Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset

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    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset

    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset

    How to Clear and Reset the Print Spooler Queue in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Clear and Reset the Print Spooler Queue in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

       Information
    This tutorial will show you how to clear and reset the print spooler queue in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

    This can be handy if you have a document stuck in the print spooler, and/or not allowing your computer to go to sleep automatically if set to do so.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

       Note
    If the print spooler issue persists after resetting it below, the installed printer driver may not be compatible or corrupted. Check the printer manufacturer's website to download and install the latest Windows compatible driver for it.





    OPTION ONE

    To Automatically Clear and Reset Print Spooler Queue with a BAT File


    1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Reset_and_Clear_Print_Spooler_Queue.bat


    Download

    2. Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    3. Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

    4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (UAC-Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC-Vista).

    5. You will now see a command prompt open for a few seconds, run the commands, and then automatically close. (see screenshot below)
    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-cmd.jpg
    6. You can now delete the download .bat file if you like.



    OPTION TWO

    To Manually Clear and Reset Print Spooler Queue


    1. Open Services, and stop the Print Spooler service. (see screenshot below)
    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-step1.jpg
    2. Navigate to the folder below, and open the PRINTERS. (see screenshot below)
    C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS

    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-step2.jpg
    3. Click/tap on Continue and Yes (if prompted by UAC) to approve opening the PRINTERS folder. (see screenshot below)
    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-step3.jpg
    4. Delete all files in the PRINTERS folder until it is empty, then close Windows Explorer. (see screenshot below)
    WARNING: DO NOT DELETE the PRINTERS folder itself. Only delete it's contents.
    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-step4.jpg
    5. Open Services, and start the Print Spooler service. (see screenshot below)
    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset-step5.jpg
    That's it,
    Shawn









  1. Posts : 70
    Windows 7 64
       #1

    Thanks very much, I deleted the folders and restarted as you suggested and this worked.

    Have a fantastic Christmas and New year.

    Regards

    Steve
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're most welcome Steve. :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8
    Windows 7
       #3

    Please help.

    I cannot locate these folders

    C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS

    Print spooler is present under Services, but when I click start it says "cannot!"
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 21,482
    Win 7 x64 Home Premium (and x86 VirtualBox VM)/Win10
       #4

    Please open an Elevated Command Prompt window and run the following commands

    NET START SPOOLER
    SC QC SPOOLER
    SC QUERYEX SPOOLER


    post the results


    Here are some instructions to make life easier :)
    1) To open an Elevated Command Prompt Window (the ECP window), click on Start, All Programs, Accessories – then right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Accept the UAC prompt.
    2) To run the commands easier, highlight the block of commands, and right-click on the highlight – select Copy. In the CP Window, click on the black/white icon at top left – select Paste. The commands will run but may not complete the last command, so hit the Enter Key once.
    3) To copy the results... click on the Black/White icon in the top left, and select Edit... 'Select All', and hit the Enter key - then use Ctrl+V or r-click+Paste to paste it into your response.
    Last edited by NoelDP; 25 Dec 2012 at 05:50. Reason: correct typo in command!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #5

    Thanks for this! This is so good to know for future reference.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    You're most welcome Anthony. Glad it could help. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #7

    Windows Print Spool Lockup - Mucho Grande Gracias Amigo


    Thank you for posting this solution. Microsoft's "Cancel All Print Jobs" button is a Charlie Foxtrot. Having to start and stop services and delete files in obscure locations leaves me with a headache imagining they hired Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian and Snooki as half vast programmers in Redmond.

    If it weren't for nice guys like you, I'd have documents sitting in queues for another 10-months --for half a dozen printers that don't exist anymore. What should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer ain't even close.

    This is an example of why everybody is moving towards Apple Macs/iPhones and Google/Android and LAMP

    Call me an anachronism if you want, but this has gotten worse with Windows 8. Every basic action now requires a Google search. I'm booting up in Chameleon Hackintosh and Ubuntu more and more often now because the learning curve is not as high, steep or laced with as many crevasses and avalanches.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're most welcome Jules, and welcome to Seven Forums. I'm glad it was able to help. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Illinois
       #9

    I got issue:

    Now i see in step 4. above that the PRINTERS folder should not be erased. We'll I erased it and then created a new folder by the same name. Now i cannot print. Please help me print again.

    The details:
    A large .pdf file clogged my printer and then slowed my machine to a crawl. In safe mode i managed to get into the ..SPOOL\PRINTER folder to see a "shock wave flash object" at 235 megs dated the time i made my last print and it was locked. Also in this folder were over 1.1 million files totaling over 8 GB! Hmm. Because selecting and deleting was taking too long I deleted the folder PRINTERS and then recreated it after the hour it took to delete all the files. After reboot i print and see the Kyocera printer queue flash SPOOLING under the Status column but then in a flash of my eye it then says "deleting - spooling". The .shd file and shockwave flash files are made in the ..SPOOL\PRINTERS folder but are size 0KB. No change in status if i restart the print spooler service.
      My Computer


 
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