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Resolved Question

Where do i find a "print spooler" on my Hpdv221 laptop

Dec 3, 2011 12:01AM PST

I received a used wireless printer from a freecycler. HPphotosmart C5380 All in one(they were getting rid of it becasue of the cost of the ink). I plugged it in and it worked with my home network. (all test pages ran, set up was easy. without doing anything with my laptop, was able to print something right away.(just once)
Then when i went to print something another day, i got the message can't find any printers,
"Windows can't open add printer. Local printer spooler service not working""Please restart the spooler or restart the machine.
restarting the machine did nothing. What and where is the spooler service.The weird thing is i did see the wireless printer listed somewhere on my laptop and the page i saw had all the reports about it but when i go to print something, it states I do not have a printer installed and message about the spooler service.So what and where is spooler service?
Thanks!

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plymouth vacation has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Print spooler
Dec 3, 2011 1:54AM PST

Cory has it but there is a fairly simple thing to check regarding this issue. Go to START, then RUN, type in, sevices.msc, when the window appears, scroll down to PRINT SPOOLER and check to see if it is set to AUTOMATIC, that is where you want it to be. If it is not set to auto, you can highlight and set it, then reboot and then try reinstalling your software.

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Bravo!
Dec 3, 2011 6:16AM PST

Hi,
So the print spooler was indeed disabled. I highlighted automatic and then tried to get it to work, it didn't because I needed to go back and highlight service status -start. Then i went to the HP website to install the software for the printer and thinking of my desktop (XP) and not my laptop Vista, i hit XP Didn't work, reinstalled with the correct OS and works like magic now! so excited...

2 other wireless questions from an idiot here...
1. does the printer and the laptop have to be in the same room to work together? How far apart can they be?
2. My Ipod Touch (latest operating system)has "air Print" How can I find out if i can print from that? Thinking my printer is too old, or does it have to be an apple printer?
Thanks you guys have been extremely helpful Happy
Kathy

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Wireless
Dec 4, 2011 12:20AM PST

They don't have to be in the same room but range can and will vary. Impediments, doors, walls etc. can and will block signal to a degree. The best thing to do is try it and see what happens, good way to do it is with a laptop, do some experimenting. Best of luck!

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Answer
Print spooler . . .
Dec 3, 2011 12:46AM PST

may come from the installation CD.

Most printers will print using the native printer drivers from your operating system. Try running the install CD. You can probably find it at the HP site.