we are focusing on the context of the printers installed on the local computer.
Select and expand the corresponding location on your PC.
5.) You should see all of the installed drivers (driver packages) and printers. You need to remove
any HP entries for your model listed under printers as you can’t remove any driver packages that are referenced by installed printers.
Select Printers under the (local) computer listing and in the center pane, right-
click on HP printer and select DELETE from the menu. Do this for any entry beginning with “HP your printer model”.
6.) Confirm the printer deletion.
7.) Proceed up to the DRIVERS category under the (local) computer as illustrated below.
If there are any HP Driver packages installed on the computer, they will be
listed there. Rick-click the listing for your HP printer and select REMOVE DRIVER PACKAGE from the menu.
8.) You will see a Print Management dialog appear as the system locates all associated
files and prepares for the deletion process. Once the files are located, the DELETE button
will become accessible.
ASKER
Nothing listed under Print Management no installed printers or drivers, thank you anyway.
any error code on the event logs?
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ASKER
Windows-Print-spooler-error-Jess.doc
Here is a print screen of the error
Here is a print screen of the error
What if you run a windows 7 OS repair? The OS repair will keep all the existing setting and set up...
Not the start up repair but the full OS repair...
Not the start up repair but the full OS repair...
If after running the sfc mentioned in my last post and rebooting, you are still having the problem. Try this:
Then Reboot and see if that solves your problem.
Brandon GIlmer
Network Operations Center Tech
Sago Networks
In windows explorer navigate to "C:\Windows\System32\spool
Also delete the contents of "C:\Windows\System32\spool
Then Reboot and see if that solves your problem.
Brandon GIlmer
Network Operations Center Tech
Sago Networks
ASKER
Hey All, here is a screen shot from event viewer. this error has occured multiple time over the past week WindowsPrintSpoolerErrorJess2.docx WindowsPrintSpoolerErrorJess2.docx
ASKER
thank you very much!!!!
"sfc /scannow" found some corrupt files.
"sfc /scannow" found some corrupt files.
You can also try cleaning entries from registry (if there are printers you need to keep, note them and re-install afterwards)
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: messing with registry can make your system unstable if you don't know what you're doing. Backup keys you're deleting.
1. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Printers>
Delete everything under there
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Printers>Providers > LanMan Print Services > Servers > Printers
Delete printers there.
Reboot, check to see if service is OK now.