Windows Explorer crashes when trying to print

[RyanTheConfused]

Did a clean install of Windows 7 on my laptop. After installing the network printer (HP F4235), I went to print the test page and Explorer crashed with the following report:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.1.7601.17567
Application Timestamp: 4d672ee4
Fault Module Name: hpz3rw71.dll
Fault Module Version: 0.3.7071.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4a5bdf2f
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0000000000030b16
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 52ea
Additional Information 2: 52eadbb00e34ab0b57a67bca42b98a2a
Additional Information 3: 50d8
Additional Information 4: 50d82b5a38957a07ea74e87c99967431


Then, trying to print MS Word 2007, got this error:

"Print driver host for 32bit applications has stopped working" with the following report:

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: splwow64.exe
Application Version: 6.1.7601.17514
Application Timestamp: 4ce7b4c8
Fault Module Name: hpz3rw71.dll
Fault Module Version: 0.3.7071.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 4a5bdf2f
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 0000000000030b16
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 0c7b
Additional Information 2: 0c7b57cb87eb0ebbd5e85031106b2296
Additional Information 3: 9c6a
Additional Information 4: 9c6a56490ff3c8740f29b79225b60bac

ALSO, PDF printers are crashing. Adobe PDF printer crashes explorer, and CutePDF and Bullzip PDF printer won't even install, returning an Error 0x00000002.

The machine is fully up to date, the printer's driver's on the host machine are up to date (Host machine is running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 as well), and the printer works fine for all other machines on the network. I can access all shared files and folders on the network with no problem, as I'd always been able to do, but simply cannot get any printer to work aside from the Microsoft XPS printer.

Have uninstalled and re-installed the printer and drivers on the host machine. Again, all other machines on the network are able to print just fine. All other machines are also running Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

Google has not been my friend with respect to this.

Even tried a SECOND clean install of Windows 7, but the problem persists. And only on this machine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[karlsnooks]

run the system file checker (sfc /scannow) from an elevated command prompt. If it does not say "no integrity violations", then Reboot, run the system file checker again.

Problem gone?

 

[RyanTheConfused]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I tried that. Nothing came back. Have run it a couple of times and nothing. Problem is still there. Thanks for the response, though.

 

[karlsnooks]

Ryan,
Uninstall all of those pdf programs except for Adobe.

Run the cleaner and registry portions of CCleaner (link in my sig). Have no fear--your computer will not crash and burn plus ccleaner gives you the opportunity to save the registry before they clean the registry.

After that, use ccleaner as explained below:
LIST OF STARTUP PROGRAMS USING CCLEANER


CCleaner | Tasks icon | Startup tab | click on Save to text file button (bottom right side)

Using the PAPER CLIP icon in the top panel of a Message Reply window, attach the .txt file generated by CCleaner.

 

[RyanTheConfused]

Okay, doing it now. Thank you.

Okay, did as you instructed. The file is attached. Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

Now uncheck ALL except for:
Sidebar C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
SynTPEnh %ProgramFiles%\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe

in WIN | type MSCONFIG | STARTUP tab
and restart your computer.

WIN is the key with the Microsoft flag on top.

Don't worry. You haven't deleted anything, but rather told Win 7 not to start those others at startup time. When they are needed, they will be started.

Is the problem gone?

 

[RyanTheConfused]

Problem is still there. Installed the printer and attempted to print the test page, got the same error message as above.

 

[karlsnooks]

Did you uncheck all except of those two items and then leave the startup tab alone?

What anti-virus software are you using?

 

[RyanTheConfused]

Yes, unchecked all but those two, restarted, reinstalled the printer, same result.

I'm running Norton Internet Security 2011 v18.6.0.29. All the other machines on the network are running the same.

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I'm usually not stumped this long on anything. I'd figured the second clean install of Windows would have knocked the problem out, but it was still there. Since all the machines on the network are running the same version of Windows and all are up to date as this laptop is, I'd have to rule out a Microsoft update as well.

I have no idea what the deal is.

 

[karlsnooks]

Just as an experiment, disable Norton and see if the problem is gone.

 

[RyanTheConfused]

Still there with Norton disabled...

 

[Britton30]

Hello Ryan your problem is within the HP drivers, Fault Module Name: hpz3rw71.dll.
You said the drivers were updated on the host machine, did you install them on yours as well? You really shouldn't have to since it is a network printer.
I would not let any Adobe or Java updaters run at startup, those will let you know when you use them if an update is available. In Administrative Tools>Services scroll to those and double click the entries. You can reset them to Manual with no problem.
Quicktime has caused some problems too, try uninstalling it and test again.
I would assume you've configured your router and sharing permissions to allow the printer to work.


Gary

 

[RyanTheConfused]

After the first dozen or so crashes I tried installing the drivers on my machine, but got the same result. Quicktime has been removed and the Adobe and Java startup services are disabled.

I've also tried installing as a local printer with the same results.

Any suggestions as to how to deal with the faulty drivers? On all the other machines on the network, everything is working correctly.

 

[Britton30]

It might be your machine is trying to read its own drivers, but it needs the ones on the network, ie, the host machine the printer is on.
Uninstall any HP pr tinter drivers on your machine. This may seem really basic, but recheck all your physical connections and power plugs?
What is really confusing is a clean install didn't fix it.

 

[Paul Walsham]

Hi Ryan,

did you ever solve this one?

I have the same problem.