Event 808 - UNIDRVUI.DLL fails to load, Print Service error

[HolyHarmonica]

I've researched this and no one seems to have a solution. I'd like some help drilling down into the problem to diagnose it.
The 808 will occur twice each time a document is printed from an MS Office application regardless of the printer model. Some people report some printer malfunction but others have few external symptoms.
Reinstalling the driver doesn't help nor does changing out the UNIDRVUI.DLL This file appears to be provided by the printer manufacturer although there is a default one for Windows as well.
It appears to me that the MS office application is sending a command to load the Universal Driver User Interface. The file fails to load.
Question - if we are sending a document to the printer, why would a user interface load? Doesn't that mean like a dialog box? What is it's purpose? Has a printing error occured that needs the users attention? What is the code from MS office that calls UNIDRVUI.DLL? Is there another way to load it so we can look at it?

Geoffrey

Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-PrintService/Admin
Source: Microsoft-Windows-PrintService
Date: 25/5/17 08:40:46
Event ID: 808
Task Category: Initializing
Level: Error
Keywords: Print Spooler
User: CoolerMaster-PC\Geoffrey
Computer: CoolerMaster-PC
Description:
The print spooler failed to load a plug-in module C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\UNIDRVUI.DLL, error code 0xc1. See the event user data for context information.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-PrintService" Guid="{747EF6FD-E535-4D16-B510-42C90F6873A1}" />
<EventID>808</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>36</Task>
<Opcode>12</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000020000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2017-05-25T01:40:46.517705300Z" />
<EventRecordID>4032</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="1488" ThreadID="976" />
<Channel>Microsoft-Windows-PrintService/Admin</Channel>
<Computer>CoolerMaster-PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3009858439-3883855071-2290318543-1000" />
</System>
<UserData>
<LoadPluginFailed xmlns:auto-ns3="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events" xmlns="http://manifests.microsoft.com/win/2005/08/windows/printing/spooler/core/events">
<PluginDllName>C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\UNIDRVUI.DLL</PluginDllName>
<ErrorCode>0xc1</ErrorCode>
<Context>112</Context>
</LoadPluginFailed>
</UserData>
</Event>

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello HH mate what method or source are you getting the driver from?? I always download from the manufacturers site as the Windows feature is not really up to much.

Plus do you have any yellow trianges against anything in the Devoce manager?

 

[HolyHarmonica]

I have the latest driver from hp for my 2520h all-in-one printer. I have no yellow triangle warnings on any device.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Geoffrey,

Interesting isnt it, a NON error - error
Apparently only happens with Office, not gospel my take on it
when its initially set up it creates the /3 directory but doesnt actually populate it,
follow these instructions will confirm it


Navigate to C:\Windows\System32
- In the search bar, type in your DLL name
("unidrvui.dll")
-Are the results
One copy with size 828 KB
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\ntprint.inf_amd64_neutral_4616c3de1949be6d\Amd64

One copy with size 828 KB
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64

and one copy in the right directory, but size 0 KB!
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3

Fix
-If you have either no result in .\3 or it is size zero
Copy a non-zero sized version of the dll (use the one from DriverStore) to the .\3 directory under C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64.

- If you are unsure how to do this, open a window and navigate to:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3
- Then right click on the dll in the search results (again, preferably from DriverStore) and select "copy"
- Then paste the dll into C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3.
Note that you need admin priviledges. A window should pop up asking for permission, click "ok" or yes.

Roy

 

[HolyHarmonica]

This is interesting Roy. My search results are:
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\ntprint.inf_amd64_neutral_4616c3de1949be6d\Amd64\UNIDRVUI.DLL Size: 864 kB
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\hpvpl09.inf_amd64_neutral_de10ac7b895fd08b\amd64\unidrvui.dll Size: 864 kB
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Deskjet 2520 series\DriverStore\Pipeline\amd64\unidrvui.dll Size 864 kB

This is referenced in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\7AEA779B7FD814B519476D4210DA79AA
and,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\ADE2D7EB077BBEF5E864F277750DD1D1
​

C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3\UNIDRVUI.DLL Size 864 kB

UNIDRVUI.DLL is also referenced under "Configuration File" in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3\HP Deskjet 2520 series
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3\HP Deskjet 2520 series
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-3\HP Deskjet 2520 series
​

I had to research what the /3 directory was. This gives a good explaination: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/folder-printer-driver-files-windows-7-57687.html
To replace the file (even though it existed and wasn't 0 bytes), I first had to stop the spooler: I was getting a "file in use" error which seems to indicate the UNIDRVUI.DLL was loaded). In looking at the Print Spooler properties I see that the Recovery Tab has as First and Second Failure options - Restart the Service. This is probably why we get the 808 error twice every time we send an MSoffice print job. So, what is happening here? The UNIDRVUI is loaded at boot and then when we send a job to the printer from MS Office, some program (the spooler) tries to load it and can't - which generates an error? What kind of code would an MS Office program be able to send that would make the printer driver load this dll?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

- If you are unsure how to do this, open a window and navigate to:
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3
- Then right click on the dll in the search results (again, preferably from DriverStore) and select "copy"
- Then paste the dll into C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3.
Note that you need admin priviledges. A window should pop up asking for permission, click "ok" or yes.

Thanks Roy for me too I never knew this existed and soem Goolgling have put me straight on hwta it is what not to do with it .

Apologies HH didn't mean to butt in but I think we might have both learned something form our maestro of the keyboard.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Geoffrey,

Very interesting,

the first result string ntprint also has UNIDRVUI.DLL added.
This means as you rightly discovered its loaded during the boot operation
NT - means its a system operation

The printer hpvpl09
is a user operation and SHOULD load Unidrvui with a print request, expected behaviour

As you have discovered and proved

Depending on which way you want to go, bearing in mind that you CAN print, and just want to clear the error messages, i can see a couple of options.

