Spool service fails win7 printers disappear!

  • Thread starter Thread starter layoric
  • Start date Start date
L

layoric

Guest
A customer has Windows 7 ultimate, and network printers, on a dell laptop. Throughout the day, the spooler service turns off, and all the network printers disappear!
I've read about several possible fixes on Google, and performed a couple, but not all of them. Upon doing a few fixes, and since I was at the client's for a few hours, the problem didn't return. However, as soon as I returned home, I received an email saying it happened again.

Has this spool service turning itself off and network printers disappearing happened to anyone else? Which fix was it that worked for you?

I plan on bringing one of their laptops back to them tomorrow morning, and would like to try more fixes at that time.
Thanks for any input -
 
That is a tough one for me. I will assume that you have done AV scans and cleaned up the mess...

I like to do SFC /Scannow on weird windows issues. Perhaps try that.

I would also ask what time the end user noticed the printers disappeared. Then, check the event logs. Perhaps it will say why it was stopped...
 
Which of the google fixes did you do? I am assuming this is a business client? If so are there other computers on the network? Are they having the same issue or just this PC is? What has worked for me in the past when virus scans and OS corruption was not the cause was to completely uninstall all printers, printer software and ports and reinstall making sure you have the newest drivers from the manufacture, Stay away from universal printer drivers.
 
nlinecomputers said:
Event logs. Check the event logs.... Did I say check the event logs?
Click to expand...

This^


And also, I would look at printer drivers.

I don't suppose they're using (or have previously installed) a Dell printer by any chance?

In my experience, print spooler service failures are commonly caused by buggy printer drivers. The Dell drivers are notoriously bad. If they're using Dell printer drivers, try updating them or, if possible, replacing them with the Dell Open Print Driver. I've found that to be much more stable.
 
Event logs didn't help, nothing at the time. I didn't want to get into a trouble shooting thread, was just looking for the most common fix you guys have used.

It is a business, but it's one of those clients who try to tell you or direct you in what to do. They were nice about it, but still, it's a hindrance. That's why I was interested in the most common fix so I can do it straight away without a "discussion" about it.;)

I did the sfc, and hope they'll let me remove the old drivers and update, if not, oh well...
 
The printers disappear because the spooler service is stopped. Check the spool folder. I've seen instances of HP drivers leaving SWF files in the spool folder. The files have to be manually removed, then restarting the spooler service allows printing again. Most of the time this was due to sharing the printer on the network. Unsharing the printer fixed the issue but it's a work around.
 
I remember having this issue many years ago at a design company in London. As previously said if the print spooler service crashes then all of the printers disappear. This didn't go down well where I was because they had time targets to get jobs out. :o I seem to remember you could change the print spool path per printer so you could isolate the problem printer so as to leave the other printers still working. Make sure you have plenty of hard disk space as some of the print spool files are very large especially colour ones.
 
Well, nothing worked

I didn't want to have this thread turn into a what about this thread, however... Here I am!

I have the customer's laptop which has the issue in my shop. It keeps turning off print spooler service. I've done sfc, verifier, regedit imports of the printers, spool folder copies from a working system, NOTHING.

I originally said I'd try the fix I had in mind for free, but NOT fix the issue if it becomes such a long dragged out process - as it is now...

The RPC service is erroring out when I also try to remove the printers with the printui utility, since I cannot remove printers from the normal dialog because the spool service dies out, wiping all printers from the list! :eek:

At this point, I'm about to call the client, and say I'll have to redo windows, as it must be some software that was installed at some point on their end which buggered things up.
 
Not a fix but you can go into services and set the spooler service to automatically restart on subsequent failures. Usuall when the spooler service does this it is due to a bad driver.
 
Thanks, but that's done, fails a few seconds later, start, fail, start, fail.
 
layoric said:
I didn't want to have this thread turn into a what about this thread, however... Here I am!

I have the customer's laptop which has the issue in my shop. It keeps turning off print spooler service. I've done sfc, verifier, regedit imports of the printers, spool folder copies from a working system, NOTHING.

I originally said I'd try the fix I had in mind for free, but NOT fix the issue if it becomes such a long dragged out process - as it is now...

The RPC service is erroring out when I also try to remove the printers with the printui utility, since I cannot remove printers from the normal dialog because the spool service dies out, wiping all printers from the list! :eek:

At this point, I'm about to call the client, and say I'll have to redo windows, as it must be some software that was installed at some point on their end which buggered things up.
Click to expand...
Before you do a nuke and pave try removing the drivers manually.

Try these, they have worked for me.
http://www.wincert.net/tips/microso...move-the-print-drivers-from-windows-7-machine

http://www2.techidiots.net/notes/windows-7/manually-remove-all-printer-drivers
 
I would do three things

1) As others mentioned, check out the event logs. Probably not much help, but it's always worth a look.

2) Open SERVICES.MSC and edit the Print Spooler service. Set it to restart on one or two failures. Once again, not likely to help since most spooler failures will happen more than once or twice.

3) look at printer drivers. just about 100% of print spooler problems I've encountered were due to corrupted or inappropriate printer drivers. One common error is using the wrong printer drivers on a Terminal Services server (Like Citrix).
 
Print management command doesn't work, unable to initialize device prn. Auto starting svc doesn't help fails repeatedly. Logs I believe I stated show nothing of value. I really have tried everything. She didn't want to pay to reinstall. Says she has someone who told her he can fix it. I'm thorough and confident they cannot. Due to cost at some point you just have to move on or reinstall. This customer obviously just doesn't trust my judgment. Oh well...
 
Oh no where can I see that you mentioned what printer this is??? Could you list all the printer drivers installed on this unit? As more then one person has said printer drivers are 90% of time the cause of this.
 
Ran across this issue on a clients computer. Initially stopped spooler service, reset/cleared, started up spooler service - all printers appeared again. Day later, same thing occurs with the print spooler blowing up. It is definitely a driver related issue, as some others have pointed out.

The fix in my case was to uninstall ALL printer drivers for currently installed printers and reinstall latest driver versions. Bit arduous, but not horrible. Hopefully it will fix your issue. If not.. I think I would try loading one printer at a time and waiting to see if it fails or not. Try to lock down which driver is causing the problem.
 
Yeah, print spool service failed, that's it. As I said, I know what I'm talking about. Logs =no help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RetiredGuy1000
Interesting article on the changing role of the computer repairman
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
Sky-Knight
Sky-Knight
HCHTech
usbehci error 3
Replies
7
Views
2K
HCHTech
HCHTech
River Valley Computer
For those of you having issues with Win 7 Updates
2 3 4
Replies
68
Views
16K
Kirby
K
M
SAGE 2015 data service problem
Replies
2
Views
6K
Frick
Frick
tek9
Windows 7 file sharing problems
Replies
7
Views
1K
JustInspired
JustInspired
Back
Top