Print Spooler stops after trying to print a PDF file and it will not restart.

Anonymous
2010-09-08T17:02:07+00:00

Original Title: Print Spooler![](http://i4.social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/resources/images/trans.gif?cver=2.13.0068.4)

Hello,

The print spooler stops after trying to print a PDF file and it will not restart.  The only way I have been able to print again is to do a System Recovery.  When I try to print a PDF file again the print spooler does the same thing.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanx,

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-09-09T05:04:00+00:00

Hi binofelix,

·        What happens when you try to restart print spooler when it stops? How are you trying to restart the print spooler service? Do you get any error message or any error code?

Try the steps below and check if it helps:

Step 1:

When the print spooler service stops, try restarting it and check if it helps. If you have already tried the steps then ignore Step 1.

a. Click Start and then type "services" (without quotes) in the Start Search box.

b. In the results area, right-click services, and then click “Run as administrator”.

You will be prompted to type the password for an administrator account. Click Continue if you are the administrator or type the administrator password. Then, click Continue.

c. In Services Window locate the service “Print Spooler” and double click on it.

d. Make sure that the Startup type is set to “Automatic” and the Service status is “Started”.

Step 2:

Try running the printer troubleshooter and check if it helps.

Open the Printer troubleshooter

Step 3:

Try the following Microsoft Fixit and check if it helps.

Fix printing problems by resetting the print spooler (Applicable to Windows 7)

Also, have a look at the following article links:

Why can't I print?

Printer problems in Windows

****Hope this helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.

Thanks and Regards, Santosh Y – Microsoft Support

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Anonymous
2014-09-18T08:18:36+00:00

Hello Joe,

Thank you for your reply.

I would suggest you to rebuild print spooler service and check if it helps. Please follow these steps:

a. Press Windows + R keys, type notepad in run window and press Enter.

b. In notepad, copy and paste the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Spooler]

"DisplayName"="@%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1"

"Group"="SpoolerGroup"

"ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\

  74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\

  00,70,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,73,00,76,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00

"Description"="@%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-2"

"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"

"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001

"Start"=dword:00000002

"Type"=dword:00000110

"DependOnService"=hex(7):52,00,50,00,43,00,53,00,53,00,00,00,68,00,74,00,74,00,\

  70,00,00,00,00,00

"ServiceSidType"=dword:00000001

"RequiredPrivileges"=hex(7):53,00,65,00,54,00,63,00,62,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,\

  00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6d,00,70,00,65,00,\

  72,00,73,00,6f,00,6e,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,\

  00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,41,00,75,00,64,00,69,00,74,00,50,00,\

  72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,68,\

  00,61,00,6e,00,67,00,65,00,4e,00,6f,00,74,00,69,00,66,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,\

  69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,4c,00,6f,00,61,\

  00,64,00,44,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,\

  6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,41,00,73,00,73,00,69,00,67,00,6e,\

  00,50,00,72,00,69,00,6d,00,61,00,72,00,79,00,54,00,6f,00,6b,00,65,00,6e,00,\

  50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,00,00

"FailureActions"=hex:80,51,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00,\

  00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,01,00,00,00,60,ea,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Spooler\Performance]

"Close"="PerfClose"

"Collect"="PerfCollect"

"Collect Timeout"=dword:000007d0

"Library"="winspool.drv"

"Object List"="1450"

"Open"="PerfOpen"

"Open Timeout"=dword:00000fa0

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Spooler\Security]

"Security"=hex:01,00,14,80,78,00,00,00,84,00,00,00,14,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,02,\

  00,1c,00,01,00,00,00,02,80,14,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\

  00,00,02,00,48,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,8d,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,\

  05,0b,00,00,00,00,00,18,00,ff,01,0f,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\

  20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,fd,01,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,\

  01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00

c. Save the file as .reg file on the desktop.

d. Right click .reg file and select run as administrator.

e. Click yes, when message prompts.

Note: Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/back-up-registry

I hope this helps.

Thank you

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-07T15:02:23+00:00

    That sounds a smart way to solve a problem. If it's not too long why not share the contents of the file or upload a copy of the file to your Sky Drive, share the file and post a link to your Sky Drive here.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-08T10:02:11+00:00

    Original Title: Print Spooler![](http://i4.social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/resources/images/trans.gif?cver=2.13.0068.4)

    Hello,

    The print spooler stops after trying to print a PDF file and it will not restart.  The only way I have been able to print again is to do a System Recovery.  When I try to print a PDF file again the print spooler does the same thing.

     

    Any help is appreciated.

    Thanx,

    I had same problem. This problem occurs when we try to print bank statements .pdf files .I have done the following troubleshooting and it fixed for me

    1 . Go To "%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS" and delete all the files

    2.  I Uninstalled the Adobe reader from the system and installed the Nuance pdf.

    Hope this can help you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-16T16:45:14+00:00

    I have multiple client with the same issue, and after hundreds of different troubleshoots, I've FINALLY FOUND THE FIX!!!!!!!!!!

    First, go to C:/Windows/System32/spool/Printers

    Really all you have to do is navigate to the spool folder... select the Printers folder and click Shift+del (permanent delete.. does not send to recycle bin).

    Uninstall the print driver/software for problematic printer.

    Go into your directory and delete the folder containing all the data for problematic printer... We are getting rid of all parts of this driver/software.

    Restart computer (this will restart the print spooler service btw).  Install the printer using current driver (like you're adding the printer for the first time). The few I've done I've actually used the same driver (pcl6) just redownloaded from manufacturor's website, and then added the printer either when prompted (Xerox), or added through devices and printers/printer and faxes: depending on your OS.

    So to recap, get rid of everything possible accociated with printer causing the .shd/shockwave print spooler death files.  Reboot computer (rids registry and restarts spooler automaticly).  And reinstall with the most current driver you can find on the manufacturor's website... print and take the shotgun out of your mouth... Problem is extreamly frustrating: especially is you're in support and it reoccurs often. Hope this helps.. it sure helped me.

    Ps... I did nothing with Adobe or any other software.. I'm assuming this is a straight driver issue. I've seen it with Xerox, HP, and Brother/Dell... all OS's. Non-discriminent pain in the rear IT killer !!!!

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