The print spooler helps your Windows computer interact with the printer, and orders the print jobs that are in the queue. If an error message appears about the print spooler, the tool has been corrupted or failed to interact with other software. You may have to try more than one method to fix a broken spooler.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Changing the "Properties" of the Printing Spooler
Step 1. Open the " Properties " of your print spooler
This method doesn't solve all spooler problems, however, it's quite safe and easy to start repairing. This method can be used on all versions from Windows XP onwards (it can also work for older OS versions):
- Press the " Windows " + R keys to open the " Run " dialog box. tik services.msc and press Enter. Double click on "Print Spooler".
- For another method, click Start → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Services → Print Spooler
Step 2. Turn off the spooler and then turn it back on
The Stop and Start button is in the "Print Spooler Properties" window, on the tab labeled "General". Some errors can be fixed by stopping the print spooler and then enabling it again. Don't close the window just yet, because there's still some work to be done.
Step 3. Set the spooler to start automatically
Click the menu next to "Startup type". Select " Automatic " so that the spooler starts working when the computer is turned on, so that no print commands are missed by the spooler. Press Apply at the bottom right to save the changes made.
Step 4. Change the "recovery" option
Next, click on the “Recovery” tab. This function controls how the spooler responds to its own errors. With a few tweaks, the spooler can be set to fix the problem on its own, and minimize computer damage. Change the settings according to the following steps:
- "First failure: Restart the Service ”
- "Second failure: Restart the Service "
- “Subsequent failures: Take No Action ”
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” Reset file count after:
Step 1. days”
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Restart services after:
Step 1. minutes”
- When finished, click Apply.
Step 5. Prohibit interaction with the computer
Click on the "Log On" tab. If there is a check in the box next to "Allow interaction with desktop", uncheck it. Problems can arise if the box remains checked, and this option should not be required on modern computers and printers. Don't forget to click Apply.
Step 6. Restart your computer and try again
Now, try to print again. You may need to close the " Properties " window or restart the computer first. If the error message still appears, continue to the next step.
Step 7. Check the "Dependencies" of the spooler
Return to the "Print Spooler Properties" window. Click the " Dependencies " tab and look at the top box labeled " This service depends on the following system components." Observe the status of each service listed in this panel:
- Return to the " Services " window. Once closed, open this window again according to the instructions in the first step of this method.
- In the name (" name ") column, find the service names that match the service names in the top box of the " Dependencies " window.
- Make sure the " Status " of the file is " Started ".
- Make sure that the " Startup Type " of the file is " Automatic ".
- If there is a service that you see that Status and Startup style do not match, stop that service and then re-enable it. Do so on the icons in the " Services " window, or double click on the service name and use the buttons in its " Properties " window.
- If the " Stop " and " Start " icons are grayed out, or the service fails to change to " Started " and " Automatic ", try reinstalling the driver as described below. If this also fails, you'll need a troubleshooting guide specific to the service, which may involve editing the high-risk registry.
Method 2 of 3: Restoring the Initial State of the Printing Machine
Step 1. Clear the print queue
Sometimes, problems can resolve themselves this way. This step is also an initial requirement before proceeding to the steps below.
- Open a "Services" window ("Windows" key + R, type services.msc, press enter).
- Select "Print Spooler" and click the "Stop" icon, if the spooler is not already off.
- Go to C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS and open the file. You may need to reveal hidden files and/or enter an administrator password.
- Delete all directory contents. DO NOT delete the printer directory. Keep in mind that this step will delete all print jobs, so make sure no one else is using the printer on your network.
- Return to the " Services " window, select " Print Spooler ", and click " Start ".
Step 2. Update your printer driver
Your printer driver may be corrupted, so the spooler has problems processing corrupted data from the printer. Update your drivers first. If the problem is not resolved, continue to the next step.
Step 3. Remove your printer
Your printer's software may be corrupted. This short process will remove your printer's software for reinstallation to take place:
- Unplug the printer or disconnect your wireless printer.
