Can't Re-start Print Spooler Service - Error 1068  

Hi VG

Fixed it!! And it was so simple.

After our last efforts hadn't worked out, I got despondent as this problem has been with me for some months and seemed unsolvable. So I started Googling, and found this -

Fix Spooler Service Error 1068 "The dependency service or group failed to start"

It says how to fix the problem using the registry editor. For the benefit of anyone else with the same problem, here's what I did -

1) Press WinKey + R.
2) Type in - regedit.exe and press OK
3) Navigate to the following branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler by expanding the files on left
4) In right pane double click - "Depend On Service Value"
5) Delete existing data and type in capitals - RPCSS
6) Close regedit and restart computer
7) Print Spooler should have already started, or should be able to be started

The Depend On Service box started off looking like the first image below, and should look like the second image when you have changed it.

Please review my changes, and make sure what I did is OK and won't harm anything. I'm sure it is fine, because after several months I can now print and use my Primo PDF creator which also acts like a print driver and relies on the Spooler working correctly.

A big thanks to VG and anyone else who contributed to this thread. I'm sure we would have got to the answer in the end, but I just had a lucky break and found the silver bullet out there. It was worth a shot, and luckily it's all fine now.

Regards to VG and all on Win7!

One last question. As part of my earlier research, I came across the following - if you click on 'Replies' the 4th one down is from someone called Ramesh

Print Spooler Windows 7 Error 1068: The dependency service or - Microsoft Community

He says -

It could be that the "http" kernel driver might not be running. To check the status, press WinKey+R to bring up the Run dialog and type:

cmd /k sc query http

It should show an output as below:
------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE_NAME: http
TYPE : 1 KERNEL_DRIVER
STATE : 4 RUNNING
(STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)
WIN32_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
SERVICE_EXIT_CODE : 0 (0x0)
CHECKPOINT : 0x0
WAIT_HINT : 0x0
------------------------------------------------------------

The "STATE" shows whether the driver is running or stopped.


When I looked up the Kernel driver, mine was and still is "State : 1 Stopped (as image below). When I followed his instructions to start it, it wouldn't start and just gave an error code message. So it seems that by using regedit and taking the http kernel out of Depend On Service value, it solved the problem. Although it solved the problem, I'm assuming the http kernel won't be needed elsewhere or for anything else in future, and that removing it instead of being able to get it to State : 4 Running is the right thing to do.

For now, I don't find any problems, but if anyone has any warnings or thoughts about what I have done, please say.

Hi VG

Many thanks for your reply. I did wonder about cutting http out from the dependencies, rather than trying to turn it on. I did try with Ramesh's instructions (I think they were from him - read so much computer info recently) to turn on http, but wouldn't work.

I don't have an external HD, but I do have D Drive, with 139GB of free space. What would trying to turn http back on entail? Would I be able top do it, as someone who isn't a computer expert? Do you think that by taking http out of P S dependencies it may cause problems elsewhere? Is http needed for other functions?

Best wishes