Windows 7: Printer Spooler Service Not Running

Hi, I don't want to bombard the forums with my issue but I am not sure if this problem is due to a user account issue or a printer issue.

I cannot add a printer and all my printers from Windows XP were wiped out. I use this machine for business and I did not want to do a file and settings transfer so I updated to Vista and then updated to Windows 7 from there.

I had a bunch of printers installed including a couple of wierd ones such as a FileCabinet Printer, Adobe Acrobat Writer, CutePDF writer, etc. I don't know if these strange printer drivers affected the upgrade but now I cannot add a printer. I tried services.msc and attempted to start the spooler service, it usually is already running and its on automatic. Its not that, its something deeper than that. I also right clicked the spooler service and made sure the check box was checked for allowing the user to interact with it.

I found a Microsoft post for XP: You cannot add a printer and you receive printer spooler error messages in Windows XP

Does anyone else have any issues with this> Please help!

Im sorry, but your problem may be caused by the upgrade. Everyone here agrees, do a clean install. Your problem may very well be caused by the fact that you did not do a clean install. You have a computer that has all the problems of the old XP, and any corruption from Vista. I do not know for sure if the upgrade was the cause of your problem, but I do know if it is not, you will be back and probably real soon. These upgrades have the tendancy to seem ok at first, but then problems slowly creep in.

My advice, bite the bullet do a clean install and transfer everything with windows easy transfer, everything except programs, which have to be reinstalled. Incidentally, everything can be transferred with windows easy transfer from the MS site, it is really easy and fast. I used it.

What would you prefer for 20,000 dollars. A brand new car or an old one painted to look beautiful including new tires and tune up. I think you understand what I am trying to say.

Rich, I understand where you are coming from and for anyone elses computer I would do the same but I cannot on this one. I am very computer savvy and very meticulous. I've even upgraded motherboards on this machine without reinstalling by keeping it in the same family. I even moved from a Pentium 4 to a Core 2 Quad without reformatting, I'm not going to give up on a stupid Printer Spooler Service. I'm sure someone can figure this out. I've been trying different things myself.

Good Im proud of you Try going here In search type turn on. Then go to turn window features on and off. Maybe you can do something with the printer feature there?

Richard, well it looks like I solved this one myself. For anyone else that had this problem. You can attempt to follow the Microsoft Fix above but it will most likely leave you hanging without ports. If you have the luxury of access to another virgin untouched computer with Windows 7.

Do the following:

Open Regedit:

Go to:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Print

File Export > export the reg file.

Copy it to a flash drive, open your computer, import it to the registry and restart your computer. All your printers with old drivers will be wiped out but that is why the spooler service is not working because the drivers are old and cause the Windows 7 Spooler service to crash and shut down.

Its alot easier than formatting your computer

Im really glad. You know with your ability you would make be a true asset to the staff here. There is no monetary rewards, but trust me, the feeling that we get, when we are the sole support for a particular poster, and then he comes back smiling with a thank you is worth its weight in gold.

I'd be interested but my replies would be sporatic throughout the week. If that is ok, I don't mind. Let me know what I'd need to do.

Stephen

Since you asked a question, here, you are already a member. Whenever you have time, just come back and answer any questions that you can. Thats it. No real rules about frequency. When you get your first thank you from someone you helped, you realize that these are real people (although unseen) and it gives you a great feeling.

sdigital when you say save into your registry then restart your computer, where exactly do you mean?

Thanks for the info on how to fix this, however there is no path to the location you listed HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Print.
Do you have the correct path?
Thanks for any help you can give.