How to fix printer spooler error message ?

hello friends,

I have Windows XP operating system. Whenever I try to start the Print Spooler service, I receive the following error message:
Spooler subsystem app has encountered a problem and needs to close.

What can be reason for this ? and how can I fix such a error message ?
Any ideas.....

This issue may occur if a third-party printer driver or a third-party service that is installed. As a result, it prevents you from adding printers, or if the third-party printer driver or the third-party service affects the functionality of a newly installed printer.

For example, this issue may occur if the Lexmark print service (LexBce Server service) is installed and is running on your computer before you try to add another printer.

If the Lexmark print service is installed on your computer, turn off the LexBce Server service.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
2. Expand Services and Applications, and then click Services.
3. In the details pane, right-click LexBce Server, and then click Properties.
4. On the General tab in the Startup type list, click Disabled.
5. Under Service status, click Stop, and then click OK.
6. Right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Start (if it is stopped).
7. Exit Computer Management.

Check whether the problem is solved with the above solution. If the problem is solved, then simply skip this as well as further replies, otherwise start the computer in the safe mode.

Start computer in safe mode
Start the computer in safe mode so that you can remove spool files.
To do this, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured to start multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key when the Boot menu appears.
2. Select Safe Mode when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then press ENTER.
3. If the Boot menu appears again and you are prompted to select the operating system on the computer, use the arrow keys to select the operating system, and then press ENTER.

Now delete spool printer and driver files
In safe mode, delete the spool printer and driver files. To do this, start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then delete all the files and the folders in the following two folders (where C: is the drive where you have Windows XP installed):
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86

Next, you may need to edit the registry.

I would recommend you for Printer Spooler Fix Wizard 1.0

Get rid of Printer Spooler error messages and fix spoolsv.exe service in one click so you can print again with this automated Fix Wizard. The program fixes all known modifications of Printer Spooler errors including "Spooler SubSystem App stopped working and was closed" and spoolsv.exe service infection and corruption and removes several kinds of viruses infecting print spooler, like spoolsv32.exe and spoolssv.exe.

Printer Spooler Fix Wizard will solve your problem both in case it is caused by spyware or virus infection and in case it was caused by the consequence of corrupted registry settings or malfunction of some legitimate Windows components. Additionally, Live Support will help you in fixing Printer Spooler problems in difficult cases.

It supports the following operating systems - Windows XP, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows 2003, Windows 2000

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EDIT the REGISTRY

Step 1 - remove Windows NT subkeys

1. Start Registry Editor. To do this, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
   Locate and expand the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86
   
2. View the list of subkeys (subfolders). There should only be the following subkeys:
   
   • Drivers
   • Print Processors
   
   
3. If there are any subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 2, follow these steps:
   
   • On the File menu, click Export.
   • In the File Name box, type the name that you want to use for this key, such as WindowsNTx86regkey, and then click Save.

Step 2 - remove registry entries for printer drivers

1. Start Registry Editor if it is not open. To do this, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
   Locate and then expand the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers
   
2. The registry entries for the printer drivers that are installed on the computer are stored in the Version-x subkey or subkeys, where x is a number (typically 2 or 3).
   
3. Export the Version-x subkey or subkeys. To do this, follow these steps:
   
   • On the File menu, click Export.
   • In the File Name box, type the name that you want to use for this key, such as print driver, and then click Save.
   
   
4. Expand the Version-x subkey or subkeys, and then delete the printer driver entries. To do this, right-click each printer driver subkey, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.

Step 3 - remove registry entries for default print monitors

1. Start Registry Editor if it is not open. To do this, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
   Locate and then expand the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors
   
2. View the list of subkeys. There should only be the following subkeys for the default print monitors:
   
   • BJ Language Monitor
   • Local Port
   • PJL Language Monitor
   • Standard TCP/IP Port
   • USB Monitor
   
   
3. If there are any subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 1, follow these steps:
   
   
   • On the File menu, click Export.
   • In the File Name box, type the name that you want to use for this key, such as MonitorsRegkey, and then click Save.
     
     Note - You can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key to restore the key if you experience any issues after you complete this procedure.
     
   • Delete all the subkeys other than the subkeys that are listed in step 2. To do this, right-click each subkey that is not on the list, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.
   
   
4. Exit Registry Editor.
   
5. If you have a printer attached to the computer, disconnect the printer cable from the computer, and then restart the computer.

Verify that the print spooler service is running.
To do this, follow these steps:

• Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
• Expand Services and Applications, and then click Services.
• In the details pane, right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Start (if it is stopped).
• Exit Computer Management.

Finally - add a printer and print a test page
If you have a printer attached, reconnect the printer cable to the computer, install the printer by adding it to the computer through the Add Printer Wizard, and then try to print a test page.
To install the printer you want, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
• Click Add a printer. The Add Printer Wizard starts.
• Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard to install the printer that you want.
• Print a test page to make sure that you can print.

Thanks very much , That was helpful and totally solved my problem..

How did you learn this method?

I used the information given in the discussion and it fixed things immediately. Thank you so much! such a relief after the shock of seeing no printers at all when I clicked on Printers and Faxes! I enrolled in TechArena just to be able to say thank you.