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Can't add printer. Print Spooler crashes. Error code 0x000006be

Question
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Hello. I could really use the print option of my OS. Unfortunately, my printer is gone from the Printers applet and I can't add a new one because either the print spooler crashed or I get error code 0x000006BE if I manually restart the spooler and try to add the printer.
So.... Any ideas how to fix this. I removed my printer drivers, have no printer hooked up and still get the same results.
Any help is greatly appreciated.Saturday, May 30, 2009 7:57 PM
Answers
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This behavior occurs if existed printer drivers are corrupt. I suggest that you remove all the installed printers and reinstall the useful printer.
Remove a printer
1. Click the "Start" button, type PRINTER in the search box and press Enter.
2. Find the icons of installed printers, and delete them.
3. Right-click on the blank part of the window, and choose "Run as administrator"->"Server Properties".
4. On the Drivers tab, select the listed printers and click the Remove button. Please then select Remove driver and driver package.
5. Open Start menu, input APPWIZ.CPL in the Search box and press ENTER to launch "Programs and Features".
6. Try to remove all related printer software.If the issue is not resolved, I suggest that you clear the printing sub system.
Step 1
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Start Windows Explorer, and then rename all files and folders in the following two folders:
c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86
To rename a file, we can right click the file and select Rename.
Step 2
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1. Click Start, type REGEDIT in the Start Search Bar, and then press ENTER.
2. Navigate to and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows NT x86
View the list of subkeys. There should be only the following subkeys:
Drivers
Print Processors
If there are any keys other than those listed above, follow these steps:
a. On the File menu, click Export.
b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key -- for example, type WindowsNTx86regkey -- and then click Save to save it to your local Desktop.
We can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows NT x86 registry key to restore the key if you experience any problems after you complete this procedure.
c. Delete all keys other than Drivers and Print Processors.
Step 3
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Navigate to and click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key. View the list of subkeys. There should be only the following subkeys:
BJ Language Monitor
Local Port
Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Monitor
Microsoft Shared Fax Monitor
Standard TCP/IP Port
USB Monitor
WSD Port
If there are any keys other than those listed in above, follow these steps to delete them:
a. On the File menu, click Export.
b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key -- for example, type Monitorsregkey -- and then click Save to save it to your local Desktop.
We can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key to restore the key if you experience any problems after you complete this procedure.
c. Delete all keys other than the 5 listed above.
Step 4. Disconnect the printer cable from the computer, and then restart the computer.
Step 5. Reconnect the printer cable to the computer, install the printer according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, and then check if the issue persists.
Hope it helps.
Arthur Xie - MSFT- Marked as answer by Arthur XieModerator Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:26 AM
Monday, June 1, 2009 9:39 AMModerator
All replies
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This behavior occurs if existed printer drivers are corrupt. I suggest that you remove all the installed printers and reinstall the useful printer.
Remove a printer
1. Click the "Start" button, type PRINTER in the search box and press Enter.
2. Find the icons of installed printers, and delete them.
3. Right-click on the blank part of the window, and choose "Run as administrator"->"Server Properties".
4. On the Drivers tab, select the listed printers and click the Remove button. Please then select Remove driver and driver package.
5. Open Start menu, input APPWIZ.CPL in the Search box and press ENTER to launch "Programs and Features".
6. Try to remove all related printer software.If the issue is not resolved, I suggest that you clear the printing sub system.
Step 1
======
Start Windows Explorer, and then rename all files and folders in the following two folders:
c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86
To rename a file, we can right click the file and select Rename.
Step 2
======
1. Click Start, type REGEDIT in the Start Search Bar, and then press ENTER.
2. Navigate to and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows NT x86
View the list of subkeys. There should be only the following subkeys:
Drivers
Print Processors
If there are any keys other than those listed above, follow these steps:
a. On the File menu, click Export.
b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key -- for example, type WindowsNTx86regkey -- and then click Save to save it to your local Desktop.
We can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows NT x86 registry key to restore the key if you experience any problems after you complete this procedure.
c. Delete all keys other than Drivers and Print Processors.
Step 3
======
Navigate to and click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key. View the list of subkeys. There should be only the following subkeys:
BJ Language Monitor
Local Port
Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Monitor
Microsoft Shared Fax Monitor
Standard TCP/IP Port
USB Monitor
WSD Port
If there are any keys other than those listed in above, follow these steps to delete them:
a. On the File menu, click Export.
b. In the File Name box, type a descriptive name for this key -- for example, type Monitorsregkey -- and then click Save to save it to your local Desktop.
We can use this backup of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key to restore the key if you experience any problems after you complete this procedure.
c. Delete all keys other than the 5 listed above.
Step 4. Disconnect the printer cable from the computer, and then restart the computer.
Step 5. Reconnect the printer cable to the computer, install the printer according to the manufacturer's installation instructions, and then check if the issue persists.
Hope it helps.
