Windows 7 Pro 32-bit Print Spooler not staying running

Hey Experts,

I have come across two cases in the last week where a customer is running Windows 7 Pro 32-bit and go to use the printer, only to find that the print spooler is turned off. When I have looked at each machine, the print spooler service is off, but the RPC service is on (print spooler needs it running to run itself).

In both cases, I have restarted the print spooler and can confirm in each case that it is set to start automatically. Once the service is restarted, I can see the device under 'Printers & Devices' but, as soon as I go to print, it seems to stop. Further investigation in both cases shows that the service is actually stopping before I go to print (thanks F5!)

In both cases, the printer is connected through a netgear router and the printer is set up on the network as a local printer with the port being set up with the specific IP address of the printer.

In only one of the cases, a program was installed about 20 minutes (and a dozen prints) before the issue arose), but that program has since been uninstalled.

I have opened a command prompt as Admin and run sfc / scannow but Windows said that no errors were found.

What do you reckon the issue could be?

N.B: In one case, they are running a Fuji-Zerox colour laser mfp, in the other, an HP colour laser printer.