spool32 errors

[ozispimp]

i get a lot of spool32 errors now.. odd, because i got them once in a blue moon before..

i'm currently running windows 98se, and when i try and print.. i'll get the spool32 error.. saying that it caused an error.. blah blah blah.. you know how the trouble goes.

anyway, i used to be able to delete the "lpt" port, and reinstall it.. and that usually did the trick, but it won't work this time.. anyone got any suggestions??

thanks in advance.

 

[butchrecon]

I say this a lot to users, But I have seen it many times. Replace your RAM (Or atleast try some different RAM) Print jobs are spooled into RAM before being sent to the Printer. If there is a problem with the RAM then you will get spool errors. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[reghakr]

Hope this helps:

Troubleshooting Spool32 Error Messages

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The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95

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SUMMARY
This article describes how to troubleshoot the following error messages when you attempt to print or perform a printer-related action:

SPOOL32 caused a General Protection Fault in module Kernel32.dll at <address>.
-or-
SPOOL32 caused an Invalid Page Fault in module Kernel32.dll at <address>.
-or-
SPOOL32 caused a Stack Fault in module Kernel32.dll at <address>.

MORE INFORMATION
The Spool32.exe file is a 32-bit Windows 95/98 component that manages the spooling of print jobs. Spooling allows the computer's processor to quickly process a print job by temporarily storing it on the hard disk before sending it to the printer. This allows the processor to return control to the program from which you are printing at a much faster rate than if it processed the entire print job and then sent it directly to the printer. Spool32 error messages can occur if something is preventing the print job from being spooled properly.

To troubleshoot the error messages described earlier, follow each step below, and then attempt to print again. If you still receive the error message, proceed to the next step.

Disable all non-essential drivers and programs (known as a clean boot). To clean-boot your computer, follow the steps in the appropriate section below:

Windows 95:


Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.

Click the Include Subfolders check box to clear it.

In the Named box, type config.sys autoexec.bat, and then click Find Now.

In the list of found files, right-click the Autoexec.bat file, click Rename, and then type a new name for the Autoexec.bat file (such as Autoexec.xxx).

Repeat step D with the Config.sys file.

Quit the Find tool, and then restart your computer.

Windows 98:

Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.

On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.

On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click the following check boxes to clear them:

- Process Config.sys File
- Process Autoexec.bat File
- Process Winstart.bat File
- Process System.ini File
- Process Win.ini File
- Load Startup Group Items
NOTE: You must reinstall the printer driver when you disable the Win.ini file because printer and port information is stored in this file.

Click OK, and then quit the System Information tool.

Restart your computer. The clean-boot process eliminates the possibility that an anti-virus program or other utility is causing the error message. It should also disable any third-party printing software such as Hewlett-Packard Port Monitor or Epson Spooler.

For information about clean booting Windows 98 using the System Configuration Utility, please see the &quot;Narrowing the Focus&quot; section in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
Q192926 How to Perform Clean-Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98


Change the spooling format from Enhanced Metafile (EMF) to RAW, and attempt to print directly to the printer instead of spooling the print job. To do so, follow these steps:

Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.

Right-click the printer you are using, and then click Properties.

On the Details tab, click Spool Settings.

Click Print Directly To The Printer.

In the Spool Data Format box, click RAW.

Click OK, click OK again, and then close the Printers window.

Some printer drivers have a coding error that can cause one of these error messages to occur. To determine if this is the case, update or change the printer driver. For information about how to do so, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q128345
TITLE : Troubleshooting Printing Problems in Windows 95/98



There may be a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) or other program that prevents Spool32.exe from being run when Windows 95/98 starts. To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:

- Create a shortcut to the <windows>\system\spool32.exe file in the StartUp folder, where <windows> is the folder in which Windows 95/98 is installed. For information about how to do so, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type &quot;shortcuts&quot; (without quotation marks), and then double-click the &quot;Creating&quot; topic.

- Using a text editor (such as Notepad), add the following line to the Load= or Run= line in the [Windows] section of the Win.ini file

<drive>:\<windows>\system\spool32.exe

where <drive> is the drive on which Windows 95/98 is installed, and <windows> is the folder in which Windows 95/98 is installed.

reghakr

 

[tsuji]

Hello, ozispimp.

MS has a patch to fix the spool32 error, sp32updt.exe. However, for some reason that I cannot ascertain, it has retired it for public download. This patch has become very _hard_ to find out-there. However, it is still available for free download from some well-intentioned people. You can download it from :

http://members.nbci.com/D_Stewart/

(a tiny hyperlink on the front page.)

The internal description is &quot;MS Product version 4.71.01210, Updates win95 subsystem DLL&quot;, 190KB in size.

From my limited info source, the feedback are positive even for win98. But, I can't guarantee for obvious reason. I suggest you check it out.

regards - tsuji

 

[reghakr]

Nothing personal, but I downloaded the file, it contains a updated driver for Win95, not Win98.

So i'd save the c:\windows\system\spoolss.dll file rather than overwriting it.

If it works, great!

reghakr

 

[butchrecon]

I have to agree with reghakr. Dont over right it with an older version.If non of the above fixes your issue let us know.. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[reghakr]

&quot;The internal description is &quot;MS Product version 4.71.01210&quot;
denotes the Win32 Cabinet Self-Extractor version, not the version of the files inside.

To view files within Microsoft's cabinet files, i use a program called ResHacker. Here''s a link:

http://www.rpi.net.au/~ajohnson/resourcehacker/

reghakr

 

[tsuji]

Hello, reghakr and butchrecon. Thanks for looking into it. On this, I dare not pronounce anything really definitive. I personally have not had used it myself. You are probably right in raising warning voice. I could not agree more. Should be cautious.

On the version, definitely you are right, reghakr. I just hastily picked that info so that ozispimp can have some reference to make sure we point to the same download. I should be more accurate on this indeed.

regards - tsuji

 

[reghakr]

tsuji,

No problem, that's why I gave the link to a program to view the files inside. I NEVER install anything without knowing the contents (especially DLL files) inside of a distribution.

reghakr