Windows 7 printer spooler stopped and can't print re-install drivers or add a printer

Anonymous
2011-05-15T16:41:33+00:00

Original title: Windows 7: Print spooler fails, can't print with printers, can't re-install drivers for printers, can't add a printer. Basically everything for printers is no more.

This all started after the lates batch of May Windows 7 fixes were automatically installed.

Ran the MS 'Fix-it' but it was unsucessful; could do no more than stop and re-start the spooler service.

Tried using services to start, stop the spooler service without any luck. Shutdown the machine, rebooted numerous times, have gone back to previous restore point from a month ago.

Downloaded drivers to re-install but half way through the installation it barps - printer spooler stopped and so it aborts installing the driver.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2011-05-16T09:29:28+00:00

I would check the status of the Print Spooler Service.

Click on the Start button and select Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services. Locate Print Spooler in the list. Check that it has started and that the StartUp type is Automatic.

I suspect that it has stopped and that just starting it will not solve the problem.

You may need to show hidden files. Type Folder Options in the search box above the Start button and select View, Advanced Settings and verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked and "Hide protected operating system files" is unchecked. You may need to scroll down to see the second item. You should also make certain that the box before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.

Now access Windows Explorer and select c:\windows\system32\spool\printers. Normally this folder should be empty but there is a problem when files with “spl” and “shd” extensions stick there. Delete the files and restart your computer. This should resolve your problem.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-16T23:54:14+00:00

    Gerry,

    I loaded Windows 7 over a year ago and the label on the CD states that it includes service pack 1.

    The printer workedd fine until around October of last year. I get regular windows updates.

    The questions I now have are:

    1: Why is the system trying to find drivers for Dell_Photo_AIO_printAF05?

    2: Should I update the BIOS to version 1.0.13?

    3:   To whom should I address these questions?

    Thank you so very much Gerry for your patiences and probing so deeply into this headache.

    You have been supurb! Kudos.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-16T22:41:05+00:00

    Crosby

    Your computer was designed for Windows XP / Vista. When was it upgraded to Windows 7? Has it ever worked properly since upgrading to Windows 7?

    You can update the BIOS to version  1.0.13

    http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-531

    There are, however, no drivers for Windows 7 so I am not sure it is sensible to update the BIOS.

    The Windows 7 SP1 update and subsequent updates have never been installed. This means the operating system has all the original bugs in Windows 7 when it was released in 2009.

    I presume that this is the printer that is not working?

    Dell Photo AIO Printer 966      Dell Photo AIO Printer 966      USB002              Not Available

    The system is trying to locate a driver for this device: 

    Dell_Photo_AIO_PrintAF05

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-16T21:20:04+00:00

    Update! I used system restore to restart the system at the point prior to the install of the 14 Windows updates on 2/13. Now my printers are all back and seem to be working (just checked one, the atached physical printer). So now, what is the best course? Install the updates one at a time? Or, does someone know how to find out which of these updates (IF that is the cause) resulted in the spooler going south?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-16T19:36:10+00:00

    Gerry (or anyone),

    I have a similar problem. This is a Dell XPS8300 running Win7 Home Premium 64 bit with all updates. The problem started shortly after the install of 14 Windows updates; I can't say if it was immediately after. All printers are gone, both physical printers and the soft printers like SnagIt printer, etc. The Spooler service was stopped. Trying to start it gets: "Windows could not start the Print Spooler service on Local Computer. Error 1053: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion"

    I sure could use a brilliant idea!

    Wayne

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