How to Clear the Printer Spooler in Windows Vista
The spooling feature of Windows Vista allows jobs from your computer or other PCs on the network to be stored in a queue until they are printed. However, if one of the print jobs in the spool becomes frozen, it might also stop all of the other jobs from printing and freeze the queue itself. You will have to stop the spool service to prevent other jobs from being sent, clear the print jobs from a system folder and then resume the service.
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Instructions
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1
Go to the "Start" menu and click on "Control Panel."
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2
Click on the "Classic View" link, and then double-click the "Administrative Tools" icon.
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3
Double-click the "Services" button and then "Continue" in the Vista confirmation pop-up.
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4
Scroll down the list of services, and click on "Print Spooler." Click on the "Stop" link under "Print Spooler" in the left pane of the Services window. Now all of the new print jobs from this and other computers will be rejected.
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5
Go to the "Start" menu, and click on "Computer."
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Double-click the C drive, open the Windows folder and double-click the System 32 folder.
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Double-click the spool folder and open "PRINTERS." Select all of the jobs, and press "Delete" to clear them from the spool.
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Bring up the Services window from Step 4, and click on "Start" under "Print Spooler" to resume printing new jobs. Close all of the opened windows.
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Tips & Warnings
You must be logged in as Administrator before you begin.
