Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

My mother is running WinXP SP2 on her computer with a local printer

attached. Everything worked great until a few days ago, when the

printer stopped working. (According to her, she didn't do anything

new, didn't install anything, etc). After some poking around, I found

that spoolsv.exe was using all of the local resources. I stopped the

service, cleaned out the files in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool

\Printers folder and restarted the service. The process came up with

no problems, using almost none of the CPU. But as soon as I tried to

print something, we got the same problem. The document doesn't print,

and it sits in that folder, with the service chewing up the

processor. I've tried printing from MS Word, Notepad and from a 3rd

party app (for printing forms, etc). None of them work, all result in

the same behavior. I also tried to set the properties to print

directly to the printer and bypass the spooling, but that didn't help.

 

Any idea what's going on? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

 

Thank you!

 

-Murali

[Guest Brian A.]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

<msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1187016384.378078.211360@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> My mother is running WinXP SP2 on her computer with a local printer

> attached. Everything worked great until a few days ago, when the

> printer stopped working. (According to her, she didn't do anything

> new, didn't install anything, etc). After some poking around, I found

> that spoolsv.exe was using all of the local resources. I stopped the

> service, cleaned out the files in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool

> \Printers folder and restarted the service. The process came up with

> no problems, using almost none of the CPU. But as soon as I tried to

> print something, we got the same problem. The document doesn't print,

> and it sits in that folder, with the service chewing up the

> processor. I've tried printing from MS Word, Notepad and from a 3rd

> party app (for printing forms, etc). None of them work, all result in

> the same behavior. I also tried to set the properties to print

> directly to the printer and bypass the spooling, but that didn't help.

>

> Any idea what's going on? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

>

> Thank you!

>

> -Murali

>

 

Click Start > Run, type in: services.msc and press Enter or click Ok.

Maximize the Services window.

Scroll down to Print Spooler, if it isn't started:

Right click on it > click Start in the popup menu or click on it once and click Start

at the top of the left pane.

Close put of Services.

 

If no joy:

Click Start > Run, type in: eventvwr.msc and press Enter or click Ok.

In the Left pane click on either System or Applications.

Check for any errors in the Right pane and if found double click on an error to open

a details window.

See if the details description gives any clue to the issue and follow the link if

included for a "possible" resolution.

 

Also see if this helps:

You experience problems printing, viewing printer icons, and adding printers, the

Print Spooler service does not function correctly, and you receive print-related

error messages on a Windows XP-based computer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919750/en-us

 

 

 

--

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

Brian-

 

Thanks for the response. I can start and stop the Print Spooler

service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, the spoolsv.exe app starts

using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

0%-1%. If I try to print something, nothing comes out of the printer,

nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, and spoolsv.exe

starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

Just no documents coming out of the printer, and the service is

spiking the processor.

 

-M

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

Brian-

 

Thanks for the response. I can start and stop the Print Spooler

service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, the spoolsv.exe app starts

using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

0%-1%. If I try to print something, nothing comes out of the printer,

nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, and spoolsv.exe

starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

Just no documents coming out of the printer, and the service is

spiking the processor.

 

-M

[Guest Brian A.]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

Are there any pending, stalled or failed prints in queue?

Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.

Double click the printer.

 

If there are click Printer > Cancel All Documents.

Close out and see if it will print.

 

If not and even though you state you get no errors, the print spooler may be

corrupt, try replacing it as mentioned in the link I provided in the previous

response.

 

--

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

 

<msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1187030822.635685.94590@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

> Brian-

>

> Thanks for the response. I can start and stop the Print Spooler

> service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, the spoolsv.exe app starts

> using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> 0%-1%. If I try to print something, nothing comes out of the printer,

> nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, and spoolsv.exe

> starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> Just no documents coming out of the printer, and the service is

> spiking the processor.

>

> -M

>

[Guest Brian A.]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

BTW, Check All Printers queues, especially MS Office Document Image Writer if it's

installed, it's notorious for snatching up print jobs and holding them in queue.

 

If nothing helped to this point, check the system to see if Spoolsv.exe is located

anywhere else other than system32. If you find it elsewhere run a full system virus

scan with fully updated definitions, a few viruses use that file name to prevent

detection.

 

--

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

 

<msk_30339@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1187030822.635685.94590@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

> Brian-

>

> Thanks for the response. I can start and stop the Print Spooler

> service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, the spoolsv.exe app starts

> using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> 0%-1%. If I try to print something, nothing comes out of the printer,

> nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, and spoolsv.exe

> starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> Just no documents coming out of the printer, and the service is

> spiking the processor.

