Print Spooler Problem

I get the following message: “Operation could not be completed. The Print spooler service is not running”

I am running XP professional. I have gone into the RegEdit and deleted any print spooler reference there. I have then re-installed the printer from the original software but I keep getting an install error. When I want to print anything I get the above error. Is there some way around this without having to re-install the whole XP professional programme again and loose all my data and programmes already on the hard disk?

Would appreciate some help. Many thanks in advance.