Preferred
Print Spooler properties -Recovery Tab failure settings:- Change to ignore/do nothing
or
remove the dll call from the Ntprint string.

MS seems to allways have had glitches with Printer operation and Networking, a number of which have still not been resolved.

Keep me posted


Roy

 

[HolyHarmonica]

Thanks Roy, you are a wealth of knowledge. I feel like we're making progress. As you say, I can print. Still, I'd like to find an elegant solution to this. So, let's dig a little further.
Being as some code from Office is causing the print Spooler to try to load a plug-in module, Universal Driver User Interface (which I take to be a pop-up dialog box), I tried to play with the dialog boxes in Word: Print, HP Deskjet 2520 series Document Properties, HP Deskjet 2520 series Advanced Options, and Print (options). With the printer off I sent print jobs making changes in the different dialog boxes and monitoring the Administrative Event errors in Event Viewer. Changing printing options in the Print (options) dialog box made the errors stop. Even after restoring the options I removed, the errors did not return. They returned when I restarted Word. The first time it gave 4 errors, then 2, change options - 4, restore options - 4, change op's - 2, 2, 2 . . .

I wanted to figure out which directory the Spooler service is loading UNIDRVUI.DDL from. I tried to delete UNIDRVUI.DLL

In \3, I received the message, "The action can't be completed because the file is open in Print driver host for 32bit applications."
In C:\Program Files\HP\HP Deskjet 2520 series\DriverStore\Pipeline\amd64, I can delete it.
In the \System32\ .. \FileRepository(s) I couldn't delete them because of permissions.
Is there a way to see where a service has loaded a plug-in module from?
​

Although the file sizes are the same the time stamps between NT and hp are different. The hp file is in \3. I haven't proved it but I think that maybe Spooler only loads from \3 My theory would be: Spooler can only load one UNIDRVUI.DLL at a time. Is it trying to reload the same one?
Changing the Print Spooler recovery options to nothing did not suppress the errors (I stopped the service, changed properties and restarted). I guess the error is generated on failure to load a plug-in module. The error and message happen regardless as to what is done after.
Thanks.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Russell,

im pondering,
but in the mean time
Take Ownership Shortcut - Windows 7 Help Forums

Roy

 

[torchwood]

Ramblings so i dont forget
localspl.dll dependency
To stop logging warning events for the print spooler, in Control Panel, open Printers, right-click a blank area of the window, click Server Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then clear the Log spooler warning events check box.

 

[HolyHarmonica]

I'm logged on as an administrator. The printer is off. Right click in a blank area does not give me Print server properties. I clicked on the printer, a menu appeared across the top of the window. I clicked Print server properties>Advanced Tab.
I unchecked

Beep on errors of remote documents
Show informational notifications for local printers
Show informational notifications for network printers.
​

I restarted Print Spooler service. I still have the double error. I tried to find a log key in here to no avail:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/102966/registry-entries-for-printing
There is some info on registry key values here: http://www.undocprint.org/winspool/registry
This gives ErrorControl value meanings. So, I will try to change the value in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\Spooler
from 1 to 0. I restarted the Print Spooler service and sent a print job and received two 808 Events. I think that is because this Error Control value reflects whether the Print Spooler has started successfully or not. We would like to control the error reporting of loading of a plug-in module. Or, not have it try to load this module if it is already loaded. Or, not send a message or create an event that sends a code to load the module.

btw I also have PDF Creator installed.

localspl.dll is not present in Windows\system32\ , although there are several in WinSxs directories
It is referenced in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local Port
SFC /ScanNow is clean.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Russell,
found this artical,
basically boils down to the fact that somewhere in the HP >> complete << printer install process it invokes the second UN-neccessary call to that dll

The print spooler failed to load a plug-in module - Microsoft Community

Roy

 

[HolyHarmonica]

Yesterday I uninstalled and installed the driver. It still gave two 808 events for every print job. The printer is connected via USB to a PC. Today I shared the printer (render print jobs on client computers - checked). I installed the driver on a laptop connected to the PC via our router. I can print Word documents from the laptop with no 808 Event. When I print a Word document from the PC I get two 808 Events. On both computers I checked the UNIDRVUI.DLL - it had the same date stamp and size.

I noticed that the Print Processor being used is winprint would it be better to use hpzppwin7?

 

[torchwood]

Hi HH,

Dont know the difference between hpzp/win print, but if one of then is the second call on the dll might work.

Going back to your PC/Lappy test the only difference is the USB connection - this is a PNP operation.
You could try a straight forward cable connection.
or
remove "USB Printing Support" driver from Control Panel>Device Manager>Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Reboot and let system automatically reinstall USB Printing Support

Roy

 

[HolyHarmonica]

Thank Roy,
I changed the print processor to hpzppwn7 - I still get the two 808 Events.
Let's see; your other paragraphs don't make complete sense to me. So, I think that in my previous post I didn't communicate clearly. The hp2520hc printer is connected by USB to the PC. The PC and lap top are connected to the router via LAN cables. This printer has no LAN cable port. I don't see any USB Printing Support devices showing in the Universal Serial Bus controllers node in Device Manager.
I'd like to try connecting the printer to the USB port on my HuaWei HG8245 ONT router, but I think it only supports mass storage devices (for downloads from FTP sites). It doesn't show on my network node in Windows Explorer. I don't know what ip address it would have. The router on-line control panel only shows USB mass storage configuration. I looked at adding a network printer but I need a name or address. I checked ipconfig but didn't see anything that looked recognizably like another ip address for a networked printer. I don't think that this router supports it.

Geoffrey