nothing I've tried will get my print spooler to start

[nikis360]

Hi, all of a sudden when I tried to print from paint shop pro, my print spooler has stopped running and i've been trying for over a week now to get it running again.

I 'm running windows xp media center edition on hp media center pc
and my printer is hp psc 1350. I don't have the windows xp cd, it was already install on my computer when I purchased it.

I've tried reinstalling with the software but I get this error message:

Print spooler(spooler): The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

I was getting the error message: cannot install printer because the print spooler is not running

I've tried restarting the print spooler in services.msc but I get :

could not start the print spooler service on local computer
error 2: the system cannot find the specified file


where is the file

the startup type is automatic and the staus is blank
the path to executable is C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

dependencies are fax and the print spooler service depends on the RPC

the RPC status is started and set to automatic.

Nothing I have tried will get the print spooler to start


please help,
thanks

[Saviour]

Go to your Run box and type services.msc.

Look for the print spooler and start it.

[nikis360]

I just tried to do that again and it says

could not start the print spooler service on local computer
error 2: the system cannot find the specified file

[drmsucks]

1) Try to remove all dependencies except RPC, as follows:
Start>Run, type sc config spooler depend= RPCSS (note the space after the =).

2) Uninstall the printer: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00365839&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&rule=12412&product=306888.

3) Re-install the printer.

Best of luck.

[nikis360]

the printer has already been uninstalled and I can't reinstall because upon installation it gives me the error message about the print spool. I'm trying to borrow a windows cd.
I have windows xp media center edition, does it have to be the cd or could it just be windows xp

[drmsucks]

the printer has already been uninstalled and I can't reinstall because upon installation it gives me the error message about the print spool. I'm trying to borrow a windows cd.
I have windows xp media center edition, does it have to be the cd or could it just be windows xp

Did you try the routine in 1) above? Then re-boot. Results?

[nikis360]

tried the routine in one and when it reboots the found new hardware wizard says it was a problem installing this hardware an error occurred during the installation of the device

the rpc server is unavailable

I checked rpc in services and rpc and rpc locator are started and set to automatic

[drmsucks]

Get your Win CD (you'll need the same version and service pack as the operating system on the computer).

Start>Run, type: sfc /scannow (note space after sfc); insert CD when asked.

This will search for and replace any corrupt system files.

[patio]

tried the routine in one and when it reboots the found new hardware wizard says it was a problem installing this hardware an error occurred during the installation of the device

The printer should be unplugged when doing this...matter of fact if it's a USB printer it shouldn't be plugged in at all until you are prompted when re-installing the software for it, but let's address the other issues first by trying the above procedure first and then running sfc /scannow as drm suggested.
Remember to re-boot when it finishes.

[nikis360]

still haven't gotten a windows xp media center edition cd. do you know anthing about changing the path in the registry to point to C:windows/i386

I want to add that I tried to delete all of the folders inside my spools folder but there is one folder I can't delete named color  because it says that another program is using the file

[nikis360]

in the meantime, I found this about the i386 folder

A very common way for manufacturers to supply the system file set on preinstalled (OEM) machines is to place them on the hard drive. This is done because in general you cannot directly expand files from the image disks or recovery partition that is provided with the system. The problem is that the image used to install the system references the system file set (I386 folder) as being on the installation CD - and most of the time the user does not have one of these. When the system requires one of these files, the user is prompted to insert the setup disk that they do not possess, and most times there is no option to redirect the search to another location. Therefore, what needs to be done is that the reference to the I386 folder needs to be changed. This is done in the system registry, but first you need to locate it.

Is there anyone who can walk me through this step-by-step?
Thanks

[patio]

Boot to safe mode and remove the file named color and re-boot and re-start the spooler service.

The printer should be unplugged when doing this...matter of fact if it's a USB printer it shouldn't be plugged in at all until you are prompted when re-installing the software for it, but let's address the other issues first by trying the above procedure first and then running sfc /scannow as drm suggested.
Remember to re-boot when it finishes.

Did you follow these steps yet ? ?

[nikis360]

ok I booted to safe mode, removed the color file, rebooted and tried to start the spooler service and go th error message

could not start the print spooler service on local computer
error 2: the system cannot find the specified file

usb unplugged tried to install software and got the message

Print spooler(spooler): The service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it.

still haven't gotten a windows xp media center edition cd. do you know anthing about changing the path in the registry to point to C:windows/i386 so that I can run the sfc/ scannow?

[nikis360]

Is there anyone who can help me please?

while waiting for a reply, I have tried to run sfc scannow and it keeps asking for a cd. I've changed the source path to point to c:\windows
my i386 folder is located in C:\windows\i386.
In the registry, I did not have a source path. what I saw was installation services, and service pack source path. I changed both of these to point to
c:\windows. I cannot get sfc scan to look for i386 there.

[joefido]

Your HP computer should have come with some discs. Look for the one that says Utilities and Drivers. Go into Control Panel and uninstall all printers. Make sure the printer is "Not" connected to the computer. Re-install the printer, either with the printer installation disc or the HP utilities and drivers disc. Follow the prompts. Do not connect the printer to the computer until you're instructed to do so.