One of the most popular office problems associated with using network printers is a system message with the text “Windows cannot connect to the printer. Unable to find a core driver package that is required by the printer driver package."
This error contains many incomprehensible terms for the average user, so most users just try to restart the working computer, which in this case is completely useless and does not solve the problem.
And in this article we will outline the main causes of problems with local printing, and also offer the best methods to deal with malfunctions.
Why does an error appear when starting the application: The Local Print Spooler Service is Not Running
So, from the text of the error that occurred, it is clear that the printer refuses to print due to the inaccessibility of the "The Local Print Spooler."
And to solve this problem - first of all - it is necessary to diagnose the cause of the malfunction.
And there are a lot of possible reasons. For example, you can highlight:
- damage to system files;
- the effects of the virus
- extraneous software interference;
- incorrect operation of the driver, including its irrelevance;
- "Cluttered" system and much more.
Given this circumstance, we propose the following algorithm for dealing with malfunctions.
How to Start Spooler - Option 1
Using standard diagnostic tools for the system:
sfc/scannow
or with command:
Check the integrity of the operating system and the correct operation of the hard disk.
Upon completion of the diagnosis, run an anti-virus scan with a full scan of the existing files and folders.
Open the "Task Manager", go to the "Processes" tab and check if there are any suspicious applications among the running processes (for example, this can be indicated by a long name, unknown path to the file or the amount of memory consumed).
In fact, any deviation from the norm signals that the problem lies not in the printer, but in the correct operation of the Windows OS on your device.
How to Start Spooler - Option 2
The second way to solve the problem combines two possible causes:
- incorrect driver operation (due to the irrelevance of the software version installed on your computer);
- incompatibility of the driver with the version of the operating system used, including with a possible OS update.
Accordingly, to eliminate problems with software drivers, you should perform the following steps:
- Visit the official website of the printer manufacturer and check the latest driver editions;
- Based on the information received, determine whether these versions are compatible with the existing structure of the operating system.
If new, previously uninstalled versions of printer drivers are available for download and installation, download them from the manufacturer’s website and install them on your computer.
However, if the latest software editions have not received the necessary updates and are not supported by your version of the operating system, then download the most current and stable version of the drivers, if necessary, unzip the archive and run the installer in compatibility mode.
This will help to solve the problem if, for example, Windows 10 is used, and the latest editions of the printer drivers were compatible with Windows 7.
To start in compatibility mode, right-click on the installer file and select "Property".
Next, go to the "Compatibility" tab and check the box "Run the program in compatibility mode."
Below, the ability to select the operating system is unlocked, where you should choose the version whose support is currently possible.
As an alternative to this method, you can completely remove the driver / printer, followed by automatic or manual installation of the necessary software.
For this:
Click "Start" - "Service Windows" - "Control Panel".
- In the list of sections that opens, in the "Computer settings" section, select "Devices and Printers".
- In the "Printers" drop-down list, select the problem equipment, right-click on it and click on the "Remove device" line.
Reboot the computer:
- if the printer is physically connected, the necessary drivers may be installed automatically;
- if not, in the "Devices and Printers" section, select "Add Printer".
Wait for the scan to complete and select the equipment you need.
How to restart the Spooler - option 3
The third way to deal with the error "the local printing subsystem is not running ..." as the main cause of the problem involves the incorrect operation of the "Print Manager" or "Spooler" service, which automatically (sometimes cyclically) turns off, which causes a similar failure.
Accordingly, you need to somehow make this service work. For this:
Press the key combination “WIN + R” and enter the command “services.msc”.
In the list that opens, find the line / service with the name "Print Manager" and right-click to call "Properties".
- On the General tab, in the Startup Type line, select Automatic.
- Go to the “Recovery” tab and in the lines “First failure”, “Second failure”, “Subsequent failures” select “Restart services”.
The Local Print Spooler Service is Not Running - 4 Solution
- Similar to the previous methods, go to the "Devices and Printers" section and click "Add Printer."
- In the opened window for scanning connected devices, click on the line “The required printer is not in the list”.
- Here the window “Find a printer by other parameters” will open, in which you need to select the last line “Add a local or network printer with manually configured parameters”.
- In the next step, select “Create a new port”, and leave the port type “Local port”.
Next, a small window will appear in which the name of the new port will be requested. The name should be like "\\ \ " (for example, "\\ \ ").
If the path is correct, the printer entered in the previous step will appear in the next window, all that remains is to confirm the installation and restart the computer.
Concluse
The conclusion is to give a final / additional method that helped some users to solve the problem in question - this is cleaning the contents of the “PRINTERS” folder located in “C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ spool”.