Vista SP1 x64 - Spooler subsystem app has stopped working - Here's the Fix
Some printers, specifically their drivers, don't make the transition from Vista x64 to Vista x64 SP1 very well. In this case, the Adobe Acrobat 8.1.2 driver failed to make the leap. Here's what you need to do to fix the infernal 'spooler subsystem app has stopped working" from appearing and preventing you from using any printer drivers or their icons.
Before starting, backup your registry (and system). If you have Acrobat, uninstall it - reboot. Don't bother trying to use the File --> Server Properties --> Driver --> Remove function; it won't work. Instead, reboot the machine into SAFE mode.
1) Goto C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\ --> Delete All the files
2) Goto C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\ --> Delete All the files
3) Optional (really for x86 systems), Goto C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS --> Delete All the files
4) This step involves the Registry --> Back up the registry and/or the keys you delete should you need them!!
5) Open Regedit
6) Goto Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
7) Delete ALL the subkeys
8) Goto Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers
9) Delete ALL the subkeys
10) Goto Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors --> Delete ALL the subkeys
11) Close Registry Reboot
12) Goto "Turn Windows features on or off" in the control panel
13) Uncheck "Windows Fax and Scan"
14) Reboot
15) Goto "Turn Windows features on or off" in the control panel
16) Recheck "Windows Fax and Scan"
17) Reboot
At this point you should have a stable print spooler.
Adding printers at this point should be done with the following caveat. Get the absolute latest printer driver from your manufacturer (make sure it supports Vista x64). Add each printer one at a time. I.e. add the printer --> reboot --> Test to see if it works.
All Replies
- Worked Great! Thanks for the advice!
- What kind of operating system is this? Why do I need to do this? How am I supposed to be productive?- A user running a clean install of Windows Vista 64 bit SP 1, a clean install of Microsoft Office 2007, and a clean install of Adobe CS 3, who doesn't understand why he has to deal with 'Thunking'.
- Hi
I tried this fix on my new Dell running vista 64 SP1.
I thought I had installed 2 printers with upto date drivers, worked fine for a couple of hours.
Then got the "thunking spooler error".
I tried to restore and unistall etc - no joy so tried your fix. All went fine until i got to the turning off and on of the scan and fax options, it does not appear in the drop down list, how do get this option to appear in the list?
I completed your fix without this part and found the spooler would not re-start. i am now lost, some missing data error.
I have since done a complete factory restore as the machine was so new. How do i know whether the fault has been fixed if i try installing a printer tagain and i get the same error, it might be a new problem or could the error exist in the system even after a factory reset.
Dell were not very helpful.
Thanks - Well, I just walked through this entire process after doing every other process I could find to rid my Vista Home Premium 64-bit of all traces of the HP Laserjet 1020 drivers, and registry entries, etc.
I too got to the last part and did not find "Windows Fax and Scan" on my list, much to my dismay. That said, I simply skipped that step hoping for the best.
Well, it seems to have worked SO FAR. But then again, this "thunking" I guess they call it of the windows spooler happens only sporatically for me after a period of time of working. But when it happens it's a fatal death requiring of all of these registry workarounds to get things working again. On top of file deletions, downloads of new drivers, and on and on.
This one seems to have worked after all others failed. The HP Laserjet 1020 drivers for the Vista 64 bit MUST BE FLAWED and causing this problem. Then again, Vista is no end of problems for me. That Microsoft and HP cannot get it together on this is pathetic.
Microsoft, Intel, Wintel, whatever you want to call yourselves. Know this. As soon as I'm able to justify it my next PC will be a Mac, probably one of the new 27" iMacs announced today.
This garbage is absolutely killing my productivity and causing me no end of anguish in trying to do my work. I telecommute to a corporation in Massachusetts from Florida and this type of mid day headache is inexcusable. I need a machine to work and YOUR SOFTWARE in tandem with HP just doesn't. I shouldn't be having to dig into the REGISTRY as an end user. If I hired an IT professional to work on this, they would be doing the same sort of "Googling" I'm having to do to fix this. I'm not paying $100 per hour only to have to repeat the work when the spooler "thunks" out the next time. I'll be expecting it at any moment, I'm sure.
I'm FINISHED, DONE with Microsoft over this. This is the final straw as I sit here after 5 hours of attempts at getting my HP 1020 back up and running.
It seems like people are so grateful that one of these "fixes" works, that nobody is RAILING against Microsoft in these posts. Well, I will. This is ridiculous. - Hi,It did not work for me either, could not find the "windows Fax and Scan" directory. I tried everything else. The fix provided by Windows did not solve the problem.HELP PLEASE. it does not make any sense. I had been printing for more than one year with my Dell computer without any pb, and now I am totally stuck. I lost so many hours already.Any idea anyone ?Thanks
- This fix does not correct the problem on my Vista x64 SP2 system. Any other suggestions?
- I was having a similar problem: receiving the "Spooler subsystem app has stopped working" error. I tried a few different solutions from various sites in different combinations and this is what worked for me:
- I know I have Vista but I don't know the specifics after that: SP1 v. SP2, x64, etc.
- I found similar help on a site after which following the directions I read that they apply to XP (which were similar but didn't work)
- Then I read how to start/restart the print spooler in the services section under administrative tools in the control panel (still no luck with reinstalling my printer either from windows or the HP disk)
- Then came to this site and started following the instructions
- I had already opened the W32x86 and printers folders and there were no files to be deleted there, but when I opened the x64 folder there were folders there (that I cut and pasted to the desktop so I would not lose them)
- still unable to install printer
- Then did the registry editing steps (6, 8, 10 above); although I made sure to export the parent folders to the desktop before deleting the subkeys as I had read on another site, so I could reimport them if something went wrong
- After this step I was able to install my printer from my HP disc, but not via Windows. In fact the HP installation disc went to 96% and then said installation failed, but I am able to print
- I did not follow the final "turn windows features on or off" step because I like others was unable to find this choice in the control panel
- I don't know exactly which steps did the trick (which makes me kind of nervous to erase the stuff I saved to my desktop) but I think emptying the x64 folder and the registry editing steps (especially 6) were the keys
Thanks, hope I helped
