iamuser
asked on
removing print drivers from Windows 10
I want to remove the drivers for a print in Windows 10. On the local workstation, print server properties. drivers, if i click on remove it tells me that "unable to remove the specific [romter driver is currently in use". If i stop the print spooler so it unloads the print driver, I get the message " the local print spooler service is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine". How do I go about remove the print driver on the workstation?
The driver is probably assigned to a printer already and the driver for that active printer needs to be switched. Once the printer drive is switched, restart the system, verify the driver is no longer in use and then try the removal again
Pretty much the same for Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Go to Devices and Printers. click once on any one printer, see the Printer Server Management menu come up. Go to the Drivers tab. Look at the drivers and remove the one(s) you want to remove. I do this and it works.
Go to Devices and Printers. click once on any one printer, see the Printer Server Management menu come up. Go to the Drivers tab. Look at the drivers and remove the one(s) you want to remove. I do this and it works.
ASKER
This is what I did exactly
Go to Devices and Printers. click once on any one printer, see the Printer Server Management menu come up. Go to the Drivers tab. Look at the drivers and remove the one(s) you want to remove. I do this and it works.
But it won't let me delete the driver. It tells me that it's being used.
There is only 2 printers on the workstation. And they re not even remotely in the same family. The printer on the workstation isn't shared out. There isn't another printer that's using the same driver.
Go to Devices and Printers. click once on any one printer, see the Printer Server Management menu come up. Go to the Drivers tab. Look at the drivers and remove the one(s) you want to remove. I do this and it works.
But it won't let me delete the driver. It tells me that it's being used.
The driver is probably assigned to a printer already and the driver for that active printer needs to be switched. Once the printer drive is switched, restart the system, verify the driver is no longer in use and then try the removal again
There is only 2 printers on the workstation. And they re not even remotely in the same family. The printer on the workstation isn't shared out. There isn't another printer that's using the same driver.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
I tried this 2 times already unfortunately
Turn the Print Spooler OFF, restart and turn it back on. That should allow you to remove drivers.
This is not working either
Turn the Print Spooler OFF, restart and turn it back on. That should allow you to remove drivers.
This is not working either
Try the following:
1. Win+R, msconfig, and in the Boot tab, set to restart in Safe Mode.
2. Copy the folder C:\Windows\System32\Spool\ to a safe place and then delete everything inside SPOOL but do not delete the spool folder itself.
3. Go back to msconfig, set for normal mode and restart.
I have seen the instruction 2 above several times but never had to use it.
1. Win+R, msconfig, and in the Boot tab, set to restart in Safe Mode.
2. Copy the folder C:\Windows\System32\Spool\
3. Go back to msconfig, set for normal mode and restart.
I have seen the instruction 2 above several times but never had to use it.
@iamuser - Did you try the Safe Mode suggestions.
ASKER
for whatever the second time i did this it worked
Thanks for the update and I was happy to help.