Print Spooler Missing

Jim M'town · External Since: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 1

I've gone through many of the existing questions and answers here, but I
can't get my print spooler restarted. Under Administrative Tools / Services
/ Print Spooler I try to start the spooler and get: "Could not start the
printer spooler service on local computer. Error 3: system could not find
path specified." I've used "net stop spooler" and "net start spooler" from
the command prompt, with a similar error messages returned. I even fixed my
Lexmark service with "sc config spooler depend= RPCSS", but still can't start
the print spooler. What else should I try?

"Cari · External Since: Sep 15, 2006 Posts: 864

Probably a Repair Installation is best at this point if you really have
'lost' the spooler service.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

"Jim M'town" <Jim M'town@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:522317B1-4153-4CBA-B490-E39AD86F6F04@microsoft.com...
> I've gone through many of the existing questions and answers here, but I
> can't get my print spooler restarted. Under Administrative Tools /
> Services
> / Print Spooler I try to start the spooler and get: "Could not start the
> printer spooler service on local computer. Error 3: system could not find
> path specified." I've used "net stop spooler" and "net start spooler"
> from
> the command prompt, with a similar error messages returned. I even fixed
> my
> Lexmark service with "sc config spooler depend= RPCSS", but still can't
> start
> the print spooler. What else should I try?
>

InspiredGuru · Joined: Jan 25, 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Jim,
I know that you posted your problem in March 07 and that you will have long fixed this problem, but I too have just the problem with the spooler, getting the message "Could not start the printer spooler service on local computer. Error 3: system could not find path specified." when I tried to start the local Print Spooler. I wanted to record how I fixed it, so that others may have less of a problem that you and I have had looking for an answer. I got this problem on an XP Home SP1 installation after cleaning a pc heavily infected with viruses. I restored the individual files but still had the problem. I then looked closely at the properties of this service (type "services.msc" in the START->Run, then right click on Print Spooler), I noticed that path field was blank. To set the path I opened the registry (type "Regedit" in Start->Run), exported the entire registry (for backup) and then opened the entry at "My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler". Looking at the keys in the righthand pane, I noticed that the entry for the path was missing. So I created a new value (right click in the right hand pane, click on "New" and then select "Expandable string value") giving it the name "ImagePath". Double-clicked on this new value and entered the string "%SystemRoot%\system32\spoolsv.exe" in the Value Data field.
Closed regedit and the restarted the machine.

It worked a treat and all the printers previously installed appeared again in the "Printer and Faxes" control panel.

Hope this helps other troubled souls. Twisted Evil

Guru
GSB-it Limited, Groby, Leicester, UK.

TechNet_Sistah · Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 1

InspiredGuru - This solution worked like a "charm!" I trusted the answer so much I didn't even bother to backup the registry. Cool

Created the new value, ImagePath, with the suggested string, started the Print Spooler, and we're "on and printing!" Laughing

MrDarin · Joined: Jun 18, 2008 Posts: 1

InspiredGuru's solution worked, with one modificaton. I had to use the real path and not the %SystemRoot%.

Thanks!