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
    2014-07-02T06:19:34+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for the acknowledgement.

    I hope that suggestions may help you.

    Please let us know if you need any further assistance. We will be glad to assist you.

    Thank you

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-02T10:29:46+00:00

    Hi Ratandeep,

    Thanks for your suggestion but I have not the time to spend a day 'refreshing' and more in particular reinstalling all my non-microsoft programs.

    Since the trouble with the print spooler started after updating from 8.0 to 8.1 I would rather redo the update. Is that possible and if so could you give me a pointer.

    Thanks

    Sam

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-02T10:59:29+00:00

    Hello Sam,

    Thank you again for the response.

    Unfortunately, it is not possible to uninstall Windows 8.1 updates directly. We need to refresh Windows 8.1 to bring Windows 8 back.

    Thank you

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-05T04:12:22+00:00

    Hi Ratandeep,

    Dreading the refreshing operation I had a good look over all the steps I took in the past.

    I then discovered two things,

    1. in Windows update an update of my Samsung driver was waiting. After the update all looked well but after restarting I once again had to restart the print spooler service.

    The second discovery was that the LPD service -that is given as dependent on the print spooler service- was not running.

    The moment I started the LPD service the print spooler also started to run. So fa so good. But after restarting my computer the same restart of the LPD-service had to done.

    Does this give you another view of the problem.

    Thanks

    Sam

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