Services>Error 1503: Cannot start Print Spooler and others

This just started happening this week out of nowhere.

Print Spooler will not start. I cannot start it manually. Hamachi (specfically LogMeIn Hamachi Tunneling Engine) service gives the same error. I haven't had any problems with any other services. Upon trying to start the two manually, I get the error 1503 "The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.".

I've tried the following:
- System restore to a date I believe the spooler worked
- sfc /scannow (and in safe mode)
- Chkdsk (Auto fix errors)
- Windows Repair utility
- sc config spooler depend= RPCSS
- Bruce's Printing Pages (+ reinstalling printer)
- spoolsv.exe and .exe.mui are in their correct locations. Tried renaming .exe to .bak and the .exe.mui to .exe
- RPC services are running
- DCOM Server Process Launcher is running
- Tried cleanspl.exe but it refuses to work on NT 6.1
- Troubleshooted printer. Finds spooler service isn't running. Fails to start it

With Hamachi, I ended up reinstalling it then adding in a registry key as found on their help topic over the matter. Just so much easier using this to play Sven Coop and Synergy Coop (Half-Life1/2 mods).

The spooler, once it turned back on normally...I think that was after my first attempt with "sc config ...". Anyhow though, it's never sticking and staying on after a restart and further use.

Classes just started up for me, so I'm desperate to fix this now since its bothering me to no end, and I need my printer. I really, really appreciate anyone trying to help If I forgot to mention anything or left out anything useful, please ask me also. If it comes to there is no absolute fix at all, and I have to reinstall Win7 (worst timing), I think I at least have the weekend. I did just build this at the beginning of the month...

Hey,
Try clearing out the Printer spooler folder,
Sometimes a corrupt print job can crash the print spooler services indefinitely, until it is manually cleared. Even though your printer may show 0 Print Jobs in queue
Hers how to:
Make sure the print spooler servies is stopped.
Click the start button, (bottom Left) Copy and paste the path below into the search programs and files bar,

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS


This should open your spooler print jobs, If any files are showing in there, please delete them,
Then you will need to re-start the print spooler service:
Click on the Circle start button, This time, in the "search programs and files box"

Type: services.msc


Locate the printer spooler services - Right click it, and select Start.

braddersz said:

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Thanks for the help,

Knew I forgot something. I've actually checked there a few times already in hopes of something appearing. It's always empty.

Format had worked sort of, but keep reading!

Upon installing either Hamachi again, or Kaspersky Anti Virus, various services would yield error 1503 again. Uninstalling one or the other (which ever had caused it at time of install) fixed it. So a format ultimately did nothing.

Then I found:
Print Spooler won't start (error 1053) after recent wave - Microsoft Community

Gwen_2012:

Fixing this issue is very simple. Here was what I've done to start the Print Spooler:
1. Click Start, type “services.msc” and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down to Print spooler.
3. Right-click Print spooler, then select Properties.
4. Select the Log On tab, and uncheck the Allow service to interact with desktop setting.

(Microsoft recommends that you do not change the Allow service to interact with desktop setting. If you allow the service to interact with the desktop, any information that the service displays on the desktop will also be displayed on an interactive user's desktop. A malicious user could then take control of the service or attack it from the interactive desktop).

5. Once you have uncheck this setting, select the General tab and click "Start" (the Print Spooler should be able to start without popping up the Error 1053 again).

Hope this helps!

I've done this with any service giving error 1503, and its worked each time and sticks.

braddersz said:

Hey,
Try clearing out the Printer spooler folder,
Sometimes a corrupt print job can crash the print spooler services indefinitely, until it is manually cleared. Even though your printer may show 0 Print Jobs in queue
Hers how to:
Make sure the print spooler servies is stopped.
Click the start button, (bottom Left) Copy and paste the path below into the search programs and files bar,

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS


This should open your spooler print jobs, If any files are showing in there, please delete them,
Then you will need to re-start the print spooler service:
Click on the Circle start button, This time, in the "search programs and files box"

Type: services.msc


Locate the printer spooler services - Right click it, and select Start.

Did this resolve your issue ?

braddersz said:

braddersz said:

Hey,
Try clearing out the Printer spooler folder,
Sometimes a corrupt print job can crash the print spooler services indefinitely, until it is manually cleared. Even though your printer may show 0 Print Jobs in queue
Hers how to:
Make sure the print spooler servies is stopped.
Click the start button, (bottom Left) Copy and paste the path below into the search programs and files bar,

C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS


This should open your spooler print jobs, If any files are showing in there, please delete them,
Then you will need to re-start the print spooler service:
Click on the Circle start button, This time, in the "search programs and files box"

Type: services.msc


Locate the printer spooler services - Right click it, and select Start.

Did this resolve your issue ?

No. What you suggested is solely for a corrupted print spooler service, etc..

I had no idea what was causing the issue or even what it really was. I tried everything for the print spooler service, when I instead should have been thinking larger. Whatever was in fact causing it was causing issues with multiple services, notably Print Spooler and Hamchi's Engine Tunneling service. They weren't corrupted, but rather something causing a conflict. Doing the 1 second step I found at MS Answers cured everything having an issue from starting.

To think I reformatted for nothing ultimately...although I'm now running GPT disks.