If you are still having this problem, the "default spool directory is
invalid" may be an important clue .
Check that the default spool directory setting in the registry points at a
folder that actually exists and has apporpriate permissions.
The normal place for the spool folder is
%systemroot%\system32\spool\PRINTERS. %systemroot% is usually c:\Windows.
To verify this on you computer, open a command prompt and key set and press
Enter.
To check the registry entry:
1. click Start, Run
2. key regedit in the text box, then click OK or press Enter
3. navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers
4. in the right pane you should see an entry called DefaultSpoolDirectory
(REG_SZ) whose value will normally be something like
"c:\windows\system32\spool\printers".
5. open Windows Explorer and verify that whatever folder is specified in
DefaultSpoolDirectory actually exists. If it is not set to the
....system32\spool\printers, you might want to change it to that.
To check the permissions (XP Professional)
1. open Windows Explorer
2. navigate to whatever folder is specified as the DefaultSpoolDirectory
3. right click on the Default SpoolDirectory (e.g.
c:\windows\system32\spool\printers) and select Properties
4. select the Security tab
5. the permissions should look something like:
Administrators - Full Control
CREATOR OWNER - Full Control
Power Users - Special
SYSTEM - Full Control
Users - Special
--
Bruce Sanderson MVP
It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
lou said:
I'm unable to install my printer, it was working fine and suddenly no fax
and printer, I follow some of the tips on this pages but my problem was not
solved. I get error messages; RPC server unavailable, print spooler not
running, server spool directory location is invalid ect.. I manually start
printspooler, follow instructions on Bruce Sanderson's website, remove
drivers, download latest driver and software, but still nothing. I'm running
windows xp on a compaq nx9000 laptop and try to install hp deskjet 5652
printer. Anyone got suggestions on solving my problem. Thank you, lou
