RESOLVED - Spooler Problem?

[gandulf8]

I have a PC with Windows XPpro SP2 and the spooler is consuming 99% of the CPU cycles, and my PC is considerably slowed down.

I am thinking I need to find a way to re-install the print spooler or delete all the printers and re-add them. I use only network printers. I could not find the spooler program listed anywhere on MicroSoft's Web pages.

Any ideas out there?

Gandulf

[F1]

Try Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Component Services/Print Spooler and stop the service. If this cuts the CPU overhead, you may have to set it to manual so it only launches when you need it instead of running all the time.

[gandulf8]

If I set the spooler to start manually, will it start when a print job is printed, or will I need to go to the control pannel and start it, then print my job?

Gandulf

[F1]

The spooler should start automatically.

[gandulf8]

I will give it a try. I have also copied a new copy of spoolsv.exe - Jun 2005. I am going to try to rename the existing file and put the new copy in it's place, before trying the manual spooler setting.

Gandulf

[F1]

I will give it a try. I have also copied a new copy of spoolsv.exe - Jun 2005. I am going to try to rename the existing file and put the new copy in it's place, before trying the manual spooler setting.

Gandulf

Let us know how it turns out

[gandulf8]

Well I removed the old Spoolsv.exe, replaced it, cleaned the PC Completely, and guess what? It is still the same, after starting the Spooler processor usage goes to 99% and stays there.

Gandulf

[TurcoLoco]

Does the CPU usage go up to 99% when you are printing or it goes that high simply by having the Spooler service running?
Also, have you tried replacing the Winspool.drv file?
If you stop the spooler service, does it return to normal?
Are you using the most up-to-date printer drivers, if not I strongly recommend you download it from the manufacturer's web site and install then see if there is a change.

If the problem continues, there might be a serious problem with the system itself. I would examine the spooler service and its modules using ProcessExplorer to see if everything looked and behaved as expected.

What other processes are running in the background? If any of the other process' CPU and memory usage flactuate when spooler service is activated, something else could be causing the spooler service to misbehave.



~TL

[gandulf8]

Yes, the Spooler process goes immediately to 99% when the Spooler is started; nothing printed. When stopped the process returns to normal. I have monitored this PC and see nothing unusual except for the Spooler.

I have down loaded all drivers for two printer used by this PC.

I reloaded the operating system, about two weeks ago to try and eliminate the problem.

I may just need to call Dell, as the PC is under service program for 3 more years. I just am trying to avoid that as it takes a day and week to get them off square one.

Gandulf

[TurcoLoco]

I have down loaded all drivers for two printer used by this PC.

Different make printers? Almost all printer's come with bunch of related (and imo bloated) software packages which almost certainly places a few related startup entries, for monitoring and diagnostic purposes.

If these are two different brand printers and have related services/startup processes starting regardless of which one is connected, this could easily cause a conflict as well.

Please provide a HijackThis or Autoruns log (see this thread to download either utility and also check out the post #3 to learn how to run the Autoruns scan).

~TL