Print Server Stops, Then Stops Again After You Stop and Restart Spooler Service

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

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to log on to a print server, it may stop responding (hang). When you try to troubleshoot by stopping and then restarting the Spooler service, the server hangs when the Spooler service restarts. When you try restarting the server, the server again appears to hang after you type your user name and password.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when the Winnt\System32\Spool\Printers folder is very large. After you restart the Spooler service, it takes a long time to process all of the print jobs in the Printers folder.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, delete or move the files in the Printers folder:

1. Restart the print server:



1. If the server uses the NTFS file system, perform a parallel installation and then restart the server to the new installation.



2. If the server uses the file allocation table (FAT) file system, use an MS-DOS boot disk to restart the server.



2. Delete the files in the Winnt\System32\Spool\Printers folder, or move them to another location.
   
   NOTE: If you move the files from the Printers folder, copy a few print jobs at a time back to the Printers folder to resume printing.

Additional query words: win nt server 4.0 logon screen

Keywords : nt Win 4.0
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb