Windows XP forum: Cannot add a printer - 'Operation could not be completed,'

Windows runs a service called print spooling.

The spooled jobs live in a directory and I'm curious if your printer spooler is simply failing to "listen" to the request or if the place where your spooled jobs go is hung up on the last print job.

If you click on the Start Menu and type in services.msc and click the ok button you'll see a list of your windows services.

The list is typically in Alphabetical order so just scroll down the list and look for one called "Print Spooler"

Now you can click on Actioin in the Drop down menu at the top of the page and stop the service.

Wait a few seconds and then start the service backup up and try to print again.

If that doesn't work then stop the service again click on your My Computer Icon.

Now make your way to your C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc directory.

Delete everything you find in this directory.

Reboot your PC.

Go back to your print spooler service and make sure it's running again.

Now try to reprint.

If that doesn't do the trick we may have to look at something else.

Post back what worked or didn't work.

It also says, when I replug the printer in, RPC server needed...

It seems my computer has a virus. I am currently on a computer at a local internet cafe.

I got a computer expert to try and fix my computer (after I did the RPC thing) but he couldn't do it.

I tried to format Windows XP, but before the reinstallation of Windows XP could start, an error on a blue screen would come up saying there is a problem etc.

And then, when I restart the computer, the keyboard turns off so I can't press F8 when the boot asks me whether I want to go to F8. So the clock counts down and the Windows setup starts (as I cant't press anything else to stop it or go to another option).

Grrr.

Thanks for all the help so far.

ps, could it be a virus?

hey that advice workd. i thought i was at a lost, but nope. i fixed it thanks to you ! yes. finally, i took thirty minutes to find this advice.. the printer spooling worked or whatever. now im drinking a beer. yes.

I would like thank you all for such a gr8 help and another thing i wanna tell you that if print spool services are not letting you to start it then right click on print spool and then click properties & you will find startup type just select automatic then apply it after this you can start print spool service............... again thanks for this help such a gr8 forum.........