We are using a Windows 2000 Advanced Server with 10 printers (all HP) except for one Epson dot matrix. The print Spooler Service automatically stops out of the blue without warning or errors. I can simply go back into the Services and restart it, but it has become a niusance, occuring up to four times a day. I would appreciate all your suggestions.

Thanks, Bryan

Check the event viewer on the server to see if there may be some information on why the spooler service stops. If not, disconnect the dot matrix and see if that clears it up. I know that sounds far fetched, but it is the odd ball in printers, so you never know...especially when it comes to MS software.

Dan

Hi Bryan,

Ive been experiancing a similar problem on a few servers recently, I have done some research and it seams that if you are running any sort of Fax printer this could cause this issue...a way to get around it, is to go to properties of the print spooler services,click recovery tab and select "computers response to service fail", change "first failure" to "restart service"

This will not fix the service from stopping, but will make your life easier by auto restarting the print service if it stops...

Regards
Maj O B

Thank's guys for the suggestions. I noticed that the problem didn't start until we added the Epson, so I did pull it off the network, and placed it on a local machine, however, the print spooler service stopped again over the weekend. Maj O B, your suggestion will save me some time for sure. Do you know of any major problems that can occur if this service keeps stopping and restarting? I will keep looking, thanks for your help though.