Printer Spooler

[Betty180]

Good afternoon

It dosen't matter which printer I install.  The print jobs do not print.  It printer queue has all the print jobs stuck and it says "spooling" .  Once I clear it in windows and with services, restart the computer, it will print 1 job and spool all the others all over again.  What can I do to permanently fix this problem

[70007]

Hello Betty180,

Thank you for posting your concern,

Resolving Print Spooling Issues

When print jobs get stuck in the queue with a "spooling" status, it can be frustrating. This issue might be related to the spooler service, driver incompatibilities, or system configuration problems. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Restart the Print Spooler Service:

   • Open the Services console by typing services.msc into the Windows search bar.
   • Locate the "Print Spooler" service, right-click, and select "Restart."
   • Check to see if this resolves the issue temporarily.

2. Clear the Print Queue Manually:

   • Stop the Print Spooler service as described above.
   • Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files in this directory. (This clears the print queue.)
   • Restart the Print Spooler service.

3. Update Printer Drivers:

   • Ensure you have the latest drivers for your printer model. Visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest drivers specifically designed for your operating system.

4. Check for Windows Updates:

   • Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date. Sometimes, updates include patches that can fix existing bugs or compatibility issues.

5. Set Printer as Default:

   • Go to "Devices and Printers" in the Control Panel.
   • Right-click on your printer and select "Set as default printer."

6. Check Printer Settings:

   • Ensure the printer properties and preferences are correctly set up and match the media and settings for your print jobs.

7. Disable Advanced Printing Features:

   • Go to "Devices and Printers," right-click your printer, and select "Printer properties."
   • Navigate to the "Advanced" tab and uncheck "Enable advanced printing features."

8. Scan for Malware:

   • Run a full system scan with a reliable antivirus program. Sometimes malware can interfere with system processes, including the print spooler service.

9. Check Network Configuration:

   • If you're using a network printer, ensure the network configuration is correct and there are no connectivity issues.

10. Reinstall Printer:

    • Remove the printer completely from your system, restart your computer, and then reinstall the printer.

If none of these steps resolve the issue permanently, there could be a deeper software or hardware conflict, and it may be necessary to contact technical support for more detailed assistance.