- Look for "Devices and Printers" in the search box, then click to open it.
- Right-click on the printer icon that failed to print. Click " Delete " on the menu box that appears.
Step 4. Remove the printer driver
Driver removal must be done separately. Keep the " Devices " and " Printers " windows open, and make the following changes:
- Left-click another printer icon, and then click Print Server Properties in the top menu box.
- In the " Properties " window, click the " Drivers " tab.
- Select the driver of the printer that you want to remove, then click Remove.
- If you select "Remove driver and driver package," the driver installation package will also be removed. Perform the uninstall only if you know the location of the new installation package for the driver.
Step 5. Reinstall your printer
Reconnect your printer and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall your printer. If the driver installation package has been removed, you will need to download a replacement. Look for the driver on your printer manufacturer's website.
Step 6. Remove the printer that repeatedly appears with "Print Management"
If the printer or driver keeps popping up or fails to remove, this tool can help you. This tool can only be used on Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate/Enterprise and Windows 8 Pro/Enterprise. Follow these steps:
- Go to Start → Administrative Tools → Print Management, and log in with the administrator password. If you can't find it, try Start → Control Panel → System & Security → Administrative Tools → Print Management.
- In the window on the left, Click the arrow next to Print Servers to open the list.
- Click the arrow next to the computer (marked as "Local").
Step 7. Click Printers on the left of the window
Find the problematic printer on the right side of the window, right-click it, then select "Delete".
- Click Drivers in the left window. Right-click each driver used by the printer, select " Delete " to delete it. (The driver cannot be deleted if another printer is in use.)
- Alternatively, right-click the driver and select "Remove Driver Package' ". This step will remove the driver and installation package. Sometimes this step is necessary, but the driver cannot be reinstalled until the new installation package has been downloaded.
- Connect the printer to reinstall the driver. Download a new driver if you removed the installation package.
Method 3 of 3: Scanning System Files
Step 1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode
Although not necessary, this step will help the scan success rate.
Step 2. Open “Command Prompt” as administrator
Search for "Command Prompt" in the search box. Right-click "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator". Enter your administrator password.
Step 3. Enter the scan command
In the window that opens, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. You must type exactly as it is written. This step tells " System File Checker " to scan for corrupted files and fix them.
This step will restore the system files to their original state. If you modified your computer before, back up the files before the computer scans
Step 4. Wait for the scan to complete
Leave the Command Prompt window open while the scan is in progress. Read the message that appears when the scan is complete:
- If the message "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them" appears, restart your computer in normal mode and try printing.
- If the message "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them", proceed to the next step.
- If another message appears, look for the other solutions listed on this page.
Step 5. Locate the corrupted files
If the scan finds a problem but fails to fix it, you will need to fix it yourself. Find more information through the following hints:
- In the " Command Prompt ", type findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log >"%userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt" and press Enter.
- Find Sfcdetails.txt on your desktop and open it.
- Find reports dated today. Find the name of the corrupted or missing file.
Step 6. Find a new copy of the file
Find this file on another computer that has the same version of Windows, and transfer it to your computer. Otherwise, download new files from the internet - but make sure you download from a trusted site.
This file can also be found on the Windows installation CD
Step 7. Install a new copy of the file
Here's how to replace corrupted files with new ones:
- In "Command Prompt", type takeown /f followed by a space then the exact location and name of the corrupted file. For example like this: takeown /f C:\windows\system32\oldfile. Press Enter.
- Next, enter the command icacls (path to corrupt file) /grant administrators:F -replace "(path to corrupt file)" with the location and name of the corrupt file you previously used.
- Move the new file by entering copy (path to new file) (path to corrupt file), replace the sentences in brackets with the new location and file name.
Tips
- Servers from Windows 2003 and XP Professional x64 may encounter a bug that prevents the computer from receiving print jobs from some print machines. You can download the fix on the Microsoft help site.
- Many tools can be downloaded to repair the print spooler automatically. Only download from trusted sources to prevent your computer from getting viruses.
