# Print Spooler not running. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 24, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870 "2004-01-24T19:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/1 "2004-01-24T19:15:04Z")
I am trying to connect a new printer, and when I run the software, an error message appears saying that my print spooler is not running. It says to click “yes” to run the spooler, which I do, but nothing happens. Since I started, my other printer does not appear in the printer folder, and I can’t add any printers in the print folder either. Windows XP is my OS. Thanks for any help. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/2 "2004-01-24T19:51:23Z")
Right-click **My Computer** , hit **Manage** , expand **Services and Applications** in the left pane and select **Services**. Scroll down in the right pane and double-click **Print Spooler**. Make sure **Startup Type** is set to **Automatic**. Hit the **Start** button. See if any errors come up. You might have to check Event Viewer for clues to what is causing the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/3 "2004-01-24T19:52:58Z")
Go to Start. Go to Run. Type MSCONFIG in the lil box. Click Services. Scroll down to Print Spooler and make sure the box is checked. If it isn’t, check it, then reboot. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/4 "2004-01-24T20:57:16Z")
Print Spooler is checked in the msconfig setup, but it says stopped. I tried Manage and Services, and it gave me the option to start the service. When I clicked start, I got the following error message: ERROR 1068 The dependency service or group failed to start. Any ideas anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/5 "2004-01-24T21:44:29Z")
Print Spooler depends on the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service. Try starting it first. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/6 "2004-01-24T22:24:59Z")
RPC is going strong, but I still get the same error message. Is there another dependent device I need to check out? ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/7 "2004-01-24T22:33:03Z")
Alright, I think I found the problem. I need something called lexbceserver. When I try to run it, it says it can’t find the file. Two questions: What is this? Where can I get it? Thanks for all your help. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/8 "2004-01-24T22:34:27Z")
> [@moejuck](#): > > RPC is going strong, but I still get the same error message. Is there another dependent device I need to check out? **Moejuck** , do you get any errors in the event log? If so, can you post the event ID, source and text of the errors? Cheers, Max. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/9 "2004-01-24T23:14:21Z")
Hi **Moejuck**. Is [this](http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinNT/Q_20794731.html) helpful at all? ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/10 "2004-01-25T02:13:57Z")
Here is what Daizy linked for me, but both of these solutions scare the crap out of me. Can anyone give me an easier, or at least friendlier way of getting around the following problem: 1. The original cause of the error is related to unistall of older Lexmark printer software. When installed, the Lexmark software added it’s own print spooler service (LEXBCEs) and forced the Windows Spool Service dependent upon the Lexmark Spool Service by inserting a key entry into the Spool portion of the System Registry. 2. I located and removed this entry using REGEDT32.EXE and then copied “Known/Good” SPOOLSS.DLL and SPOOLSS.EXE files (from another workstation)into the C:\winnt\system32 directory. I could have also copied these files from the NT 4.0 installation CD. 3. Rebooted the system. All print services working fine. IMPORTANT: This fix contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry Navigate to the HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler registry subkey and find an entry with the name DEPENDSonService. Backup this entry so you can restore it if other problems arise. After backing it up, delete the entry (value). Restart the machine and all should be well. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/11 "2004-01-25T02:25:46Z")
Sorry about that **moejuck**. Is [this](http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm) easier to follow? ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/12 "2004-01-25T02:34:39Z")
Daizy, Thanks for all your research. I went ahead and deleted the file from the registry as was reccomended in the first link you provided. It was time for me to quit being such a wuss about the whole thing, so I just went for it. The printers are both up and running now. Thanks a bunch!!! moejuck ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/print-spooler-not-running/225870/13 "2004-01-25T04:43:04Z")
That’s wonderful news **moejuck**! Congratulations! And thanks for posting back that you got it resolved.