Longstanding Printer Problems

Hello. I have been trying (off & on) for over a year to get a printer working on this 1 & 1/2 year-old Dell (w/Vista Home).

I have tried four (4) different printers, the most recent of which is also, a Dell. NONE have worked - and I still continue to get a "Found New Hardware" pop-up every time I start the machine, and every time I switch between user accounts - which I have to click-through (close) every day - multiple times.

I will link my my recent thread on the subject from last November > http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=172525 - as I am now completely lost on this.

Thanks in advance.

 

Beautiful David - thank you.

Yes, I will be taking time to complete this process. I suppose it's a foregone conclusion here that I tend to get a bit "wrapped around the axle" in dealing with a PC (and some other things too - Truth be known).

Thank you again. I will start slowly and proceed calmly, and will walk-away for awhile if I get "uptight".

Thanks again,
Glenn

 

Yikes. I have a question already, and I've only just begun.

In Admin., there is nothing displayed in CP>Printers (other than "Add Printer").

I recall reading somewhere (probably here, a year ago) that "XPS" "SHOULD" be there, and should STAY there, as a matter of the MS system needing it for the services to function properly. Now that I think about it, it may have been at the MS site that I read this.

Should I concern myself with this now, or is it not an issue?

I will continue with the next step (Add/Remove Removal of anything to do with printers & printer drivers that I've tried), for now.

Thanks ...

 

Very well - thank you sir ...

 

I'm sorry. When I look at the next step > (Then open up Device Manager (with the printer that's connect switched on) I realize that there is no printer connected to the machine at the moment. The Dell AIO sitting next to this Dell PC was disconnected after my latest attempt to stop the incessant "Found New Hardware" pop-ups and which now (at this point of the instructions) pop-up twice ... I am getting double pop-ups. I'm assuming this is as a result of having only performed the first paragraph of the instructions so far?

Should I attach the usb cable from the printer to perform this next step in Device Manager please?

Thanks ...

 

Hi David,

here's where I am at, please see attached screenshot - and thanks again for the screenshot lessonS (plural)!

As you can see, there are two references to the Dell 926 AIO Printer (under "Imaging devices", and also "Other devices") - and also the yellow exclamation point issue under "Portable Devices", next to "USB Mass Storage" - which is always the "Hardware" Device (in Drive E) that asks to be removed after unsuccessful install attempts of a printer.

 

Ok, thanks, and there is also (when I right click and select "Uninstall") a box to tick (or not?) asking to uninstall the device driver. I'm "guessing" that I want to do that now (yes/no?), even though I would like to make this printer work - at some point in the near future.

 

Ok, I see a "Windows "SERVER" Resource Kit", and a "Windows "VISTA" Resource Kit" - I'm guessing "Vista", as I don't see a "Windows 2003 Resource Kit"?

Thanks ...

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention that "No Printer Was Detected" with the Stalled Printer Repair program.

 

Hi David,

Ok I ran "Fix-it", but it didn't, uh, fix-it. However, I am not 100% certain that I ran it correctly.

The first time I ran it I did it straight from the download, as I forgot/didn't really understand this part of your instructions >

So after the download/run, Fix-it came back with this message: "Print Spooler Service isn't Running - Not Fixed".

Then I recalled and figured-out how to:

... but I got this message (in Red letters) there:

"The term 'Cleanspl.exe' is not recognized as a cmdlet, function, operable program, or script file. Verify the term and try again".

I also tried it by adding my computer name at the end of the command (Cleanspl.exe"XXXX") but it did not recognize that either (returned the same error message).

I peeked at the next step at Bruce's Tips, but I'm not exactly CERTAIN "where to start with that" (?), and I need to be ABSOLUTELY 100% POSITIVE as it apparently involves registry editing.

Can you advise please?

Thanks ...

 

Ok, great - thanks.

Will do. Am in the process of this as I type.

Understood, however, if I've checked this once I've checked it four times. What I've been getting all-along from here is: "Error 1068/The dependency service or group failed to start" - though to the very best of my knowledge and understanding, all is set back to default in services.

Yes sir. As is the "Portable Devices/USB Mass Storage" reference. Device Manager looks good - all cleared-up.

Will do - thanks, and will post-back after running Fix-it again, checking the Print Spooler in services, and rebooting.

 

Ok. I am not sure if I am supposed to be able to access the internet from "Safe" mode (to continue following the Resolution Steps/Remove Spool Files) - but I am not able to access the net (in Safe).

I suppose something is still amiss in Services (??).

Obviously I cannot "print" (lol) the instructions, so I'll be writing them down.

This may (continue to) take "awhile" ~~ sorry................

 

Ok. Here's where I'm at (trembling).

When I open Explorer ("C:\"), I am supposing that there are two (2) ways to get where I need to be.

The first one didn't seem to work too well (which was by clicking on icons, through the screens, one-by-one: >Windows>System32>etc.)

Well, after I click on the System32 icon (folder?) all I can see from that point that looks to be correct (besides A WHOLE LOT of stuff!) is "spoolss.dll" or, "spoolsv.exe". I can go no further from these, no matter what I try.

So, I typed C:\Windows\System32\spool\printers and got one (1) result, which = "Empty".

Not EXACTLY SURE what to do there, with that?

Then, when I tried: C:\Windows\Systen32\spool\drivers\w32x86, I got more results/entries:

Folders (labeled, "3", and "PCC")

and files -

DLPR2FAX.GPD (looks like the Dell AIO?)
hpfinst.dll (looks like the HP Printer I once tried?)
STDNAMES.GPD (?)
UNIDRV.DLL (?)
UNIDRV.HLP (Help files?)
UNIDRVUI.DLL (?)
UNIRES.DLL (?)

