Empty Printers folder.

[Stu]

Well, I've now seen the 'Empty Printers Folder' in XP Pro.
It's been a constant problem with 95 and 98, and now XP.
I've never seen Microsoft reference the empty printers
folder, maybe they claim it doesn't happen. Whatever.
Anyone know of a fix? Besides re-booting? Or are there
multiple reasons Windows looses it's printers?
Thanx.

Stu

 

[Michael Leon [MSFT]]

(Unless this is a common scenario - I don't know if it is) I think we need
more information. We've never seen this in the lab. What is the printer your
using? Do you only have one computer - the same computer where this problem
is happening? Have you tried it on another computer or with another printer?

I surmise this could be due to several problems like bad parallel port or
USB card/connection, bad cable, bad printer driver, bad printer - even a bad
app if you are using the same app every time this problem has happened or a
document, and so forth.

--
Michael Leon
Microsoft Printing, Imaging and Fax Team

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Please do not send email directly to this alias. This alias is for newsgroup
purposes only.'

 

[Cari MS-MVP]

It's sometimes caused by the print spooler stopping.

Try restarting it: From the command prompt, type

net start spooler

and remember to hit enter.

Cari
www.coribright.com

 

[P Cannon]

I have had this same problem for months.
The latest event...minutes ago...I am using XP-pro
I was using both MS Publisher and Word. I printed the
document in Word. When I went back to check the printers
folder again it was empty. I also found the print
spooler stopped.