The print subsystem is unavailable

[Galactus]

OK so my kids computer is getting the message: Printer operation can not continue due to lack of resources. The print subsystem is unavailable.

Has anyone else had this issue before. I tried to search Microsoft Knowledge base for XP/2000 to see if there was a solution, but none of the suggestions worked. Searching the net has only turned up the solution of re installing the operating system. Surely there has to be another alternative that is not as drastic.

 

[USS KG5]

Check your hard drive space - I've had that message before when the hard disk is virtually full.

 

[GMac]

Sounds about right - if your HDD is close to full, there won't be enough disc space for the print spooler to work. Also check to see if the spooler service is running in the management console.

GM

 

[Galactus]

Hard drive is no where close to full, it is barely used. Print spooler is working. It will not let me add a printer. Don't have a clue what is going on.

 

[USS KG5]

Hard drive is no where close to full, it is barely used. Print spooler is working. It will not let me add a printer. Don't have a clue what is going on.

Ahhh - your spooler is buggered - there is a knowledge base article on this - its a right pig to do though, unless you are confident in your PC skills a re-install might be a good option...

But if you fancy a bash - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324757/en-us

 

[Galactus]

Yeah I have done all of that and it still doesn't work. Since there is no easy fix I guess I will have to reinstall the OS.

 

[USS KG5]

Yeah I have done all of that and it still doesn't work. Since there is no easy fix I guess I will have to reinstall the OS.

Well I have had this problem with a few pcs - did you go as far as deleting the relevant registry entries and folders? It is either on that page or linked from it I think.

That said if the PC is a few years old an OS refresh can be a very good thing.

 

[Galactus]

yeah, I deleted the files and the registry entries, still nothing. At this point it is well beyond me. I am started to see why the IT folks I know just wipe the drives clean at some point. After awhile you end up spending a lot more time trying to fix the problem instead of just starting over.

 

[GMac]

The spooler can be a major league pain in the posterior - I must admit it's something we usually fix on affected PCs at work with a re-image, as it's a lot quicker than messing around with the registry and drivers. Epson printers seem to be especially prone to it (probably as their Status Monitor app is a pile of junk).

GM

 

[USS KG5]

yeah, I deleted the files and the registry entries, still nothing. At this point it is well beyond me. I am started to see why the IT folks I know just wipe the drives clean at some point. After awhile you end up spending a lot more time trying to fix the problem instead of just starting over.

Yeah - unless important data is at risk once you have spent a couple of hours on a problem you are thinking "screw it I could have re-installed by now".

 

[Galactus]

That is exactly what I did, after a certain point I was like forget this. I tried to get my overlords to switch to Linux, but they keep complaining so I had to go back to Windows.

So now it is back up and running. Now I just have to reinstall all the drivers.