Printer spooler won't start at startup - Windows 8.1

Anonymous
2013-10-30T06:00:37+00:00

Hi,

Problem started with trying to add a home network printer. I get the error message "Windows can't open Add Printer. There are no more endpoints available from the endpoint mapper."

Each time I boot the PC I have to go to Services and start the Printer Spooler, and then I can add printers, and print, but after a reboot I have to repeat this action again.

The Printer Spooler is set to automatic, but like I say it won't start automatically.

I also checked out the c:\windows\system32\spool\printers folder but it was empty. (deleting all files in this folder has been offered as a solution)

Has anyone worked this one out yet? There seems to be a few people suffering the same issue.

Thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-11-26T18:24:31+00:00

SOLUTION!!!  This worked for me and I have tested it over and over again.

"As suspected by many, the problem is Kaspersky related.

I found a solution: download kavremvr.exe (Kaspersky Lab Products Remover), run the program, select "<Remove all known products>" and then click on "Remove".

Restart the computer, wait, do not panic, the first reboot is slow.

On the first reboot, still the spooler will not restart automatically.

Again, restart the computer, everything should be ok now."

I originally had Kaspersky antivirus installed from the manufacturer which I removed thru add / remove programs back when I had windows 8.  I guess not everything was removed when I originally uninstalled it.  You must do the 2nd restart as described above for it to work.  I found this solution on another thread while searching different keywords trying to get answers.

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

113 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-10T16:41:41+00:00

    I still don't know if I was having a related problem or not, because my print spooler would always be running...but it wouldn't actually WORK until I stopped and started it again.

    I *seem* to have found a fix.   I disabled the fast boot stuff where it's kind of doing a hybrid boot.  Probably the print spooler would be part of that, saved in a running state.  Disabling that so it does a real, clean boot so far has completely fixed it.

    It's possible 8 had the same problem as 8.1 but I never noticed because I had that fast boot turned off in 8 also (it 'came back' when I installed 8.1).  I had it disabled for exactly this reason-the chance of weird behavior that would be hard to track down.

    This particular machine is running a Crucial M4 as the boot drive and a fast Ivy Bridge, so there's no decernable difference in boot times...but personally I'd rather just have a longer boot time to get a clean boot even with a 5400RPM drive than risk weirdness (like this!)  I wish the option to disable that fast boot was more obvious to get at.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T21:05:12+00:00

    final: after exhausting search the solution worked for me was easy , I have hp envy m4 and a couple of hp printers , that wouldn't print unless I enable print spooling manually in serviced.msc

    all what you need to do (after you try everything) is to open services.msc ----print spooler---double click----"log in" tab and uncheck"allow to interact with desktop"

    thanks for the guy who suggested this   http://www.reddit.com/r/windows/comments/166t0g/print_spooler_service_broken_wont_start/

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-06T17:05:03+00:00

    I'm not 100% sure if my problem is related or not.  Since 8.1 I always have to manually shut down the print spooler, then start it up before I can print (at least the first time I print after a startup).  The Spooler service is running, but I have to stop, then start it before it works.

    I do NOT use Kaspersky, I use Windows Defender.  I use an HP Inkjet that's networked through another computer running 7.

    It's super annoying for me, but I can't imagine the average user who doesn't even know services or the print spooler exist, much less to try starting and stopping it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-28T19:22:46+00:00

    Bingo. Problem for me too was incomplete removal of Kaspersky. I had only just removed it because Win 8.1 and IE were running just too darn slowly. And it was just too much protection for me. Whereas I am happy having Kaspersky on my kids' PCs. But turns out that it had not fully uninstalled, perhaps because I had allowed it to keep the old settings on the PC, just in case. But this time I went for a complete wipe. And, on the very first reboot, there were no problems with the print spooler!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments