Print Spooler keeps starting and stopping

[Bob]

The Print Spooler is starting and stoppping for no
apparent reason. Please Help!

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

Does it just stop unexpectedly, or does it actually start all by itself too?

Paul

 

[Rula]

Hi
You probably have a printer driver installed in your
computer, that is not compatible with the OS.

Look in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\E
nvironments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\

Version-3 is for W2K3 and XP.

In this key, you can find all printer drivers installed in
your computer. Drivers under Version-2 key are NT drivers.
Older, and can be the reason of your problem.

To delele a printer driver, go to Start, Printers, open
Printers.
In the Printers Windows, go to File, Server Properties.
Look at the installed printer drivers below the Drivers
tap.
Look at the version. A Windows NT printer driver can crash
your computer. Mark it and delete it.

Chao

Rula RMMA

 

[Rula]

If you are not allowed to delete the driver, the stop and
restart the print spooler manually. Then you are going to
be allowed to delete no-compatible printer drivers.

Cheers, Chao

Rula RMMA

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

That could possibly explain the Print Spooler stopping for no reason, but it
does not explain starting for no reason!

 

[Mark]

The fact that the spooler starts "unexpectedly" is probably
due to the way that the spooler service is configured.
If you go to Services, and examine the properties of Print
Spooler, you will see under the Recovery tab, that it has
been set to restart the service after a failure (probably).

I hope this helps.

Mark

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - SDK]]

Ah yes, thanks for the illumination!

Paul

The fact that the spooler starts "unexpectedly" is probably
due to the way that the spooler service is configured.
If you go to Services, and examine the properties of Print
Spooler, you will see under the Recovery tab, that it has
been set to restart the service after a failure (probably).

I hope this helps.

Mark