Printer is local but computer looks on network

[BarryNZ]

Hi, I have a Canon i865 inkjet printer that has been installed on my Asus laptop and running well for a long time, although I don't often use it. When I tried to print something today, the printer could not be found. It is the same for all applications, although the messages may vary slightly. For example:

Microsoft Word
File -> Print -> Printer: No Printers Installed
Add Printer -> Find in the Directory
[error] The Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable.

Notepad -> File -> Print -> Before you can print, you need to select a printer.
If you need to install a printer, either double-click the Add Printer icon or click the Find Printer... button located on the General tab of this dialog.
Print [dialog]
General [tab]
Find Printer -> Please select the network printer you want to use and click Select to connect to it [dialog]
The only item showing is an icon with the name of the system. Clicking on that shows one item: a printer called RolandVW that someone connected to the system years ago but is long gone. I go to Devices and Printers, select RolandVW and click Remove device. The device remains. RolandVW is a network printer but I don't know how to remove it.
Alternatively, in the Notepad dialog, if I click Add Printer I get an error message: Windows can't open Add printer. The local printer spooler service is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine.
The question I have is why is it only looking for a network printer? I don't have a network printer, only a local printer but it's not giving me the option of using a local printer.

The printer appears in Devices and Printers:
Canon Inkjet i865
State: Default
Right-click -> Troubleshoot -> Troubleshooting couldn't identify the problem
Add a printer
Windows can't open Add printer. The local printer spooler service is not running. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine.

Administrative Tools -> Services -> Print Spooler -> Properties
Print type: Automatic
Service status: Stopped
I start the service, then try to add a printer -> Add Printer -> What type of printer do you want to install? -> Add a local printer -> choose a printer port -> Use an existing port [Drop down list of ports is blank and Create a new port is greyed out] -> Next [error] Operation could not be completed.
I then go back to Devices and Printers and again click Add a printer and again get the same error: Windows can't open add printer. The local printer spooler service is not running. please restart the spooler or restart the machine.
I return to Administrative Tools -> Services -> Print Spooler -> Properties
Print type: Automatic
Service status: Stopped

I opened a command prompt and tried the System File Checker:
sfc /scannow
Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations.

I tried System Restore.
It completed successfully.
(no change)

At this point I am pretty much stumped. My printer is local but it appears that my system, thinks that it is located on a network. I googled extensively on the various error messages but nothing leads anywhere. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[DealerMan]

Barry, lets try the easy list first. Is this a USB-connected printer? Try a different port or cable if you have a spare. If that doesn't work, log on an Admin account and try the steps you've taken already (remove old entry/make sure spooler is running/etc). Let us know what happens. Good Luck!