Application Error in SPOOLSS.EXE When Printing

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

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 : WINDOWS:2000; winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type :