Can you advise please? Thanks ....

 

Got it - thanks.

Yes ok, and I see later in your post here you ask about "LexBce" - it is there, but it is already disabled

Understood. And the HP Printer is gone from Add/Remove already.

I'm understanding this as simply leave the empty folder - correct?

Understood.

Already disabled - looking forward to its removal from services (also, there nothing on this in Add/Remove)

Will do - thank you.

 

I'm sorry, I don't see anything next to (the right of) this >


Also check this location in the registry for me and tell me what the infomation is, open regedit and navigate to this location, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler and whats listed to the right of DEPENDSonService, should be RPCSS http

After getting down to "Spooler" here, the only things that are there are:

"Enum"
"Performance"
"Security"

??

 

WOW! The print spooler has FINALLY started! However ...

This is what occurred when performing in cmd:

When I typed: net stop spooler

I got: "The Print Spooler service is not started"

When I typed: sc config spooler depends= rpcss

I got: "ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS"

When I typed: net start spooler

I got: "System error 1084 has occurred This service cannot be started in Safe Mode"

Then after reboot, I went into services, and it DID allow me to manually start the print spooler (which was/is set on Automatic).

I am still not sure (what to do) about this step >>

Also check this location in the registry for me and tell me what the infomation is, open regedit and navigate to this location, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler and whats listed to the right of DEPENDSonService, should be RPCSS http

After getting down to "Spooler" here, the only things that are there are:

"Enum"
"Performance"
"Security"

??

Thanks ...
PS - also, still getting two (2) "Found New Hardware" pop-up's at start - but I finally feel like I getting "somewhere" (making progress) with this ...

 

Yes, it says "rpcss" (I'm submitting a screenshot myself, also).

No sir, printer is not plugged-in. Hardware messages both say "Unknown/Unidentified Device".

Thank you, please get some rest.

I am very limited time-wise tomorrow - I actually have to go out of town for a few days (leaving mid-day east coast U.S. time), so I'll have to try to catch-up to you then - thanks again very much, and please get your rest.


Now to remove the LEXBCE service, the attached file is in a zip and you'll need to save it to your desktop and then righ click and extract, once the folder is extracted right click the Install Services app and choose Run as Administrator, then once the app is open choose Remove a Service > Next > click Next as the service we want is in Local machine > in the dropdown look for LEXBCE and choose Next and the service should be uninstalled, reboot ( you can check in Services if it is)

NOTE: this app is powerful and removed services, so do make sure that its only the LEXBCE service you choose.


Grab the latest driver for your printer from Dell here dont install just yet.



OH quick thing before I forget, unless I mention to run in safe mode, do everything in mormal mode, late here in UK so will resume tomorrow with you on this.[/QUOTE]

 

For whatever reason, the screenshot won't go on the previous post:

 

This is "sort of" (somewhat) a "note-to-self" here as well as a message to you (as I will be away for several days 2, 3 - 4?).

I cannot get the zip file (as is often the case for me with zip files) to work as per your directions.

I can download it (though not to the desktop - for whatever reason), and extract the files - but then nothing happens (except a pop-up from my anti-spy - which I "allowed" Install-Services, through). I did it several times. I sure as heck hope I didn't screw anything up??

Will try to see if you are available in the morning (may be afternoon in the UK?).

Thanks ...

 

Please disregard this last post, as I have "found it" (thumbnail was sitting down on the StatusBar).

The question I now have (as Install/Remove Services gives me an option to "Include Device Drivers") - when I click-on/select "Include Device Drivers", the drop-down box goes *BLANK* - that is, after I had already selected LexBce Server from the list (?).

I would guess "yes" to include device drivers, but I am concerned about the drop-down box going blank after I tick this option.

I will wait here (and am downloading - but not yet installing - the Dell Driver from the link you provided - thanks!).

 

Hi David, and thanks for asking.

The short answer is; "I don't know". I had to switch out that (Vista) PC as I went out of town for several days (which ended-up being several weeks) for the person here who is unfamiliar with Vista (I can't believe an entire month & 1/2 has gone-by since you were helping me w/this!).

I am just now getting back-up-to-speed here at home (life has been completely chaotic as of late).

I will be able to switch back to the Vista PC a bit later today, and hopefully be able to put this thread to rest (and thank you again!).....

 

Well, here I am, stuck fairly early on, at this point:

All of the User Accounts, of which there are five (5) on this PC, "look" the same when I go to: CP>Printers, except for this one. I will attach a screenshot of this one.

The others all have merely one icon -> "XPS Document Writer-Default-Ready". They don't show the "Add Printer" icon.

Does this seem correct, so far, please?

PS ~ As far as Add/Remove is concerned (in each UA), I "think" it is clear of all Printer-related *stuff* ... I seem to have so much stuff there I'm not 100% certain, but I believe it's empty of such.

 

Hello? Any takers?

 

Thought I would give this a shot again.

I am having frequent problems with "freezing" (lock-up?)...getting a "Not Responding" message - especially after clean-ups/defrags/restarts - and am pretty sure it has to do with this "spoolsv.exe" THING, and never having been able to get a printer to work on this (Vista Home) machine.

No printer has ever worked on this machine - in many-multiple attempts - with four (4) different printers...

 

Well, this was a long time buried (year-and-a-half!), however, I was out of warranty when I last addressed this thread, and am most certainly out of warranty now, and, perhaps even worse - I need tio make this happen now...I need our two year-old Dell printer to work with this three year-old Dell PC . . .

I swear I just feel like throwing ALL of this wonderful technology out the window, and to go stick my hands into something "REAL" - something I can TOUCH, AND understand...