Err Msg: Event ID 7000: Spooler Service Failed to Start...

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows NT, you may receive the following error message:

   At least one service or driver failed during system startup.
   Use Event Viewer to examine the event log for details.

   Event ID: 7000
   Source: Service Control Manager
   Description: Spooler service failed to start due to the following
   error: The system cannot find the file specified.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if either of the following files is missing or damaged:

• Spoolss.dll
• Spoolss.exe

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, expand a new copy of the Spoolss.dll and Spoolss.exe files from your Windows NT CD-ROM to your %SystemRoot%\System32 folder. To do so, follow these steps:

1. If a Spoolss.dll file or a Spoolss.exe file already exists in the %SystemRoot%\System32 folder, rename the file.

2. At a command prompt, change to the <cd-rom>:\<platform> folder, where <cd-rom> is your CD-ROM drive and <platform> is the computer platform you are using. Use the I386 folder for Intel-based computers.

3. To expand the Spoolss.dll file, type the following command:

         expand spoolss.dl_ %SystemRoot%\system32\spoolss.dll
   

4. To expand the Spoolss.exe file, type the following command:

         expand spoolss.ex_ %SystemRoot%\system32\spoolss.exe
   

5. Type "exit" (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

6. Restart your computer.