spoolsv.exe error message

[hockeydad33]

My daughter has been getting a "spoolsv.exe has generated errors and will be shut down by windows. An error log will be created" When I researcehed this error message it says it was caused by bit ware software. Looked all through her computer and cannot find any bitware installed. Followed they procedure setup by labmice and could find nothing. Any suggestions as what else could be causing this problem? Thanks for your help.

Running win2k pro

 

[LiLithTecH]

This might be what you are looking for.

BitWare Causes Spoolsv.exe Program Error in Windows

 

[hockeydad33]

Thank you for your input. I had already read about that. I stated (probably poorly) in my original post was that I had found that information prior to posting but it did not seem to apply in this case since I could not find any Bitware Software installed on her computer. I do appreciate the try. Anyone else with an idea or thought on what could be causeing this.

 

[Sianath]

What is the OS? Any type of print driver is going to interact with the Spooler Service (and possibly print management software depending on what it does) so there could be a few possible causes.

If the OS is XP, try doing a clean-boot of the system (start, run, msconfig, disable startup items) and see if the problem reoccurs. If not, one of the applications loading at startup is causing the problem.

If it's Windows 2000, there isn't an easy mechanism to one-shot all startup applications.

 

[hockeydad33]

Sianath, thanks for the reply. She is running w2k pro. Looks like we have an issue that is not going to be easy to solve. Do you thinks reloading the OS will help. (Loading right over the top of the existing os in case a part of the program is corrupt or willthis no good.

 

[Sianath]

If you format and reinstall, it will resolve the issue.

If you do a repair installation (in-place upgrade) it will not resolve the issue if it's due to a 3rd party program because we don't touch the registry or modify any files outside of the \windows folder structure.

If you can get your hands on an XP machine, you can copy the msconfig utility to a 2k machine and use it there, it's just not included in the OS. Use that (unless you want to dig through the registry to find autorun applications) to disable startup items that aren't necessary and see if that helps.

Also, if you can reproduce the problem easily (i.e. when I do xxx the error always occurs) then try to repro the issue in safe mode. If it doesn't repro in safe mode, it's most likely a background application.

 

[mikecel79]

Have you tried upgrading the print drivers yet? I had a set of IBM print drivers that would stop the spooler constantly on our print server. Took me about 2 weeks to figure out which printer it was!

 

[LiLithTecH]

Bitware is Win2k/XP built-in Fax software.

You can find it in the Properties of ANY printer installed
by looking at the PORTS. (it is listed as BIFAX - Local Port)

 

[Kelemvor]

I'd also recommend looking at the printer drivers. Do you have a network printer she is printing to or just a local one? you could remove them, get updated drivers (if available) and then reinstall the printers.

 

[gsellis]

Make sure you have the RPC patches on too. The spooler touches RPC. It is possible that the spooler is reacting to something going on with RPC such as a worm that targets RPC vulnerabilities.

Helpful commands here:

Stop
net stop spooler

Start
net start spooler

Open the server and get to drivers
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /s

 

[hockeydad33]

I am sorry I have not gotten back on in a while. Great ideas from everyone and will give these suggestions a try. She said she is even getting the error message when she first starts her computer after it has been shut down. Does this open up anymore ideas as to where to look? She does not have a printer installed right now because at first we thought that was causing the problem. We uninstalled the lexmark printer drivers but it doesn't seem tohave helped. Will keep you posted as to what we find and what helps. Thanks

 

[gsellis]

Install a 'fake' printer as a local. Make is something like an HP Laserjet 6. See if that helps. Some apps actually call the default printer settings to determine what font list to show. That might be the issue.