Update: Just I wanted to update this post which worked for me recently to solve print spooler stopping automatically in Windows 7 computer. Cleaning the print spooler in command prompt, disconnecting all printers and checking proper driver installation did not work. Finally, deleting the files in Windows -> System32 -> Spool -> Printers folder worked in Windows 7.
Still its worth to try all below steps to solve print spooler stopping automatically in Windows 7, XP and Windows Vista computers.
If you get a message “The print spooler service is not running” always when try to print or open printer properties that means something wrong with print spooler service on your computer.
We can start, stop or restart Print Spooler service by following two methods.
1) Under Services in Computer Management.
2) Open command prompt ( Open as Administrator in Windows Vista) and,
To stop print spooler, type;
Net stop spooler
To start print spooler, type;
Net start spooler
You can try above steps if you think print spooler is not responding to your print commands and print is not happening when printer is fine physically (No paper jam or any error indications on printer hardware). These methods will help to clear the pending print jobs (print queue) also.
Try below one more method to clear print queue in Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Go to C -> Windows -> System32 -> Spool -> Printers and delete all files in side this folder. This is the location printers spool documents before sending to printers. Once you delete these files, print queue will be cleared.
The above methods will help to stop, start, and restart print spool service in windows XP or Windows Vista computer, also to clear the print queue.
But, if you notice print spooler service in windows 7, XP or Windows Vista is stopping automatically all the time and disturbing your printing, then follow the steps.
1) Try the all three methods mentioned in earlier part.
2) In Services under Computer Management, Double click Print Spooler service and go to Recovery tab. Here we can set what that service should do when it fails.
Select ‘Restart the Service’ in Subsequent Failures field. So, it will try restarting print spooler service whenever it fails.
But, from system administrators side, it’s not recommended. That’s why by default it set to ‘Take No Action’. It will be an additional load to system to restart the service all the time whenever it fails, and may cause other system issues also.
If a service fails very frequently, better to find the reason and fix it.
OK, let’s see how we can fix this.
3) Go to ‘Dependencies’ tab and make sure all depending services are started. Luckily, only one dependency service for print spooler service which is Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
So, check the RPC service in services and make sure it’s already started.
4) Last step which fixed for me is, wrong print driver installation. Yes, if you installed and assigned wrong driver to any of the network or local printer, you may face this print spooler stopping frequently problem. I think, by default windows XP or Vista tries to communicate with printer very often even if you don’t print. When printer and OS talk wrongly because of wrong driver installation, windows stop the print spooler service automatically to avoid any system issues. That is the reason print spooler stops very often.
Try these two methods,
a) Delete all unwanted printers from your computer.
b) Make sure all printers are installed with proper drivers ( or at least with similar model)
Once I changed to correct print driver, it solve my problem very easily.
Try the above methods, I’m sure one it will solve print spooler stopping automatically problem.
Excellent post. Clearing the print queue is the answer. This problem is rampant, as evidenced by the posts throughout the internet, and for me at least your post was the solution.
Thanks for your time.
Good Post
I cleaned out my C: >> Windows >> System32 >> Spool >> Printers and it seems to be working. I had the same error…Print Spooler not working. And I ran
net start spooler (start > run Command) and everything is working…I hope it last forever.
If you cannot clean out your C: >> Windows >> System32 >> Spool >> Printers because it is stating that you it’s still running, go into Safe Mode and delete it.
By this restriction i solved my computer problem it’s working 100%.
none of this worked for me. any other ideas? help ! ! !
This “Go to C -> Windows -> System32 -> Spool -> Printers and delete all files in side this folder” worked for me. Thank you so much!!! The print spooler would not stay in the started status
Thats great.
Thank you SO MUCH for this. It was the difference between me deleting two files or completely re-ghosting this machine.
My problem is very PARTICULAR.
Printing works from anywhere…Outlook, Word etc.
When IE8 (Win7) tried to print a PDF inside it, it stops the Print Spooler Service.
Printing from Adobe Reader works
Printing a PDF from inside Firefox works
HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@LEO,
I guess its something wrong for IE8 add-on for adobe. Try to update or reinstall the adobe plugin or add-on for IE8.
Good luck.
This may be because of virus also …
I tried to start the services but it again stops…
I tried one step to recover this …
stop the spooler services and replace the spoolsv.exe and spools.dll file from any another PC…
and replace it into your PC…
This works for me…
Or else please format ur PC and install a good antivirus before you install any other software….!@!
This may be because of virus also …
I tried to start the services but it again stops…
I tried one step to recover this …
stop the spooler services and replace the spoolsv.exe and spools.dll file from any another PC…
and replace it into your PC…
This works for me…
Or else please format ur PC and install a good antivirus before you install any other software….!@!
There is a FIXING TOOL for this problem which really works .. It is on the microsoft site (fix it) but you need to re install the printer again……
Great post friend !!! Clearing the print queue was solution !!!
Thanks and god bless you !!!
Salute
Thanks a lot chief. Clearing the printers folder worked for me too. God bless
such a nice tips. i really useful to us
you saved me! I was about to break my head over this issue and all the other posts out there seem to point elsewhere for solutions. but deleting the printer files worked like a charm!
thank you so much for finding this solution and posting it online for us! a lot of good karma for you!
Great post friend !!! Clearing the print queue was solution !!!
Thanks and god bless you !!!
Thank you SO MUCH for this
by seow quan
Went to the printer file in system32/spool and it was already empty. Spooler turns off every time I try to reload the driver. Any thoughts?
Excellent article about the print spool issue! It helped me with one system I had but on another one I had to troubleshoot wasn’t as easy! Luckily I used the utility from http://www.printerproblemsolver.com and it helped fix my other issues! It also takes care of print spool stuff too, but I found it afterwards lol
Again, great article!
Thank You,
It worked for me, Thank You
There was nothing in my PRINTER folder to delete. I have tried many things I have seen on the net and nothing seems to work. The spooler will not stay running long enough to reload drivers no matter what I do. Before I uninstalled the Canon MP470 through Add/Remove there was no printer listed in Printers and Faxes even though it was working fine for several years. I can turn the spooler on and it will turn back off very shortly or when I try to reload the driver even with the printer disconnected. I am glad to see that this solution has worked for others but it has not worked for me. Any other suggestions?
Thank you. Much appreciated. It worked for me too…
@Keith
Me to /-: wont stay up when I load a new printer.
It stop every time …..
Any one ??? Help us solve this .
this is exeptionally great article this solution works great thanks for the sharing such easy solutions
our net printer not connect.
due to error spooler. please advice how can solve.
Great Post, it worked for me too on Win7 Ent 64bit. Thanks a lot…!!!
If there are only subfolders in the \windows\system32\spooler folder should I delete them?
It works perfectly for me. I clear all spool and it works again. I hope it last foreverrrrr! Thanks alot!
Really Awesome…..Readlly….
Thanx a Lot……
Amazing services…. my problem short out.
Thanks for the info.
I had a windows 7 print spooler that kept on shutting down.
By cleaning out the files in Go to C -> Windows -> System32 -> Spool -> Printers, as you suggested, the problem was solved.