Windows – Print Spooler Keeps Stopping

KB ID 0000751

Problem

This is quite a common problem, in MOST cases the problem is caused by a print driver that Windows does not like.

But my printers are delivered via login script or group policy?

If that is the case then you need to exempt both your user and the computer from this method of printer deployment while you are troubleshooting.

Solution

1. As we cant be sure what printer/driver is causing the problem, we need to remove them ALL > Devices and Printers > Select each one in turn, and remove (Note: Keep one for the next step, but remember to delete that also when you have completed the next step).

printers and faxs

2. Select your last printer > Print Server properties > Drivers > Remove them ALL.

Remove Printer Drivers

3. Launch ‘appwiz.cpl’ and ensure there is no printing software installed, if there is uninstall it.

Remove Printing Software

4. Launch ‘services.msc’ > Locate the Print Spooler service and ensure it is set to log on as ‘Local System’.

Note: As shown, from here you can manually start the service, but for now we will leave it as it is.

x Print Spooler Service

5. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to;

C:WindowsSystem32SpooldriversW32X86

Delete the contents of this folder.

Spooler Service Fails

6. If your machine is Windows x64 bit also navigate to;

C:WindowsSystem32Spooldriversx64

Delete the contents of this folder.

How to Tell if Windows is 32 or 64 bit

Spooler Stopped

7. Navigate to;

C:WindowsSystem32SpoolPRINTERS

Delete the contents of this folder.

Print Spooler Fails

8. Start > In the search/run box type ‘regedit’ > navigate to;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Environment > Windows NT x86

Here there should be two sub keys called Drivers and Print Processors, if there are any more delete them.

Warning: You might want to right click and ‘Export’ the keys in case anything explodes, you can simply double click the ‘exported’ file to merge it back in.

Regedit Printers x64

9. If your machine is running x64 bit Windows navigate to;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Environment > Windows x64

How to Tell if Windows is 32 or 64 bit

Here there should be two sub keys called Drivers and Print Processors, if there are any more delete them.

Warning: You might want to right click and ‘Export’ the keys in case anything explodes, you can simply double click the ‘exported’ file to merge it back in.

Regedit Printers x86

10. Now navigate to;

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Monitors

Here delete ALL Keys Except,

AppleTalk Printing Devices (This may not be present)
BJ Language Monitor (This may not be present)
PJL Language Monitor (This may not be present)
Local Port
LPR Port  (This may not be present)

Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Monitor (This may not be present)
Microsoft Shared Fax Monitor
Standard TCP/IP Port
USB Monitor
WSD Port

Print Monitors

11. At this point, physically unplug all printers from the PC, (make sure no scripts or group policies are going to attempt to reinstall the printers). Then reboot the machine.

12. When the reboot is complete, make sure the Print Spooler service stays up without error.

13. Get the latest drivers for your printer(s) and reinstall them one by one, (I would say after each printer install, let the system run until you trust it, before installing the next printer).

Print Spooler Fails when attempting to print from Internet Explorer.

If this problem only manifests itself when printing from IE, then go to Internet options > Advanced > Reset.

Reset IE

12. If that does not rectify the problem, make sure you are running the latest version of Adobe flash (or for troubleshooting remove the current version).

printers and faxs

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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Author: Migrated

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