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

I also have the same problem, but in my case this solution didn't fix the problem. I deleted all the spool files and restarted the computer. After the restarted I checked to see if the print spooler started automatically (I did set it to start automatically) but it didn't. So I started it manually and it still didn't work.

While typing this I just had a thought. The computer with the problem is running Win 7 Home Basic without the service pack, so I'm going to install it and see if it has any effect on the issue.

I am withdrawing my problem report, below, as I found a solution that worked for me on another site, from someone called j_westin. Bless his heart!

• Stop print spooler service (it probably is stopped...)

Run regedit as admin

delete all printers under following keys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3

Remove all files from

C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3

Start print spooler service.

Add printers back

=====================================================

Dear Gerry,

I have been unsuccessfully battling with spooler problems and disappearing printers. Details below, but I have taken the liberty of posting my event logs and SFC log at this location: http://sdrv.ms/12bAsxv

I am running Win7 X64 Pro, SP1. About a month ago my default, wifi-connected printer ceased to be offered as an option when printing from applications, and disappeared from the “devices and printers” list. Yet as a scanner it remained in the list and continued to work. It still functions normally as both printer and scanner when used from my laptop. Meanwhile, yesterday I discovered that on my desktop PC all other printers (including virtual printers like Save as PDF) have disappeared from “devices and printers”.  Moreover, when I tried to resolve the problem by performing a system restore, I discovered that all my previous restore points have disappeared.

The following failed to solve the problem:

1.      Tried several times to reinstall the printer driver (Epson). This appears to work, but afterwards the printer is not listed in “devices and printers” and is not accessible from applications.

2.      Tried to add the printer as a network printer based on my laptop. I get the error “Windows cannot connect to the printer. The local print spooler service is not running”.  I manually restart the printer spooler, which is already set to automatic start – but still get the error. Also ran the FixIt tool for printer problems.

3.      Inspected the contents of the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder – which is empty (I'm able to view Hidden files). C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers does have folders and files, which I have not tried to delete.

4.      Changed the services setting for the Print Spooler: allowed it to "interact with desktop" and to attempt a restart every time it failed. Also took ownership.

5.      Created a new user with administrator rights and switched to it. I now see my lost printers in “devices and printers”. But they still don’t work…

6.      Ran SFC. It reports that it “found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them”, but I couldn’t make sense of the report in CBS.log

I am going a little crazy… your help will be greatly appreciated!

…Michael Shalev

Dear Gerry,

I have been unsuccessfully battling with spooler problems and disappearing printers. Details below, but I have taken the liberty of posting my event logs and SFC log at this location: http://sdrv.ms/12bAsxv

I am running Win7 X64 Pro, SP1. About a month ago my default, wifi-connected printer ceased to be offered as an option when printing from applications, and disappeared from the “devices and printers” list. Yet as a scanner it remained in the list and continued to work. It still functions normally as both printer and scanner when used from my laptop. Meanwhile, yesterday I discovered that on my desktop PC all other printers (including virtual printers like Save as PDF) have disappeared from “devices and printers”.  Moreover, when I tried to resolve the problem by performing a system restore, I discovered that all my previous restore points have disappeared.

The following failed to solve the problem:

1.      Tried several times to reinstall the printer driver (Epson). This appears to work, but afterwards the printer is not listed in “devices and printers” and is not accessible from applications.

2.      Tried to add the printer as a network printer based on my laptop. I get the error “Windows cannot connect to the printer. The local print spooler service is not running”.  I manually restart the printer spooler, which is already set to automatic start – but still get the error. Also ran the FixIt tool for printer problems.

3.      Inspected the contents of the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder – which is empty (I'm able to view Hidden files). C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers does have folders and files, which I have not tried to delete.

4.      Changed the services setting for the Print Spooler: allowed it to "interact with desktop" and to attempt a restart every time it failed. Also took ownership.

5.      Created a new user with administrator rights and switched to it. I now see my lost printers in “devices and printers”. But they still don’t work…

6.      Ran SFC. It reports that it “found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them”, but I couldn’t make sense of the report in CBS.log

I am going a little crazy… your help will be greatly appreciated!

…Michael Shalev

Please upload and share with everyone copies of your System and Application logs from your Event Viewer to your Sky Drive and post a link here.

To access the System log select Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Event Viewer, from the list in the left side of the window select Windows Logs and System. Place the cursor on System, select Action from the Menu and Save All Events as and give the file a name. Do the same for the Applications log.

Please say if you need help in using Sky Drive.