Error 0x000006D9 when you try to share a printer on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

This article provides a solution to an error 0x000006D9 when you try to share a printer on a computer.

Applies to:   Windows 7 Service Pack 1
Original KB number:   2123653

Symptoms

When you try to share a printer on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you may receive one of the following error messages.

Error message when you use the Add Printer Wizard to share a printer:

Windows could not share your printer. Operation could not be completed (Error 0x000006D9)

Error message when you use Printer Properties to share a printer:

Printer Settings could not be saved. Operation could not be completed (Error 0x000006D9)

When you look up the error code, you discover that there are no endpoints available from the endpoint mapper:

C:\>err.exe 0x000006d9
for hex 0x6d9 / decimal 1753
EPT_S_NOT_REGISTERED winerror.h
There are no more endpoints available from the endpoint mapper.

Cause

This issue may occur if you've stopped or disabled the Windows Firewall Service. To share printers in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2, you must have the Windows Firewall Service enabled.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, set the Windows Firewall Service to Automatic, and then start the service.

More information

This issue occurs because the Spooler service uses the Firewallapi.dll file to make an API call to check the availability of the Windows Firewall service. If sharing is being performed for the first time, the following incoming rules are enabled during this process:

File and Printer Sharing (Spooler Service - RPC-EPMAP)
File and Printer Sharing (Spooler Service - RPC)
File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request - ICMPv4-In)
File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request - ICMPv6-In)
File and Printer Sharing (LLMNR-UDP-In)
File and Printer Sharing (NB-Datagram-In)
File and Printer Sharing (NB-Name-In)
File and Printer Sharing (NB-Session-In)
File and Printer Sharing (SMB-In)

Note

The same incoming rules are enabled when you share a folder on the computer for the first time.

When the Firewall Service is running, the following registry is checked for the firewall rules:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\FirewallRules

Similar events are logged when the incoming rule is set. You can see these events in the Applications and Services logs in the Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security log, as follows:

Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security/Firewall
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security
Date: <Date>
Event ID: 2005
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: (2199023255552)
User: LOCAL SERVICE
Computer: <ComputerName>
Description: A rule has been modified in the Windows Firewall exception list.
Modified Rule:
Rule ID: FPS-SpoolSvc-In-TCP-NoScope
Rule Name: File and Printer Sharing (Spooler Service - RPC)
Origin: Local
Active: Yes
Direction: Inbound
Profiles: Domain
Action: Allow
Application Path: C:\Windows\system32\spoolsv.exe
Service Name: Spooler
Protocol: TCP
Security Options: None
Edge Traversal: None
Modifying User: SYSTEM
Modifying Application: C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe

Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security/Firewall
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Windows Firewall With Advanced Security
Date:<Date>
Event ID: 2005
Task Category: None
Level: Information
Keywords: (2199023255552)
User: LOCAL SERVICE
Computer: <ComputerName>
Description:
A rule has been modified in the Windows Firewall exception list.
Modified Rule:
Rule ID: FPS-RPCSS-In-TCP-NoScope
Rule Name: File and Printer Sharing (Spooler Service - RPC-EPMAP)
Origin: Local
Active: Yes
Direction: Inbound
Profiles: Domain
Action: Allow
Application Path:
Service Name: Rpcss
Protocol: TCP
Security Options: None
Edge Traversal: None
Modifying User: SYSTEM
Modifying Application: C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe

Data collection

If you need assistance from Microsoft support, we recommend you collect the information by following the steps mentioned in Gather information by using TSS for User Experience issues.