The Print Spooler service may stop sending print jobs to a printer that uses the standard port monitor on a Windows Server 2003-based computer

The print queue on a Windows Server 2003-based computer may stop working for a printer that uses the standard port monitor (SPM) for TCP/IP. Specifically, the Print Spooler service may stop sending print jobs to this printer, even though the spooler continues to send print jobs to other printers. In this situation, the print job in the printer's queue shows a status of "Printing." If you remove the print job from the queue, and then you try to print again, the same problem occurs.

This problem occurs because of an access violation that occurs in the printer-driver process. When this problem occurs, the spooler does not stop, and the SPM port is not reset. This causes the print queue to crash.

To have us fix this problem for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you'd rather fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix this problem link. Then, click Run in the File Download dialog box and follow the steps in the wizard.




Note This wizard may be in English only; however, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.

Note If you are not on the computer that has the problem, you can save the automatic fix to a flash drive or to a CD, and then you can run it on the computer that has the problem.

Now go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

This hotfix is designed to help diagnose where in the printer-driver process the access violation occurs. After you install this hotfix, a User.dmp file is created for the spooler process when this problem occurs. Send this User.dmp file to the manufacturer of the printer, and then request that the manufacturer provide an updated driver.

After you install this hotfix, create a registry value to enable the system to create a User.dmp file for the spooler process. Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: To create this registry value and then enable it, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following subkey in the registry, and then click this subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Type ThrowDriverException for the name of the DWORD value, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click ThrowDriverException, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
7. Exit Registry Editor.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

Before you apply this hotfix, make sure that the computer is running one of the following operating systems:

• A 32-bit version of Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• An Itanium-based version of Windows Server 2003 with SP2
• An x64-based version of Windows with SP2

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions

Did this fix the problem?

Check whether the problem is fixed. If the problem is fixed, you are finished with this article. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support.

To work around this problem, restart the Print Spooler service, or restart the computer. To restart the Print Spooler service, use one of the following methods.

Start the Print Spooler service from the Services console

1. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
2. Right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Stop.
3. Right-click the Print Spooler service, and then click Start.

Start the Print Spooler service at command prompt

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type the following commands at the command prompt:
   net stop spooler
   net start spooler
   exit
   Note Press ENTER after each command line.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For information about how to contact the printer manufacturer, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information. For more information about how hotfix packages are named, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Technical support for x64-based versions of Microsoft Windows

If your hardware came with a Microsoft Windows x64 edition already installed, your hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for the Windows x64 edition. In this case, your hardware manufacturer provides support because a Windows x64 edition was included with your hardware. Your hardware manufacturer might have customized the Windows x64 edition installation by using unique components. Unique components might include specific device drivers or might include optional settings to maximize the performance of the hardware. Microsoft will provide reasonable-effort assistance if you need technical help with a Windows x64 edition. However, you might have to contact your manufacturer directly. Your manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that your manufacturer installed on the hardware. If you purchased a Windows x64 edition such as a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 edition separately, contact Microsoft for technical support.

For product information about Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For product information about x64-based versions of Microsoft Windows Server 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site: