Spoolsv.exe: application error. Why does it arise and how to fix it?

Each user, whether he wants it or not, there are situations when the computer freezes. When trying to end services and processes in the "Task Manager" many see that in the process tree spoolsv.exe maximizes the resources of the central processor or mercilessly "eats" the memory. Let's see what kind of service it is.

Process spoolsv.exe: what is it?

Without going into technical details, we will immediately say that this non-system process is responsible for the print queue on local printers. If we approach this issue more broadly, we can say that such a service provides buffering of printing documents or facsimile messages.

In other words, it creates temporary files on the clipboard for documents sent to print, and allows the user to use the computer while working in the background. When you run the spool.exe file, an application error can very often occur if you use the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer, which is installed on the system during the installation of the main office suite. Let's try to figure out what to do if the error still arose.

Spoolsv.exe: application error

Typically, a service error resulting in an excessive load on system resources that causes the entire system to hang, usually occurs when you specify a large number of documents for printing.

On low-power machines in the service spoolsv.exe, the application error is observed much more often, because, in fact, the system receives such a volume of information that it simply does not have time to process it. At the same time, temporary files load the buffer system. It turns out that there is a real overload.

This can be compared, say, with the fact that you are trying to add garbage to the package again and again, when it is already packed to the top. That's why the spoolsv.exe error occurs, because neither the system nor the printer can react correctly to the running process.

The simplest methods of correcting an error

Consider the simplest method, which allows either to avoid the occurrence of such an error, or to correct it. It's worth mentioning that in the work spoolsv.exe the application error can be warned if you ask to print a small number of documents. For example, on weak machines with connected "antediluvian" printers, it is better to print documents one at a time, at the very least, print 2-3 documents. Do not forget that the printer has a certain response time (wait time) in the factory setting, after which, in fact, the printing process begins, because in the aggregate it can lead to complete paralysis of the system.

An equally effective way is to quickly clean the print queue. When the document is set to print, the printer icon appears in the system tray, double-clicking on which, you can call up the "Print Manager" window. In the menu, you just need to select the "Clear the print queue" command. True, this does not always help.

A vivid example is the use of network printers, where the processing time and the print delay time are much longer than when you submit a document to print using a local printer connected to the computer terminal directly. In addition, cleaning the print queue from a network terminal usually does not lead to anything. The spoolsv.exe process itself terminates when you turn it off or when you restart the computer. Probably, many noticed that it is after rebooting that in most cases the print resumes.

By the way, those users who try to complete this process through the process tree in the Task Manager, usually caused by a combination of hot keys Ctrl + Alt + Del, are absolutely not right. It is highly discouraged to do this, after all, after the system "thinks", it is possible that the seal will resume and will continue its course. And after forcibly stopping the printing service, you can not even think about it.

In some cases, if the error occurs again and again, you can try to scan the registry, for example, using the utility Registry Reviver with fixing the incorrect ones or restoring lost records or keys. If this does not help, it is recommended that you uninstall the spoolsv.exe service and reinstall Spooler.

You can try to update the printer drivers or use the utility Clean Spooler tool, which allows you to clean the driver store and manage the processes in the "Task Manager".

Suspicion of viruses

Now one more important point, connected with the operation of the service spoolsv.exe. An application error can be associated with the penetration of viruses into the computer system, which are masked by this process. The most common and some of the most known viruses of this type are Virus: DOS / Delall.H and Program: Win32 / C1.CN, which are distributed via DailyBooth.

In the "Task Manager" when submitting documents for printing, there should be only one process spoolsv.exe. If there are two or more, you can not doubt the presence of a malicious Trojan. In this case, you should check the system with some anti-virus software, then look at the location of the main file spoolsv.exe (it should be located at C: \ Windows \ System 32 \ spoolsv.exe and nowhere else).

Conclusion

As you can see, there is nothing supernatural in the error of printing. And you can eliminate it in the most elementary way. The only thing I want to note is: do not overload the system with a huge number of simultaneously set up for printing documents (on low-power terminals) and do not finish the "Print Manager" in forced manual mode.