Unable to add printer

[nanaki333]

Just as the title says. I can't add a printer of any kind. I can't click and drag a shared printer over the network, it won't even let me see what printers are shared on a computer actually. No printers show up in my Printers & Faxes under control panel. When I try to use the Add Printer wizard, I get a message that reads "Operation could not be completed". This machine has been able to print fine in the past. One morning it just decided it didn't want to print and hasn't since then. Any thoughts on this? Something that doesn't involve a reinstall. I may run a repair, but I want to try avoiding that too if possible.

 

[LiLithTecH]

What OS (and Service Pack if applicable) are you using?

What printer (model\make) are you trying to install?

 

[nanaki333]

Windows XP Pro, SP1.

the printer make & model are irrelevant. i can't add ANY printer. i can't even see shared printers on the network. laserjet, inkjet, all-in-one. this laptop won't see any of them. then when i try to use the "Add Printer" wizard, I get that error i stated in the above post.

 

[LiLithTecH]

The reason I asked make\model is to know what drivers you have PREVIOUSLY
installed as they can very well affect the operation.

 

[nanaki333]

ahhhhh.. well, there was a dell all-in-one a90 & an hp laserjet 4100 (i think).

 

[nanaki333]

?

 

[montag451]

http://support.microsoft.com/s...-US&SD=gn&FR=0

 

[montag451]

or


http://support.microsoft.com/d...?scid=kb;EN-US;Q314876

 

[nanaki333]

nope and nope. won't even let me start the printer spooler service. it was already set to automatic.

 

[montag451]

what does event viewer say?

in administrative tools

 

[nanaki333]

nevermind, i got it. friggin lexmark screwed with my spooler. after a long time of registry fishing, had to remove it's dependancy in the DependOnService. then do an sc config spooler depend= RPCSS

anyway, it started now and it works.

 

[montag451]

well done nanaki and lilithtech