Windows XP CPU ‘hogging’ Cannot Install Printers

This is my first post on the forum. I have a self built (7 years ago), desktop Athlon CPU PC running Windows XP Home Edition; 1.5Gb memory. It has been extremely reliable over this time. I keep its hardware and drivers up to date and it is protected by …see below.

Having had print problems with my six year old Epson R800 printer, I uninstalled its printer driver and then discovered that I could not under any circumstances re-install it. Also the PC had been slowing down considerably at times. I discovered then that I could not also install an older working Epson Stylus 600 printer driver, hoping to be able to use this 600 printer again instead. I have now found out through Advanced System Care Performance Monitor that ‘something’ is hogging the CPU to 100%. At that point the PC is almost non responsive i.e. almost cannot get anything to work. I eventually managed to check ‘Task Manager’ ‘Start Up’ to find that file ‘spoolsv.exe’ appeared to be the one hogging the CPU use at 99%. I temporally disabled it which then immediately returned the CPU use to a more realistic 4 to 6% and then made the PC useable. That only lasted for a few minutes when the CPU started hogging 100% again and the culprit again appeared to be ‘spoolsv.exe’. Cannot install printers in Safe Mode either, same above problem.

Another problem which may or may not be linked; I only have ever had a plain colour (dark green) as my desktop background. At about the same time as the above printer problem the desktop background was ‘turned off’ which produced a brilliant white background with a button on it labeled ‘Restore Active Desktop’, which did not work. It is easy to restore my normal background through ‘Properties’ but the white background keeps on returning. I use Malwarebytes, Comodo Firewall & Antivirus, also SuperAntispyware which are all free versions as protection and kept updated. These have served me well for some long time.

Many thanks if anyone can suggest a cure for the above problems please!

 

Hi my friend , welcome to MG's :major

You can read this :wave

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...time-and/8268f671-51b8-42a3-9ce8-708e9686052d

 

Many thanks 'falconattack' the link you suggested did the trick. It took a long time to do due to the very very slow PC. Once the corrupted file was cleared/cured the m/c returned to its normal sprightly condition! It also allowed the installation of the printer drivers so they are printing perfectly now. The desktop has also returned to normal colours etc. The only (maybe) unrelated problem now is the mobo battery is dying, so new CR2032 tomorrow. Again 'falconattack' many thanks for your help.