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Support > How to fix a spoolsv.exe error

This issue can occur if a printer driver that is installed on the computer is damaged.

First run the System File Checker (from command line prompt type sfc/scannow) and inserted the Windows CD for your version, so that it could replace any files it needed. After doing this, you should be able to open the Printer window without getting the error message (spoolsv.exe etc...).

Then go back to the command line prompt and typed "net start spooler" and return to the Printer Window and you should be able to delete the drivers from the Printer window, open File ... Server Properties and delete all the drivers from the drivers tab.

Finally to resolve this issue, remove printers and printer drivers, and then delete the items that are under certain keys in the registry. Follow these steps:

• If possible, remove any printers that are listed in the Printers window.
• In the Printers window, on the File menu, click Server Properties.
• On the Drivers tab, remove all of the installed printer drivers.
  To remove a printer driver, click the driver, click Remove, and then click Yes to confirm.
• Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
• Export the following registry keys:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print
• Delete any items that are listed under the following keys (do not delete the keys themselves):
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-2
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-3
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-2
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-3
• Delete any non-default items that are listed under the following keys:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Monitors
   
  The list of Default monitors includes:
  AppleTalk Printing Devices (When Services for Macintosh is installed)
  BJ Language Monitor
  Local Port
  PJL Language Monitor
  Standard TCP/IP Port
  USB Monitor
  Windows NT Fax Monitor (When a Fax Modem is installed)
• Delete any items that are listed under the following keys:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Printers
• Quit Registry Editor.
• Restart your computer, and then reinstall the necessary printers