Home Forums Discussions Problems Print spooler problem?

I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem.

I am running windows 7 pro, 64 bit with a local printer.

Last week, I tried to print a patient note from a.c. and the printer seems to freeze. When I opened the printer to look at the cue the message was "printer spooling". It was only after shutting down and rebooting that I was able to print. This week, I have had the same problem trying to print PDF's or Word documents. Both Adobe Reader and Word will give a "program not responding" (and that same printer spooling message in the printer cue). After shutting down the offending program I was still able to run a printer test sheet, print web pages, an XPS document saved to the desktop, and print pages from wordpad.

I think this is a Print Spooler problem. Since my computer contains the shared AC database rebooting during the daytime is not practical.

Any thoughts?

Thanks you.

I was able to correct a similar raft of spooler errors by deleting and then reinstalling the printer. I also noted that printer freezes are more common in local printers that are shared on the network.

Thanks John.

Since I booted up this morning it has been ok, though I did not do much printing. I'll probably have time Friday afternoon to reinstall if necessary. That is also my target day to get started with UPDOX. Lots of details!

First things first, go to the manufacturer's website and see if you have the latest and greatest driver for your computer.

It's not uncommon to buy a brand new printer only to check the website and see the driver that came on the CD in the box is already a few versions behind.

JamesNT

We have had BIG problems with Pringint and Crystal Reports (part of AC V5), which is involved in printing demographics and prescriptions. We kept getting crashes with error messages "Unhadled exceptions". We worked with AC Support for a LONG time, on their recommendation upgraded to full SQL, then went out and spent $5K and a bigger faster server and none of this helped. Finally, after hundreds of hours, they determined that the problem really is with how AC interacts with the Print Spooler -- program does not behave well with this. Once we disabled Print Spooler and used old fashioned work around problem went away -- after hundreds of hours of tech support, IT support and $$$$$. So if you are having similar problems (mostly with large systems and server / print spooler based contact Trish or us and we will help.

James P. Clayton, M.D.
Red Hook Family Practice
US Virgin Islands

Dr. Clayton,

I would be very interested in knowing how you are able to print from a Windows computer without the print spooler service.

JamesNT