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
    2012-12-31T23:43:13+00:00

    Free update for Movie Collector:

    http://www.collectorz.com/movie/

    I can only see a paid update for Power DVD 10:

    http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdvd/compare-pdvd10_en_GB.html?&r=1

    and for Media Suite 7:

    http://www.cyberlink.com/products/cyberlink-media-suite/overview_en_GB.html

    Please note that the Advisor does not say that they are incompatible.

    Can you see Canon Utilities and Family Tree Maker in the StartUps using Auto runs?

    To identify what loads when you boot use Autoruns (freeware from Microsoft).

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

    With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from starting, or you can right click an item and then delete it. If you uncheck you can recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer approach than editing the Registry and better than using msconfig.

    A useful feature of the programme is that you can right click an item and select Search Online to get information about the item selected.

    If yes we can see what might be done.

    Please post new copies of the Event Viewer logs tomorrow so that we can see what impact your changes have made.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-01T14:47:24+00:00

    Happy New Year Gerry!

    I do not see Canon Utilities or Family Tree Maker in the Autoruns Logon Tab.  I uploaded a screen shot as a Word file to my Skydrive.

    I also uploaded System Log and Application Log events.  I continue to get the timeout error on the Interactive Services Detection service at 52 minutes past every hour.  There must be some sort of maintenance routine set to run at this time that is triggering the error on this service.   It is curious that the event did NOT occcur at 3:52am, but that there IS an error at 3:52am in the Application Log, specifically of taskeng.exe.

    Aside from these errors occuring in the Event Viewer, I do not seem to be having any problems with my system.   Perhaps these are normal events, something to be expected.   The printers are all showing (the Print Spooler service stays started). 

    Your help is much appreciated!

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-01T17:03:41+00:00

    Your Autoruns screen shot only gives details of the items on the Log on tab. Click on the Everything tab and you will see lots more. I have not tried this before but after the detection of startup items has completed you can select File, Save. This places a file named Autoruns.arn in your Documents folder. Please upload this file as a shared file to your Sky Drive.

    The errors you mention appear to be the only repeating errors. Type Schedule tasks in the Search Box above the start Button and press the ENTER key. Under Task Status to the right of the window is a scroll. Check that Last 24 hours is selected and click on the Refresh. button (bootom right). In the list under Task Name are listed all scheduled tasks. You may need to drag the Run Result header to the right to see the full Task Name details.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-01-01T18:09:02+00:00

    I've uploaded the Autoruns.arn file and a screenshot of the Scheduler utility. 

    Note that the Adobe Flash Player Updater is supposed to update hourly at 52 minutes past the hour.  No doubt that is triggering the error.  I see that the Adobe Flash Player Update service is a "Manual" Update type and on the Properties>Log On tab, the "Allow service to interact with desktop" box i unchecked.

    Seems like progress!  Thanks, Bill

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