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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2013-09-25T09:09:06+00:00

    Please run System File Checker

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

    This may not work but it is safer than some other suggestion you may find using Google.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-09-25T08:21:07+00:00

    i can't find printer spooler in services.msc ???

    virus?

    My windows 7 have many problem. system restore can't start

    what can i do?....reinstall OS?

    thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-09-12T23:49:01+00:00

    Hi Gerry,

    Thank you for your quick reply.

    I checked the spooler, it was fine, no files in the abovementioned folder, too.

    I actually fixed the problem myself, on a brutal and efficient way. I have another Windows 7 machine, so I started to compare the registry settings, and some entries were missing from the printer monitor sections. So I just extracted the registry key, and merged it on the affected machine. The only thing I had to do afterwords is to perform a quick repair of Office 2013, so it restored the Print to OneNote 2013 printer (I only have Office 2010 on my laptop that I used as a source).

    For those interested, the registry key to merge is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print

    Cheers,

    Arthur

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-09-12T19:46:05+00:00

    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. If it has stopped check that just starting does not solve the problem. If it is not set to Automatic right click and select Properties, General tab. There is a box after StartUp type. The options are available on a drop down by clicking on the arrow down to the right of the box. Make the change and click on Apply and OK. Restart the computer and check whether it has started.

    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 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 may resolve your immediate problem.

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