HP Deskjet 2540 - document stuck in print que

[Helen]

I have a document stuck in the print que on my HP Deskjet 2540. I am running Windows 8.1 and this printer is running wirelessly. I've tried deleting and cancelling and nothing happens. I can't print anything. How can I fix this?

[DavidPK · Accepted solution]

Hi Helen,

From the Desktop, hold down the Windows key and press R.  Into the Run window, type services.msc and hit enter.  Browse down to the print spooler service, right click it and select Properties then click on the Stop button.  Now browse to C:\Windows\System32\Spool\PRINTERS and delete the job inside this folder - You may need to click a prompt to gain the appropriate authority to open the PRINTERS folder.

Restart the computer and you should find the document has been removed.

Regards,

DP-K

[Helen]

Thanks. That worked.

[DavidPK]

You're welcome

[0421]

HP 2540 printer que cant be deleted and won't print anything now

[morlaine]

My printer started doing this a couple of months ago and is now doing it more than half the time.  Based on the answer given, does that mean I have to do all that every time I print something?

What causes the problem?  Isn't there a way to solve the problem rather than slapping a bandaid on the symptom every time? 

Thanks for an explanation.