Application Error in SPOOLSS.EXE When Printing

 Last reviewed: March 18, 1997
Article ID: Q147347
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to print or configure the printer in Windows NT, the following error message appears: 

   An application error has occurred and an application error log
   is being generated.

   SPOOLSS.EXE

   Exception: access violation (0xc0000005), Address: <Hex address>

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you have many .SHD and .SPL files in the spool directory. The global default location for all printer spool files is %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\PRINTERS. If your spool directory is in a different location, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q123747
   TITLE     : Moving the Windows NT Default Paging and Spool File

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, stop the Spooler service, and remove the .SHD and .SPL files from your spool directory. In addition, remove any unused or old .TMP files from your Temp directory. The Spooler service can then be restarted.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbnetwork ntprint NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: March 18, 1997
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