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After Windows 10 Update to version 1903, my Print Spooler fails to start

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Tuesday, October 29, 2019 7:43 PM

After Windows 10 on my PC was updated to version 1903, my Print Spooler fails to start and I cannot print, as all attempts to start print spooler fails. Print Troubleshooter also fails, and there are no documents in my PRINTER folder waiting to print. I have a DELL Optiplex 7450 AIO and only MS Office installed with Norton AV. I tried using HP Print Doctor to reinstall the printer and it too failed. Has anyone seen this issue and can help. It's does not seems to be the "simple things" that usually plagues the print spooler as when I reversed the 1903 update and go back to 1804... All works well and my printers works again.

All replies (9)

Friday, November 1, 2019 8:42 AM ✅Answered

Ran the SFC /SCANNOW command and it found no errors nor did it fix any files etc.

... However, I dug deeper into Dependencies and found that HTTP was a dependency of Print Spooler and WinQuic was a dependency of HTTP. Browsing to the WinQuic registry key proved that the system was unable to open that key. Browsed to C:/Windows/System32/Drivers folder and saw that the winquic.sys file was there, so I went to another PC on my network, exported the Key: Computer/HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Services/WinQuic and then merged it with my system. Restarted the machine and now Print Spooler is starting automatic, as all dependencies are accounted for and started.

Luke

Wednesday, October 30, 2019 12:55 AM

  1. Press “Window key” + “R” to open the Run dialog
  2. Type “services.msc“, then select “OK“.
  3. Double-click the “Printer Spooler” service, and then change the startup type to “Automatic“. This sets the Spooler service to start automatically when you restart the computer. Select “OK“.
  4. Restart the computer and try to install the printer again.

S.Sengupta,Microsoft MVP Windows and Devices for IT, Windows Insider MVP

Wednesday, October 30, 2019 4:29 AM

There were problems with the print spooler on early builds of 1903, but they have since been fixed.

So what is your build number?

Wednesday, October 30, 2019 7:27 AM

Hi,

Please install KB 4524147 and check the result. This KB has fixed a known issue about print spooler.

October 3, 2019—KB4524147 (OS Build 18362.388):
https://support.microsoft.com/en-sg/help/4524147

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

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Thursday, October 31, 2019 8:34 AM

This is a part of my "Simple Things" statement. My problem is bigger than just that.

Luke

Thursday, October 31, 2019 8:36 AM

My build number is: 18362.449

Luke

Friday, November 1, 2019 1:51 AM

Hi,

As your OS is up to date, then, open CMD with admin permission, then, type SFC /SCANNOW to check/repair system files.

If Print Spooler still fails to start, please check Event Viewer and based on the error happens time to find relate event.

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

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If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Friday, November 1, 2019 1:53 AM

Hello Eve Wang,

KB4524147 installation error message was "The update is not applicable to your computer." The Build it references is: OS Build 18362.388 and my build is OS Build 18362.449.  So I am back to square one and you are the only one on this thread so far that have identified the source of the issue, but I still do not have a resolution. I will have to go to my last resort and roll back the version update ... back to 1804. Any other KB's that applies to my build that will fix this issue created by the upgrade to 1903?

Jamboy

Monday, November 4, 2019 1:33 AM

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to share details. Your share might be helpful for other people who has similar problem. 
 
If there is anything else we can do for you, please feel free to post on the forum.

Best Regards,
Eve Wang

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
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