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
    2014-10-02T12:47:15+00:00

    Fixed my problem.  Noticed that one of my (HP) printers had files close to the date my problems began.  That also was the ONLY printer that showed in Devices/Printers, which should have been a clue.

    I ran its HP ToolboxFX Compatibility check, and it suggested (and did) a reset to Windows XP SP2 compatibility - not sure why, as I'm running Win 7 and installed the printer directly to this computer.

    Regardless, after that reset, print spooler starts fine, shows all my printers, and I'm printing again!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-09-26T20:55:31+00:00

    It will not allow me to delete files with the  spl and shd extensions because file is open in the print spooler.  How do I close the file so it will allow for me to delete

    Thanks

    Thomas

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-09-24T18:46:16+00:00

    I'm having the same problem w/ printer spooler refusing to stay started on Win 7.

    Have tried unchecking "Allow interaction w/ desktop", which worked for maybe a minute.

    Malwarebytes found nothing.  Full chkdsk run.  MSFT Printer Fixit started my Spooler and claimed it was done (altho the spooler stopped mere seconds later).

    I changed my regedit settings to look like yours... the differences were:

     Name:            DisplayName

      Type:            REG_SZ

      Data:            Print Spooler  <- changed this to match what you have.  no effect

    Name:            ImagePath

      Type:            REG_EXPAND_SZ

      Data:            C:\WINDOWS\System32\spoolsv.exe  <- this did read as you have above; changed it based on other posts suggesting to specify the exact path; changed it back to match yours and rebooted.  No effect.

    Any other suggestions?  Thanks.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-09-18T10:58:44+00:00

    Select Start, Run, type regedit and press the ENTER key. Check whether the Spooler key is present at the location indicated by the path below.

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler]

    You can expand Computer by clicking the small arrowhead icon to the left of Computer to display HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM, repeating each time as you move further down the path.

    The first few lines of the key will contain this information.

    Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Spooler

    Class Name:        <NO CLASS>

    Last Write Time:   15/05/2014 - 17:16

    Value 0

      Name:            DisplayName

      Type:            REG_SZ

      Data:            @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1

    Value 1

      Name:            Group

      Type:            REG_SZ

      Data:            SpoolerGroup

    Value 2

      Name:            ImagePath

      Type:            REG_EXPAND_SZ

      Data:            %SystemRoot%\System32\spoolsv.exe

    Value 3

      Name:            Description

      Type:            REG_SZ

      Data:            @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-2

    What do you find?

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