>

> -M

>

[Guest nass]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

 

 

"msk_30339@yahoo.com" wrote:

> Brian-

>

> Thanks for the response. I can start and stop the Print Spooler

> service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, the spoolsv.exe app starts

> using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> 0%-1%. If I try to print something, nothing comes out of the printer,

> nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, and spoolsv.exe

> starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> Just no documents coming out of the printer, and the service is

> spiking the processor.

>

> -M

 

Can you please include the post what you are responding to,as it make easy

for anyone to follow up though your thread.

 

Either update the printer driver or Uninstall the software for the printer,

run disk clean up then defrag in safe mode, then go to the Printer

manufacturer and download the latest Driver for the printer.

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

There were pending docs in the queue, but nothing appeared out of the

ordinary ('stalled' or 'failed' or 'error' or anything like that. I

tried to cancel all the docs, but it didn't do anything. I had to

kill them manually. It might have deleted them eventually (since the

CPU was running at 99%, I didn't feel like waiting). I will try

replacing the print spooler. Unfortunately, I won't get to play with

the machine until Saturday, so I'm trying to gather all the

information that I can between now and then.

 

 

On Aug 13, 3:28 pm, "Brian A." <gonefish'n@afarawaylake> wrote:

> Are there any pending, stalled or failed prints in queue?

> Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.

> Double click theprinter.

>

> If there are clickPrinter> Cancel All Documents.

> Close out and see if it willprint.

>

> If not and even though you state you get no errors, theprintspooler may be

> corrupt, try replacing it as mentioned in the link I provided in the previous

> response.

>

> --

>

> Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }

> Conflicts start where information lacks.http://basconotw.mvps.org/

>

> Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

>

> <msk_30...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>

> news:1187030822.635685.94590@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...

>

> > Brian-

>

> > Thanks for the response. I can start and stop thePrintSpooler

> > service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> > \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, thespoolsv.exeapp starts

> > using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> > 0%-1%. If I try toprintsomething, nothing comes out of theprinter,

> > nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, andspoolsv.exe

> > starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> > the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> > Just no documents coming out of theprinter, and the service is

> > spiking the processor.

>

> > -M

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

Can do. Sorry about that; I don't post often, and my nettiquite has

apparently slipped :)

 

I will add this to my list of things to try.

 

Thanks

 

-M

 

On Aug 13, 4:04 pm, nass <n...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> "msk_30...@yahoo.com" wrote:

> > Brian-

>

> > Thanks for the response. I can start and stop thePrintSpooler

> > service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> > \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, thespoolsv.exeapp starts

> > using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> > 0%-1%. If I try toprintsomething, nothing comes out of theprinter,

> > nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, andspoolsv.exe

> > starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> > the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> > Just no documents coming out of theprinter, and the service is

> > spiking the processor.

>

> > -M

>

> Can you please include the post what you are responding to,as it make easy

> for anyone to follow up though your thread.

>

> Either update theprinterdriver or Uninstall the software for theprinter,

> run disk clean up then defrag in safe mode, then go to thePrinter

> manufacturer and download the latest Driver for theprinter.

[Guest nass]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

 

You are welcome, it is for your benefit and others will come after you to

read your thread, nothing against you.

 

 

"msk_30339@yahoo.com" wrote:

> Can do. Sorry about that; I don't post often, and my nettiquite has

> apparently slipped :)

>

> I will add this to my list of things to try.

>

> Thanks

>

> -M

>

> On Aug 13, 4:04 pm, nass <n...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> > "msk_30...@yahoo.com" wrote:

> > > Brian-

> >

> > > Thanks for the response. I can start and stop thePrintSpooler

> > > service with no trouble. When I start it, if there are files in the C:

> > > \Windows\System32\Spool\Printers directory, thespoolsv.exeapp starts

> > > using 80%+ of the CPU. If there are no files there, then it sits at

> > > 0%-1%. If I try toprintsomething, nothing comes out of theprinter,

> > > nothing of value is reported in the Event Viewer, andspoolsv.exe

> > > starts tearing up the processor (until I stop the service and clear

> > > the directory). Basically, I have no errors, no alerts, no nothing.

> > > Just no documents coming out of theprinter, and the service is

> > > spiking the processor.

> >

> > > -M

> >

> > Can you please include the post what you are responding to,as it make easy

> > for anyone to follow up though your thread.

> >

> > Either update theprinterdriver or Uninstall the software for theprinter,

> > run disk clean up then defrag in safe mode, then go to thePrinter

> > manufacturer and download the latest Driver for theprinter.

>

>

>

[Guest msk_30339@yahoo.com]

Re: Spoolsv.exe is acting up and I can't print

 

Here's what ended up working:

 

1- Removing all instances of spoolsv.exe and replacing with a known

good copy (from another machine)

2- Reinstalling the printer drivers from the CD

 

A couple of reboots and it seems to be ok now.

 

Thanks again for your help, guys. Hopefully this info will be useful

to someone else at some point.

 

-M