Cannot install ANY printers!

[Renesis]

Everything was running fine until today when I came to print from Word 2010 which said "word cannot print , no printer installed". The printer showed up as "ready" and was set as default. After trying the usual stuff (loose connections, firewalls and reboots etc) I opted to reinstall the printer (hp c3180). This got me nowhere with a message saying "fatal error".

In the end I got a brand new canon mg2100 which also failed to install with the following message titled:
RunDLL: There was a problem starting C:\windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\cnmvsaq.dll access denied

Although I clicked ok to this at which point it said installation was complete. It still won't print any file picture or document but the new canon shows up as default. Furthermore, I am unable to uninstall the canon drivers (which show up in program's as being installed?!) as they are being "used by another service" or words to that effect. I tried to install some Epsom drivers and they failed too!

The only recent changes were on May 11 when a windows update completed. This may be nothing to do with it but thinking it was a problem with office I tried to uninstall office 2010 and it would not uninstall due to "corrupted files" even though I was using the disc.

Not sure where to go from here. My last restore point was earlier today and nothing prior stored. I have the original windows disc which came with the pc. I checked the printer spooler service and it was running.

To recap,

1. Driver won't install without error of some sort (different for each printer)
2. Canon driver won't uninstall due to being in use
3. Latest drivers used - yes!
4. Windows up to date - yes! Recent update.
5. Office functions normally but won't uninstall
6. Said printers work fine on other machines
7. Firewall and antivirus off for installation.

Windows 7 64 bit. Core i5 with 4gb ram

 

[AbMaster]

Hi,

I know it sounds weird, but if you trust me then please let me see this (possibly try to fix) error through Teamviewer. I hope you know about this program.

-AbMaster

 

[TVeblen]

Is this a wired printer or wireless or network printer?

If wired, check in your Device Manager and see if you have any warning symbols next to the USB listings (if wired printer).

Also test the USB ports (all of them) using a USB Stick, External Drive, and/or USB mouse to see if they work. Try copy/paste a file to test also.

Let us know what you find.

 

[Shaya]

Im having the exact same problem

With the same error message. !!

 

[TVeblen]

So, maybe you will answer my questions?

 

[Renesis]

Hello,

I previously tried to post a reply from a mobile phone but it didn't work obviously. To answer your question this was related to a wired printer.

I have today completed a brand new re installation of windows. It seems as though this problem was something to do with my user profile since, as stated, I was unable to uninstall Office 2010 and in fact ended up with it half-installed half-uninstalled!

A Windows restore was unsuccessful as was a Windows repair. In the end, and after sending the machine to a friend the only sensible option was to wipe the slate clean. Needless to say this solved the problem. Had I persisted then maybe I would have been able to report a solution but I'm on the move quite a bit and time was of the essence.

The reason I say user profile corruption may be a factor is because I was unable to do certain things, such as install and uninstall as all user profiles had become set as "standard". Also this may be why I was seeing messages with "unable to access" type references. I was unable to change it at all. Even the admin profile was set as standard. I could not even create a new profile with admin properties. I must stress that I am far from an expert but I expect this is why I could not reinstall the printer. However, I still don't know why it happened in the first place or why printing - which was already installed - stopped working. I scanned the system with several anti-virus programs which picked up nothing. I normally have a full security program installed.

My feeling is that this had something to do with the recent windows update - it is the only thing I can think of. But, Windows is up to date again and the problem has not recurred.

 

[TVeblen]

Thank you for the feedback Renesis. The information helps everyone here understand these issues and the many possible solutions. Yours is the most drastic but certainly effective!

I would not have suspected a software cause immediately. The additional information regarding the user profile glitches is an important clue.

Any corruption of the Registry has the potential to trash a system, whether that corruption comes from a bad program install or bad update or self inflicted wounds.

Just curious: about how old was the original installation, and how many programs do you have installed? (a dozen, dozens, or hundreds!)

 

[Renesis]

No problem, thanks for taking an interest. I have two drives, an SSD on which windows runs and the "E" drive on which I dump other stuff. According to the system I currently have 61 programs installed which would be very similar to before. I purchased the system last March which will be the date of the original installation. I had made no major changes since then as I have not apparently needed to. I do the usual stuff such as clean-up and a defrag occasionally.

Talking about the registry I did a scan/clean-up using CCleaner as I have in the past without problem. i may have done this just prior to the windows update and I wondered if this was a factor. I haven't done a registry cleanup yet since the new installation but would you advise against it or against doing it with that application?

 

[Renesis]

I don't know what to say to Shaya but maybe try to investigate the status of your user profile. If. like mine it was stuck on "standard" then maybe you could try a restore. Before that though it might be worth seeing what people suggest here. Can you uninstall anything, try a simple program?

 

[TVeblen]

Funny you should bring that up right now. There is a current debate in another forum over how safe registry cleaners are, CCleaner in particular. There is not a consensus.

In general you will find most people here, including myself, trust CCleaner to be one of the better programs of this sort.

However, personally, I do not ever run the registry cleaner on trust alone. I note the items CCleaner flags and then do some research. Some items I know are remnants (I personally uninstalled that program months ago). I clean those. Some items I know I need (CCleaner always lists the key for my Quicken PDF "printer"). But some items are not familiar to me at all. I do not clean these until I have researched and know what they are.

Everyone has an opinion. Your mileage may vary!

 

[Shaya]

Hi
Thanks for your advice, but im not in the mood or reinstalling the whole pc. I even tried going in the hidden admin account but it is still not going. I need help!!

 

[TVeblen]

So let's start at the beginning.
Is this a USB connected printer or a wireless printer? Is it on a local network?

If USB, did you test the ports?

 

[Shaya]

Hi
Thanks for replying its a cannon pixma 2500. Its wired and the scanner works. In mid of installing the driver it gives me the error above.

 

[TVeblen]

Hi Shaya. Because that message seems to be due to an issue with the operating system - as evidenced by Renisis' solution - I'm going to recommend that you start a new post in the DRIVERS Forum here.

Just post the facts above (wired printer, etc., along with an explanation that the error occurs when trying to install the driver, and write out the error message in detail.

Each of us in this forum brings certain unique experience and expertise in one or more areas, but no one here is an expert at everything. The people who 'hang out' in the Drivers Forum like that kind of stuff.

Over here in the Hardware Forum you get tech geeks like me. If it can't be fixed with a screwdriver or solder gun then we are lost!

 

[Renesis]

Thanks for the pointer to the CCleaner debate TVeblen and for the rest of your input. Since my "new" system is in its infancy I'll feedback any unusual happenings as and when!

Shaya, hope all goes well.

 

[AbMaster]

Shaya, can you please make short summary of your current situation and problems ? Thanks

 

[Kaktussoft]

Can you print from notepad, paint etc? Or is it a general printing problem?
first uninstall all printer drivers!! If failing... do it as admin. Or clean boot