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

Anonymous

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.

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

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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90 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-10-11T14:41:16+00:00

Hello,

Unfortunately, this is not working for me.

The print spooler will not start, so I cannot add a printer.

It says "Error 1068 The dependency service or group failed to start.

Help!
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Anonymous

2016-10-11T14:41:55+00:00

Hello,

Unfortunately, this is not working for me.

The print spooler will not start, so I cannot add a printer.

It says "Error 1068 The dependency service or group failed to start.

Help!
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LemP 74,970 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2016-10-11T16:46:04+00:00

@Luketj --

Please, please ask your own question and provide details about your problem and your system.

There have been significant changes to how one solves printing problems for Windows 7 since 2011 when this thread was started.

A likely cause of your error message is that you have or had a Lexmark printer or Dell-badged Lexmark printer ... but that's only a guess given that you have provided no information about your system. Include the following information:

Click the Start Orb, type services.msc in the Search box, and press Enter

Scroll down to "Print Spooler" and double-click on that entry

Click on the "Dependencies" tab.

Click the + symbols to expand the lists and report what is listed in the two boxes on that tab

Click Cancel to close the window, then exit from the Services applet
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Anonymous

2017-01-06T17:48:25+00:00

Ive tried several things and finally thought i found the solution with this message. got all the way to the end but the PRINTERS file was already empty? so im still stuck.
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