Arthur Xie - MSFT- Marked as answer by Arthur XieModerator Thursday, June 4, 2009 9:26 AM
Monday, June 1, 2009 9:39 AMModerator -
I am having a similar issue. The above solution provided by Arthur Xie DOES NOT WORK. Any other suggestions?
TylerFriday, January 22, 2010 4:15 PM -
Thanks Arthur! Your advice was spot on, thank you so much!-DanTuesday, January 26, 2010 4:04 PM
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Another possibility..........
This issue can also be caused by adding a Third party LPR/LPD such as ACITSLPRNT. It places itself at the top of the list in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors registry key.
If you have anything such as this installed, go to the Control panel, Programs, Uninstall a program, locate the program and remove it. Restart the machine and re-try the operation.
We have, for several past generations of Windows, included this in our base software installations. However, it is not necessary in this version and will cause the exact problem described at the top of this thread.
- Proposed as answer by SysAdminTillDeath Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:33 PM
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:32 PM -
Hi guys Im a bit confused how does a registery enable the spooler to work correctly and if i have a right point spooler issue in win vista can be handeled by enabling LPD and LDR service in vista(only) . Im not sure how can u change the registery parameters and enable spooler service to work as the issue and error message error:0x000006be is basically for the spooler subsystem that automatically stops responding.. while trying to install teh software.. please get the right resolutionand an answer..Sunday, October 3, 2010 11:08 PM
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Hi,
in my case, like SysAdminTillDeath had said, a third-party software (OnData PrintServer) caused the problem. After stopping the service of the third-party software the error did not occur again.Thanks and sorry for the bad english,
Jacques RiciWednesday, March 23, 2011 2:34 PM -
Not sure which step exactly worked for me, but I got it working after removing the printer and all the drivers and cleaning up the reg as described by Arthur Xie in steps 2 and 3. I did NOT have to do Step 1 - "rename all files and folders in the following two folders:"
Thanks all!
Thursday, March 24, 2011 4:59 AM -
There are several ways to resolve printer spooler error, probably because there are many variations of this error.
The error caused by faulty software can be resolved by deleting all the information found in the directory.
Thereafter, navigate to the Control Panel, click on Administrative Tools and then services icon.
Find the service labeled Print Spooler, highlight it and restart the process. If that doesn’t work, the program might be corrupted.
Click on start, then Run. Search for the document labeled services.msc, and this will trigger the opening of another window.
On this window, scroll down and click “Print Spooler”. Check its setting and turn on automatic mode.
Click Okay, and restart the machine. If you’re lucky, this might be all you have to do.
Still doesn’t work? Navigate to the Add/Remove Programs screen of the Control Panel.
Find the all the software responsible for making the printer run including the drivers, and uninstall them. Be sure to be thorough about it, or the problem may not be solved.
Download the latest copy of your printer’s software from the manufacturer and reinstall it.more information......... http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/printer/68459#2
Hope this helps you.
Good Luck!
Michel
Printer SupportThursday, May 19, 2011 3:25 AM -
I'm having the same 0x000006be problem. Out of desperation after trying many solutions I deleted the Fax and XPS printers automatically installed by Win7. Lo and behold I was able to connect to a shared printer hosted in a Win Xp machine.Wednesday, August 3, 2011 6:55 PM
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I have done all of the above with both the x86 and x64 drivers and deleted all the software and this issue still remains - 0x000006be and spooler crashes every time.
Removing the Internet Printing Service from Prorams and Features made no difference.
It would not allow me to add either LPD or LPR
Crashes straight away every time.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 9:55 AM -
This way resolved my problem.
I was not able to add Samsung SCX-4824FN. System is Windows 7 ultimate x64.
1) I deleted all folders contains Samsung-related driver files
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64
2) deleted all keys in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows NT x86
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environment\Windows x64
3) and deleted all keys other than the 5 listed above in "c":
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors
It helps!
Thanks Arthur Xie!!!
- Edited by Vet.l Thursday, March 29, 2012 6:59 AM
Thursday, March 29, 2012 6:58 AM -
I just restarted after the error and the printer was installed and ready to go.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 8:17 PM -
It's just what I needed. Thank you!Tuesday, January 28, 2014 12:06 AM
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Excellent,
thanks you for the great solution.
Monday, February 3, 2014 10:43 AM -
Hello. I could really use the print option of my OS. Unfortunately, my printer is gone from the Printers applet and I can't add a new one because either the print spooler crashed or I get error code 0x000006BE if I manually restart the spooler and try to add the printer.
So.... Any ideas how to fix this. I removed my printer drivers, have no printer hooked up and still get the same results.
Any help is greatly appreciated.Saturday, May 7, 2016 5:28 PM -
This worked for me. When I did this, a whole bunch of old printers showed up. I removed them, and re-added the one I wanted.
THANKS!
Tuesday, May 24, 2016 3:53 PM -
Thank you. I have been trying to fix this all day.
Thursday, September 13, 2018 2:22 AM