[SOLVED] Spooler Subsystem App problem

Snelling · 09-08-2008, 09:51 AM

I have a desktop computer running XP with an HP F4240 printer attached to it. I have no problems printing from my destop PC but I am having trouble printing to this printer from my laptop computers which connected to my wireless network. When I try to print a document from either laptop I get a Spooler Subsystem App error message which says that the spooler subsystem needs to close. One of the laptops is running XP and the other is running Vista. I have tried the procedure at the Microsoft help area: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810894 and this has not resolved my problem. The interesting thing is that I can print a test page from either of the laptops and there is no problem. It is only when I try to print a Word document that I have a problem.

**dm01** · 09-08-2008, 05:40 PM

Sounds like a networking issue more than a printer problem. Vista and XP don't always play nicely together. Have you tried printing a text file (.txt), a PDF file, or a web site (.html) from the laptops?

Do you have a Workgroup set up, or are you using third-party networking software?

Can you give us some more information on your network hardware? What router are you using (make and model)?

If the information in the Knowledge Base article was completely unhelpful, you might want to restore the deleted registry keys. Unnecessary modifications to the Registry can have unknown effects, and it can take years for the effects to become apparent.

Snelling · 09-09-2008, 09:05 AM

One of my laptops is running the same version of XP that I have on my desktop computer. There is a workgroup set up and I am using a Netgear WGR614 v7 router. I can get to the internet from either of the laptops and I can print a test page on the printer from either laptop. I tried printing a .pdf file from the laptop that is running XP and got the same spooler error message.

**dm01** · 09-09-2008, 06:06 PM

The Workgroup name on each computer needs to be the same.

Do you have any network bridges linking your computers? Try removing them and see what happens. Workgroups don't like bridges.

Snelling · 09-10-2008, 02:58 PM

I changed the workgroup name on the laptop to match the one that was set up on the desktop and I still have the problem. No network bridges show up when I look at Network Connections.

Snelling · 09-13-2008, 05:26 PM

I reinstalled my old printer, Epson CX3200, and I am able to print from every both laptops. Unidentified problem with the HP Deskjet F4240 printer.

cindbw · 09-14-2008, 08:05 AM

I had the exact same problem with the same scenario except that my router is a Linksys. I contacted HP and at first was told the F4240 was not a wireless printer. I again sent an e-mail telling them AGAIN what I was trying to do and I received a second response which seems to have solved my problem. After I did this I was able to print a couple of documents from each of my laptops, so I assume I am all set now. Here is what they told me to do.

First, on the host computer, go to printers and faxes and right click the icon for the F4240 and select Sharing on the menu. Click the option to share the printer and then give it a name in the Share Name field. Remember the exact name you assign to it.

Also, make sure you know the exact name of your host computer (find it in My Computer, Properties, Computer Name).

On the laptop, go to Printers and Faxes (or Printers in Vista). Select Add a Printer. (I had to delete the one I had previously installed first.) Choose Add a Local Printer. Select Create a New Port, and choose Local Port from the drop down menu. Press Next. In the Enter Port Name box enter \\Computer\Printer where Computer= the name of your desktop and Printer=the name you assigned to your F4240. Select the printer driver from the list or click on Have Disk to install the correct printer driver. Press Next. Give the printer a name and choose whether to set it as the default. Press Next. Print a test page, then click Finish. This seems to have resolved my problem and I hope it works for you. I had gone through part of this but got hung up when it asked for the port name because I wasn't sure what I should enter. Since I have very limited technical knowledge I wasn't even sure I was doing it right and I quit at that point.
Good luck getting your printer to work from your laptops!

Snelling · 09-15-2008, 07:23 AM

Thanks a bunch. This procedure resolved my problem.

09-08-2008, 09:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Snelling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	[SOLVED] Spooler Subsystem App problem I have a desktop computer running XP with an HP F4240 printer attached to it. I have no problems printing from my destop PC but I am having trouble printing to this printer from my laptop computers which connected to my wireless network. When I try to print a document from either laptop I get a Spooler Subsystem App error message which says that the spooler subsystem needs to close. One of the laptops is running XP and the other is running Vista. I have tried the procedure at the Microsoft help area: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810894 and this has not resolved my problem. The interesting thing is that I can print a test page from either of the laptops and there is no problem. It is only when I try to print a Word document that I have a problem.

