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spoolsc.exe error

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Windows 2000 will not even add a printer now. It used to give this spoolsv.exe error. Now it says there's a different error: "Printer operation cannot continue due to lack of resources."

This is on a Pro machine 1.33 MHz and 1GB of RAM. Help!

7 replies

by ann777

See MSKB Q312052 . I fixed a laptop remotely by walking him through these same procedures on a W2K Pro -- 600 MHz, 128 MB RAM. You have enough resources --- it's a MS and 2000 issue where this problem keeps popping up.

SYMPTOMS
If you openthe Printers window or attempt to print from any program, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Spoolsv.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows.
or
Printer operation cannot continue due to lack of resources.
or
Subsystem unavailable.

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

RESOLUTION
WARNING : Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT or Windows 2000, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

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:

by ann777

If possible, remove any printers that are listed in the Printers window.

To remove a printer, right-click the printer in the Printers window, click Delete , and then click Yes to confirm the deletion.

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

by ann777

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
For additional information about which items are not default, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q260142 How to Troubleshoot Windows Printing Problems
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.

by ann777

---
A few embedded spaces got posted into the above registry paths. Ignor the spaces where they do not belong.

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