NT Print Error: The Print Processor is U

On one of my workstations the local printer disappeared. The user was printing this morning, then later in the morning the printer disappeared. When I tried to reinstall the printer, I received the error:
“Could not connect to the printer. The Print processor is unknown.”
This is a local printer, but I get the same message even when trying to install a network printer. My IT consulting company has not heard of the problem either. I hope that there is a solution better than reinstalling NT. Any help will be greatly appereciated.