Print Spooler won't start (error 1053) after recent wave of updates to Win7 64-bit

Anonymous
2012-12-14T05:57:12+00:00

Hi, all.

I have exactly the same print spooler symptoms that many seem to have but none of the posted solutions worked.  I think the issues started at the end of November when I let Windows Update install the latest .NET updates and security updates.

Yes. I cleared out the \printers directory (nothing there)

Yes. I ran the SFC /scannow. All verified.

Yes. I checked my dependencies (just RPC and http and both running)

Yes. I checked the event log file. (the canon driver crashed a couple of times but the last time was back in March)

I just finished spending the day doing a "repair install" (re-installed the OS as an upgrade on top of itself).  That fixed the problem and I had my printer back for about 30 mins, but it broke again as Windows Update caught up with the 110 updates that it needed since SP1.

At this point, I'm almost certain one of the windows or .NET updates is causing this.  If anyone could figure out which one it is then I'd just re-install again and skip it.

Any more ideas?

Thanks,

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2012-12-29T07:45:18+00:00

Fixing this issue is very simple. Here was what I've done to start the Print Spooler:

  1. Click Start, type “services.msc” and hit Enter.
  2. Scroll down to Print spooler.
  3. Right-click Print spooler, then select Properties.
  4. Select the Log On tab, and uncheck the Allow service to interact with desktop setting.

(Microsoft recommends that you do not change the Allow service to interact with desktop setting. If you allow the service to interact with the desktop, any information that the service displays on the desktop will also be displayed on an interactive user's desktop. A malicious user could then take control of the service or attack it from the interactive desktop).

  1. Once you have uncheck this setting, select the General tab and click "Start" (the Print Spooler should be able to start without popping up the Error 1053 again).

Hope this helps!

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-12-31T19:43:05+00:00

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-31T19:09:32+00:00

    You are using a lot of RAM!  I am not a fan of Norton Anti-Virus. I will be interested to what results you get from running Malwarebytes and Super AntiSpyware.

    Type System Information in the Search Box above the start Button and press the ENTER key. Select File, Export and give the file a name noting where it is located. Please upload to your Sky Drive, share and post a link here.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-31T18:40:48+00:00

    I have 64 bit WIndows 7 Home Premium SP1.  Here's the rundown of my memory status

    Hardware Reserved: 20MB

    In Use: 3339 MB

    Modified: 176 MB

    Standby 4354 MB

    Free 329 MB

    Available: 4683 MB

    Cached: 4530 MB

    Total: 8172 MB

    Installed; 8192 MB

    I use Norton Antivirus and it ran a scan yesterday.  I'll give this others a go.

    THanks for your support on this Gerry.   Do you have a working hypothesis for what is going on?

    Bill

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-12-31T18:23:09+00:00

    In Windows 7 use Ctrl+Shift+Esc rather than Ctrl+Alt+Del. It gets you to Task Manager quicker. Select Task Manager, the Performance tab, Resource Monitor, and Memory tab. What are the figures for Hardware Reserved, In Use, Modified, Standby and Free?

    Is your Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit? How much RAM is installed?

    Boot the computer to safe mode with networking and download and install Malwarebytes (freeware version for home users only), update definitions and run in safe mode. Disable other security software whilst you are doing scans.

    http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

    http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

    Download and run SuperAntiSpyware (Free Edition)

    http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

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