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

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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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-06-27T12:54:24+00:00

    Hello Sam,

    Thank you for the update.

    I would suggest you to run system file checker and see if it helps.

    System file checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

    Refer this article:

    Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

    Note: It may ask for Windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files.

    I hope this information helps.

    Thank you

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-28T01:28:24+00:00

    Hi Ratandeep,

    Thanks for coming back to me.

    The link to the support.microsoft gives a 404 notice.

    But I google the file checker and finally did the "sfc /scannow" procedure.

    It ended with the message that it was not able to repair everything and referred to the log.

    In the log I found two paragraphs about 'spooler':

    2014-06-28 10:38:04, Info                  CSI    00000367 [DIRSD OWNER WARNING] Directory [ml:520{260},l:74{37}]"??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers" is not owned but specifies SDDL in component Microsoft-Windows-Printing-Spooler-Core, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral

    2014-06-28 10:38:04, Info                  CSI    00000368 [DIRSD OWNER WARNING] Directory [ml:520{260},l:76{38}]"??\C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\PRINTERS" is not owned but specifies SDDL in component Microsoft-Windows-Printing-Spooler-Core, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral

    I do not understand the messages, but maybe they might give you a clue,

    Cheers

    Sam

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-01T09:18:47+00:00

    Hello Sam,

    Thank you for the response.

    I would suggest you to refresh Windows 8.1 and check if it helps.

    Refer this article:

    How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

    Refer "Refresh your PC without affecting your files" section in the above article.

    Note: Apps you installed from websites and DVDs will be removed. Apps that came with your PC and apps you installed from the Windows Store will be reinstalled. Windows puts a list of removed apps on your desktop after refreshing your PC.

    I hope this information helps.

    Thank you

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-01T15:21:12+00:00

    That's cool it gives you a list of removed programs!  Didn't know that.

    Reinstalling is such a hassle anymore thanks to activation and whatnot that so many programs have.  Didn't used to bother me too much.  Thankfully at least you don't have to do much with NT 99.9% of the time unlike 9x.

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