Windows 7 - Print spooler keeps stopping

I have a laptop running Win 7 32-bit. I configured a network printer, which is an HP Deskjet 720 that is connected to an XP machine and shared. That worked fine. But I just purchased a new 64-bit desktop, and I can't print to that network printer. I can install the printer, and the status shows it's available/ready. But when I try to print a test page, nothing happens. When I check the document status, I get a message saying that the print spooler needs to be started. I've restarted it several times, but it still doesn't work. I've searched the forum and Googled this problem. Lots of users seem to have this same issue. I've tried all suggestions, but nothing works. The spooler is set to automatically start, and the restart time after error is zero.

I decided that I'd try replacing the printer driver. But when I go into Control Panel and look at printer properties, the Advanced tab where I should be able to update the drive is all grayed out. So I'm stuck.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Have you tried to connect the printer directly to the laptop to see if it will work there?
ken

george,

This is the HP Windows 7 driver page for your printer.

Product search results

Also, there is a patch posted on HP forums for 64 bit systems. I think it'll help you. See this page (scroll down).

Deskjet 710/720/810/820/100 Series printers - Patch for 64 b... - HP Support Forum

Bill2;

Many, many, many thanks!!! That patch with the DLLs did it!

One more question: How did you find this solution on the HP forum? I had searched there and couldn't find anything. What did you search on? (This would help me in the future.)

Regards,

geo

Glad it worked for you. Dont remember what exactly i searched for but i went to HP forums in the first place because of some problems a couple of ancient printers had been giving. But searching for "deskjet 720" or something like that should do the trick.

I have an HP laserjet 1020 that was printing fine up until last week. Now it does not print the print spooler service will not stay in a running condidtion. I am running windows 7 x64.

I have deleted c:\windows\system32\spool\printers

I had automatic updates on and have noticed that I installed many updates lately. I have disabled automatic updates. I am in the process of trying to remove the updates that have been installed in the last week or so. I am also getting event viewer errors...
/////////////////
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Service Control Manager" Guid="{555908d1-a6d7-4695-8e1e-26931d2012f4}" EventSourceName="Service Control Manager" />

<EventID Qualifiers="49152">7034</EventID>

<Version>0</Version>

<Level>2</Level>

<Task>0</Task>

<Opcode>0</Opcode>

<Keywords>0x8080000000000000</Keywords>

<TimeCreated SystemTime="2011-01-05T13:58:28.864976200Z" />

<EventRecordID>125759</EventRecordID>

<Correlation />

<Execution ProcessID="904" ThreadID="3280" />

<Channel>System</Channel>

<Computer>bob-PC</Computer>

<Security />

</System>


- <EventData>
<Data Name="param1">Print Spooler</Data>

<Data Name="param2">3</Data>

</EventData>


</Event>
////////////////////
Any ideas? I have also downloaded the latest drivers from HP

I have a solution which worked for me on 64-bit Windows 7.

Download the HP Print Diagnostic tool HPPDU.exe at HP Print Diagnostic Utility - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

Run this tool, it will start the print spooler, and worked through whatever problems kept making it crash.

Mind you I got into this problem differently than those above I think: someone installed Norton A/V on top of an already installed Microsoft Security Essentials install. Even after the uninstall, the spooler kept crashing after re-start.

This is the second time I've found the HP print Diag tool has performed some sort of invisible magic for me, its a charmer, I just wish I knew what it is doing that I am missing.

-Dave

You can try deleting the files in:

c:\windows\system32\spool\printers

The HP diagnostic tool was no help for me, as it just detected the print spooler error and temporarily restarted the spooler after which it stoped again.

I discovered part of my problem was with Visio 2003 and the Visio Viewer 2007. After I deleted both of these software packages the print spooler restarted and did not shut down.

I ultimately solved my issue by doing a complete reinstal of windows 7 and being extra cautious about the updates and software I install

Just to add that as long as July 2011 it still happens. I've found it on a Win 7 (x64) machine. No Windows' updates. No IE 9 installed. No Visio soft. Two HP printers.


Went directly to the directory suggested by Rocky19xx and I saw two files (00005.SHD and 00005.SPL) with creation date and time exactly the date and time the first time I had the printer error. I deleted the files and the Spooler Service ended stopping at his own.


It worked for me, but it would be good to identify what caused the problem. At the present time I can't remember any specific action, directly related with the error. I can't discard the possibility of being some HP bug, as it is the only software I can imagine is involved in the printing fact, aside, obviously, of the Win 7 own bugs.

I have a HP 1020 also. It worked for about three months after I got my new computer with Windows 7. Then some update messed it all up. I have spent three weeks fooling through all these steps (downloading the driver software afresh, using a restore point before the problems started, deleting files from the print spooler, trying work-around drivers, etc.). The fixes may have worked for a day, but the problem kept coming back. Plus, I had an HP 1012 laserjet printer that HP has decided will not be kept current for Windows 7.

I have implemented a solution found on another thread. Kiss HP goodbye and get a Brother (HL-2270DW) for under $100. Print spooler works no problem. Plus its wireless (I no longer have to keep a print server computer running) and it prints duplex. Sell the other two printers on Craigslist for $25 each, and I have a $40 investment in a terrific new printer without the PITAs dealing with the HP issues.

If HP actually paid attention to these forums and corrected the problems with the 1020 printer driver (and if they would update the drivers for the 1012 for Windows 7) they would have kept me. Now, I want nothing to do with them.

Yo, Hewlett Packard management, its called THE MARKET, and others are better than you at winning it!!! I LOVE the new Brother printer (the second Brother printer in my household now). Adios!!!