print spooler

[olddog]

I keep getting the message "Spooler SubSystemApp has
encountered a problem and needs to close." This happens
about every 5 to 10 minutes.
I have been printing with this computer and printer setup
for over a year without problems, until yesterday when I
executed a DOS bat file to print a folder directory
(dir>lpt1). It didn't print although the printer status
shows the print job in the que. Now I can't access either
printer (I have a Brother HL1440 and a Canon s950). If I
try to cancel the print job I get the mesaage that the
print spooler is not running. Ditto if I right click the
properties tab or try to delete the printer.
If I enter "net start spooler" at the command prompt it
tells me that the service is already running.
If I right click My Computer, click manage, expand
services & App.s, click services, the print spooler
status is "started."
Nevertheless, if I try to access either printer, I'm told
that the print spooler service is not running.
I ran the sfc /scannow utility, but the only files it
found changed were in WinFast.
Is my only option to re-install WindowsXP? If so, where
do I find past registry files so that I can save copies
of them?

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Most printer related issues can be corrected without re-installing the OS,
so before you get drastic, here's some suggestions.

1. use the command net stop spooler
2. using Windows Explorer navigate to %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers
(usually c:\windows\sytem32\spool\printers) and delete any files with .shd
or .spl extensions
3. use the command net start spooler

Did that help?

If not, you might find the information at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm or
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/PrintingFAQ.HTM useful.

 

[Guest]

Removing the files with .shd and .spl extensions solved
the problem.
Thank you very much!!

Olddog