Windows 7 - Cant Add printer as printer spooler not working

I recently bought a new desktop with Windows 7 as the OS.
Have a HP Laserjet 1018 and installed it. Worked fine for a couple of days and all of sudden I get this message when adding the printer (windows can't open add printer. The local print spooler service is not running please restart the spooler or restart the machine).

So i tried to restart the print spooler and the only option I can choose is Start. I cant chose Stop, Restart and Pause. Its also assigned as automatic. When I restart my computer I still get the same message.

Can anyone give me some advice

Welcome Arcadian to the windows 7 support forums,
In order to assist you further would you please fill out your system specs, if you tag my response at the bottom left of your screen my specs will pop out.
Also I need to know the type of Windoes 7 you are using, 64 /32 bit.
Also did you have an installation disk that came with your printer and the method of install that you used?
Thanks for you patience.

ok have have u tried setting it on manual , from automatic to manual , then try it again , see if it works

I have windows 7 64bit and i installed it by downloading the driver off the HP website.

Usman. I will give that try and see what happens

The printer may have compatibility issues that may create conflict with the windows and O/S. i think that you should go online and check for your printer updates

Regards,
Merry J
Eco Toner

Well, first, try and start it. What happens, do you get any error?

Clear error logs, and then try start it, see what logs you get.

Otherwise, open up Print Server Properties (control panel, devices printers, click a printer, should appear in tool bar thing), and check what appears under Drivers. Whatever it says, probably removing and adding it again as 32/64 bit (opposite to now).

There are many causes for this - see if one of the suggestions here help: windows cannot connect to the printer the local print spooler service is not running please restart the spooler or restart the m

Arcadian, thanks for your response.
Your issue maybe caused by an incomplete installation.
Try this, remove all drivers and Hp programs, disconnect your printer and reboot your system. If you have the HP installation disk load it and run the setup.exe and when prompted connect your printer to complete your installation.

Open you'r services in windows and try running the printer spoller service it just sounds like something turned it off