WinXP print spooler issue
 

We have a HP All-in-one printer and have used it hassle-free for a couple of years. Recently, it stopped responding and we got a message that a neccessary file was missing (at this point, I cannot say which file was referred). When I tried to re-install, HP's protocol required a complete uninstall of the rest of the software before the fresh install. Uninstall, restart, reinstall... and we get the message that the print spooler service is stopped.
Both Microsoft and HP have given me the same advice: go to Administrative services in the Control Panel and set the print spooler to automatic and restart. No luck, I get the same error message... and Adminstrative Services reports the print spooler as active!.
MSCONFIG still reports the print spooler as stopped, and I cannot seem to restart through that resource (maybe someone knows a trick?). I've performed a system recovery to a point in time when the printer was working flawlessly, but still the same result.
HP's next advice is to edit the registry, which causes me to stop and reconsider things. Other than a complete re-install of WinXP, what courses of action have I overlooked?
Printer: HP 2110v All-In-One
PC: Athlon XP, 512 ram, 20g + 40g HD (lots of free space)
User: Moderately experienced, having a major brain-fart
Mood: Frustrated, anticipating being eternally grateful!
Thanks

Some new info (to me) there. Thanks JK!
The system has always been WinXP, and the drivers have always been correct and functional until just last week. We're firewalled and virus protected. There's no indication of intrusion that I've found. I have downloaded the lastest drivers from HP.

What type of connection between the printer and computer? Anything non-standard?

What antivirus/antispyware/firewall software are you using? Did you shut them down before installing HP's software?

Error messages are important. If you aren't getting anything useful at the console when it fails to start then check your event log. If you haven't used Event Viewer before, you can get there by right-clicking My Computer. Select "Manage". Event Viewer will be near the top.

You'll likely see what you need in the System list but check both there and in Application.

Let us know.

I feel for you on those complete HP uninstall/reinstalls. They can take forever. You can speed things a bit by copying the CD to a folder on your HD and run setup from there. Then restart, then apply the latest patch/update you downloaded, then restart, then see if it's still stupid.

Using a standard USB connection, nothing exotic.
AVG anti-virus, Zone Alarm firewall, up to date. I've gone through the whole process multiple times, with the protections off. Wasted a half a day, then half a night on HP's live chat.
The printer itself works. I can print a test page, make copies, etc. from the controls on the printer. I think I just need to get the spooler running in order for the printer to initialize on the pc.

Live chat can be tough, and so very slow.

Did you see anything interesting in your event logs?

I'm at work now, the problem is with my home system. If I get the chance to check it out this evening, I post my findings.
thanks
(9:50 pm)
This is the System event record:
"The Print Spooler service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 902 time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 60000 milliseconds: Restart the service."
followed by:
"The Print Spooler service entered the running state."

msconfig says the spooler is runnig. I'm going to try installing the software again, and report back!
(12:10 am)
the event viewer shows an excess of 900 instances of the print spooler failing over the past few days, and an equal number of restarts.

The spooler was being reported as started and running, so I've been attempting to install the software... for the past 2+ hours. I'm running the lastest download from HP. My results thus far:
"remote procedure call failed."
"RPC server unavailabel"
"remote procedure call failed"

Interestingly, although I've downloaded the software HP offers for WinXP, I get several warnings that I'm installing software that hasn't passed logo testing.

I'm tired, pissed off and not nearly drunk enough.... I'm done for tonight!

A new day, same old story
 

Tonight I followed the procedure in Bruce Sanderson's Windows Web, including editing the registry, cleaning out the spooler stuff in the system and stopping and restarting the spooler.
I restarted the pc, installed the HP drivers, plugged in the USB cable and got the error message: "RPC servier is unavailable".

If I were a wrist slicer, now would be the time.

Help!!!!!!!

Sorry, my schedule has been weird.

You likely don't need to reinstall anymore. Sounds like something basic.

I don't think you've mentioned the RPC error before. Is this new? Make sure the "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)" service is running. Spoolsv.exe (the spooler) depends on it. Print Spooler should log on as the Local System account and RPC as Network Service.

msconfig is not a good way to see which services are running. It works from a cache of what it found when it checked. Use services.msc instead.

BTW, many drivers are not logo'd. It's expensive and largely a marketing payoff.

The system automerged a few of my posts above, but remote procedure call failed and RPC unavailable have been in the mix, along with print spooler errors.
Before I tried last night, I went into Administrative Services and set the Remote Procedure Call and Remote procedure Call Locator to automatic, and restarted both of those and made sure the print spooler was started.
After a failed installation, if I check the event log, there's notification that the spooler stopped unexpectedly, then another stating that it was started again, as if it shuts down long enough to screw with me, the restarts and pretends nothing happened.

I just had the services list open, and the spooler was started. Without closing that window, I opened Printers and scanners and tried to add a printer. I was blessed with an error message that the print spooler is not running. I refreshed the services list, and the spooler was stopped.

Obviously, the action of trying to initialize a printer is stopping the spooler. Why would it do this, and how do I make it behave?

This is beyond annoying. I am deep into a project, a memorial for my deceased brother, and need every function this machine has to offer. Two weeks ago, it worked perfectly!