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Windows can't open add printer.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019 3:46 PM

I have a customer running Windows 10 Pro where I was unable to add a printer.  I updated his system to version 1903.  It did not help.  If I open Printers and scanners there are units in the list that do not work.  When I click Add a printer or scanner.  Nothing shows in the search list.  Then I click "The printer that I want isn't listed" and get one of two messages.  Windows can't open Add Printer. The remote procedure call failed. or The local print spooler service is not running.  Please restart the spooler or restart the machine.  The RPC service is running and set to automatic.  The RPC locator is set to manual.  The printer troubleshooter is no help.  This is most frustrating.  Please help.

Thomas Bell

All replies (14)

Tuesday, September 24, 2019 4:39 PM

Open an admin command prompt and run these 2 commands.

sc config spooler start= auto
net start spooler

Did you get the message "The Print Spooler service was started successfully."? 

Wednesday, September 25, 2019 6:56 AM

Hi,

Press Win + R, type services.msc and end with Enter. Find Print Spooler service, manually start it and check the result.

Besides, please open CMD, type sfc /scannow to check and repair system files. 

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

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Friday, September 27, 2019 2:17 AM

Hi,

How things are going there on this issue?

Please let me know if you would like further assistance.

Best Regards,
Eve Wang      

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Friday, September 27, 2019 4:45 PM

Hello Eve,

Things are not going well.  I have tried all of the above.  Also I received another response that asked me to do the following:

"I would recommend restarting both the RPC service and print spooler service then fully turning off the computer then turning the computer on.

Try to add the printer again and see if it works.

If it still does not work then I would recommend opening command prompt as admin and running each of these commands one by one:
sfc /scannow
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
DISM.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup

After this restart the computer again and test."

It was also recommended that I try the following:

"Start Windows in safe mode and then try to add the printer from the Control Panel >> Devices and printers >> Add a printer >> If you see the printer you want to install take that option, if not, select the option again: The printer that I want it is not in the list, check if it allows you to search for the printer or maintain the same behavior."

When that was tried the Printers and Scanners windows immediately closed when I clicked "Add a Printer".

Nothing has helped the problem.  I am at that customers office now.  I still need help.

Tom

Thomas Bell

Friday, September 27, 2019 5:19 PM

I also tried using MSCONFIG to perform a clean boot.  The results were the same.  Initially the Print Spooler doesn't come up even though it is set to automatic.  Sometimes it shuts down when trying to install the printer.  If it stays running that is when I get the RPC failure message.

Thomas Bell

Friday, September 27, 2019 11:16 PM

There should be some error message in your application or system event logs that details the error that the print spooler encounters.

Check Control Panel\System and Security\Security and Maintenance\Reliability Monitor   for application crashes. 

 

Tuesday, October 1, 2019 3:15 AM

Hi,

Reproduce the problem, once error happens, please check Event Viewer, based on problem happens time and try to find relate event, provide detail event information. 

Also, you had mentioned that, you tried system file reparation with SFC and DISM, are both tool completed with no error?

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

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Thursday, October 3, 2019 1:27 AM

Hi,

Is there any update?

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

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Friday, October 11, 2019 9:22 PM

I have exactly the same problem, and have tried some of the same things without success.

Here is the error from Event Viewer Application log:

Faulting application name: SystemSettings.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x066bf1a5
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 10.0.18362.418, time stamp: 0x99ca0526
Exception code: 0xc0000409
Fault offset: 0x000000000008c4df
Faulting process id: 0x21b8
Faulting application start time: 0x01d58076d3bc8d31
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: f42599d1-0f7a-46bd-a726-e7f88653591e
Faulting package full name: windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.2.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h4txyewy
Faulting package-relative application ID: microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel

Friday, October 11, 2019 10:17 PM | 1 vote

I've fixed the issue on my machine:

In Computer Management, I started the Device Association Service, which had been disabled.

-Geoff

Friday, October 18, 2019 2:21 AM

I haven't been able to get back to that client lately.  I plan to be there next week.  I'll give you an update at that time.

Thomas Bell

Thursday, November 21, 2019 6:50 PM | 1 vote

I had what sounds like the exact same problem with two computers, both of which had just been upgraded to Windows 10.  I tried all the solutions seen on this thread plus many other threads to no avail.  Finally I found this at the end of an article on Windows101tricks by a guy named Steve Ballmer:

  • Press Windows + R, type regedit and ok to open windows registry editor.
  • Backup registry database, then navigate to the following key.
      • For 32-bit windows version:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors

  1. for 64-bit windows version:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Print Processors

  • Here Delete all keys except winprint.
  • Simply right click the key you want to remove and choose Delete from the menu.

Now Close Registry Editor and Restart windows.

After the reboot I was able to go into devices and printers and everything was the way it should be.  I hope this helps.

-Colby

Sunday, January 26, 2020 10:31 AM

I've fixed the issue on my machine:

In Computer Management, I started the Device Association Service, which had been disabled.

-Geoff

This fixed it for me! Thank you!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 5:21 PM

Thank you for the information.  The customer has not given me time on the system in question.  As soon as that happens I will try this.

Thomas Bell