09-08-2008, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
dm01 Moderator: Design Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, B.C.; Canada Posts: 1,446 OS: Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] SP3 \| Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope \| Windows 7 BETA My System	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem Sounds like a networking issue more than a printer problem. Vista and XP don't always play nicely together. Have you tried printing a text file (.txt), a PDF file, or a web site (.html) from the laptops? Do you have a Workgroup set up, or are you using third-party networking software? Can you give us some more information on your network hardware? What router are you using (make and model)? If the information in the Knowledge Base article was completely unhelpful, you might want to restore the deleted registry keys. Unnecessary modifications to the Registry can have unknown effects, and it can take years for the effects to become apparent. __________________ Validate your Markup Validate your CSS Notepad++ Please use [html], [php], and [code] when posting code or markup. I do not help by Private Message or e-mail. If for some reason I have over-looked a reply to a thread that I have previously replied to, then send me a message.

09-09-2008, 09:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snelling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem One of my laptops is running the same version of XP that I have on my desktop computer. There is a workgroup set up and I am using a Netgear WGR614 v7 router. I can get to the internet from either of the laptops and I can print a test page on the printer from either laptop. I tried printing a .pdf file from the laptop that is running XP and got the same spooler error message.

09-09-2008, 06:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
dm01 Moderator: Design Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, B.C.; Canada Posts: 1,446 OS: Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] SP3 \| Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope \| Windows 7 BETA My System	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem The Workgroup name on each computer needs to be the same. Do you have any network bridges linking your computers? Try removing them and see what happens. Workgroups don't like bridges. __________________ Validate your Markup Validate your CSS Notepad++ Please use [html], [php], and [code] when posting code or markup. I do not help by Private Message or e-mail. If for some reason I have over-looked a reply to a thread that I have previously replied to, then send me a message.

09-10-2008, 02:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Snelling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem I changed the workgroup name on the laptop to match the one that was set up on the desktop and I still have the problem. No network bridges show up when I look at Network Connections.

09-13-2008, 05:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Snelling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem I reinstalled my old printer, Epson CX3200, and I am able to print from every both laptops. Unidentified problem with the HP Deskjet F4240 printer.

09-14-2008, 08:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
cindbw Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP Home SP3	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem I had the exact same problem with the same scenario except that my router is a Linksys. I contacted HP and at first was told the F4240 was not a wireless printer. I again sent an e-mail telling them AGAIN what I was trying to do and I received a second response which seems to have solved my problem. After I did this I was able to print a couple of documents from each of my laptops, so I assume I am all set now. Here is what they told me to do. First, on the host computer, go to printers and faxes and right click the icon for the F4240 and select Sharing on the menu. Click the option to share the printer and then give it a name in the Share Name field. Remember the exact name you assign to it. Also, make sure you know the exact name of your host computer (find it in My Computer, Properties, Computer Name). On the laptop, go to Printers and Faxes (or Printers in Vista). Select Add a Printer. (I had to delete the one I had previously installed first.) Choose Add a Local Printer. Select Create a New Port, and choose Local Port from the drop down menu. Press Next. In the Enter Port Name box enter \\Computer\Printer where Computer= the name of your desktop and Printer=the name you assigned to your F4240. Select the printer driver from the list or click on Have Disk to install the correct printer driver. Press Next. Give the printer a name and choose whether to set it as the default. Press Next. Print a test page, then click Finish. This seems to have resolved my problem and I hope it works for you. I had gone through part of this but got hung up when it asked for the port name because I wasn't sure what I should enter. Since I have very limited technical knowledge I wasn't even sure I was doing it right and I quit at that point. Good luck getting your printer to work from your laptops!

09-15-2008, 07:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
Snelling Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: Spooler Subsystem App problem Thanks a bunch. This procedure resolved my problem.