Printer Spooler Problems

I amnot quite sure what caused the issue, but as of now my printer spooler service is very courrupt and dead. Because of this i cannot install any printer software and cannot print at all, ive looked around for days for a solution and am finding nothing. Ive gone to my services and tried to manually start the service but i get the error "Could not start the Print Spooler service on the Local Computer. Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified." Ive looked through the regedit and have found nothing, although i have no idea what im doing in there, and you cannot start the service in safe mode, i am so lost, if anyone can help me in anyway it would be much appriciated, thanks in advance for any input.

 

This tells me that Windows cannot find spoolsv.exe in %systemroot%\system32 (where %systemroot% is equivalent to the path to the windows directory - at least, that's where MY executable resides).

Please check that you have this file!

 

You might also want to check this link out Shadowskater http://support.microsoft.com/kb/312052 Hope that Helps

 

Well i checked and the file is indeed there, and i virus sacnned it and there wasnt anything apparently wrong with it. I looked at the link that you posted and it had to do with another problem associated with the printer spooler service, but not mine, as when i go to the solution of that one i get stopped in the begining as i cannot check anything that has anythign to do with printers as my spooler service isnt running! I herd that the spoolsv.exe service is used by many virus's though so i think i might have had one that used it and it is now corrupt, who knows, if anyone has anymore information about this account i would really appriciate it!

 

Since this file exists, and is in the right location, and Windows still cannot find the executable, I wonder if perhaps your path variable. Try this:

1. Hit windows key + break (or right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties')
2. On the 'System Properties' dialog, select the 'Advanced' tab
3. Press the 'Environment Variables' button
4. On the 'Environment Variables' dialog, under 'System Variables', check your PATH variable

Ensure that this variable has the path to the spoolsv executable in it (ie. c:\windows\system32)

 

bump =/

 

Look at this link:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...+on+Local+Computer"&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=15

It's a little hard to read and one of the instructions has a typo "date" = "data" but it may be useful. I've had the link for a couple of days but was hoping someone had a clearer solution.

 

Try this:

Open regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler

Look in the right pane for "DependOnService"

Value Data should be "RPCSS"

 

Found this well looking into another problem, and remembered this thread, the link to the complete article can be found here http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

Here is the relevant Quote:-

If the Print Spooler service is not operational, or you want to make certain there are no printer driver remnants, either follow the instructions below or use cleanspl.exe from the Windows 2000, XP or 2003 Resource Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...9-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en). cleanspl.exe from the Windows 2003 Resource Kit tools will work on Windows XP.

Some information about cleanspl.exe:

cleanspl.exe does a very thorough job of cleaning up the print spooler stuff, but it does not remove the spooler service dependency on the Lexmark service (see special information about Lexmark printer drivers).

You can use it to clean up the spooler stuff on another computer (i.e. remotely).

When you run it, it asks you if you want to remove some things that are actually delivered (and installed by default) with Windows. In most cases, you should answer No to the corresponding prompts (you don't want to remove the Standard TCP/IP Port or the BJ Language Monitor).

 

Okay right now i think i found the issue, its a real slap to the face cause it was so blatent and in front of me, even though i went to the services.msc so many times i didnt see that my printer spooler service properties showed that it's path is "C:\Program Files\Common Files\system\svchost.exe" which is not the right path, can you please help me to fix this issue, i do not know how to edit the path and correct the issue!

 

Just to rule out something, is this XP, AND are ye using IE7, AND, are ye using a HP printer?

 

XP yeah, i use Maxthon if it matters, and its a HP color lasterjet 2820/2840

 

Click on the end of what you see in "Path to executable", back space to get rid of the path currently there and type in:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

May have to click "Apply" then OK.

 

it won't let meee! look i print screen'd for you.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1194/wtfbv6.jpg

 

Are you sure it won't let you change the path? On XP Pro with Admin privileges at this window I can just type over the path. Your skin is different but it looks like the border of those boxes makes them editable.

 

Try this:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/temp/spooler.reg

The above REG file fixes the spooler service entry in the registry. To apply
the file, right-click and then choose "Merge". To simply view the contents
of the file, open it with Notepad.

 

Meant to add this in my previous post:

It's always a good idea to backup the registry before proceeding with any changes.

So before you merge the Print Spooler .reg fix, backup your registry.

 

Kniht your my hero, thanks so much guys, i ran the file and my registry was changed, open the services and the path was perfect, then just clicked the start option, and the printer spooler service started right up! i am now installing my printer drivers and software, thank you so much!!! =D

 

Shadowskater,

I know how frustrating printer problems can be, been there.

Glad the registry fixed worked for ya'.