Can not print

theoldwizard1 · May 23, 2026

Version 25H2, Build 26200.8457

Suddenly, after many months of working fine, I can no longer print. (HP 7855) I CAN print from other Windows 10 machines ! The printer is connected directly/wired to my router.

My web browser (Chrome) can log into the printer No errors are listed
Stop and started the print spooler in Services (the printer "cycles" like it is going to print, but that is all)
I CAN NOT manually clear the spool directory (%WINDIR%\system32\spool\printers), even when running as Administrator (Access is denied)

theoldwizard1 · May 23, 2026

More info

Print spooler is stopped

From an Administrator Command Window

What other process ?????

theoldwizard1 · May 23, 2026

More

KevTech · May 23, 2026

theoldwizard1 said:
Print spooler is stopped

Actually it is showing disabled.
Should be set to automatic.

theoldwizard1 · May 23, 2026

KevTech said:
Actually it is showing disabled.
Should be set to automatic.

IT WAS !!!

I set it this way to try and delete file in the print spooler folder.

glasskuter · May 23, 2026

What, if any, print error do you get.
Other than Chrome, can you print fom any other app, like notepad or Word.?
Does your printer show up in settings>bluetooth & devices>printers & scanners?

There are 2 ways to clear spooler.

Open Services: Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
Stop the Spooler: Scroll down to Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
Delete Pending Jobs: Press Windows Key + R again, type spool and hit Enter. Open the PRINTERS folder, highlight all items inside, and delete them.
Restart the Spooler: Go back to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start

OR
Right-click the Start Menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Terminal (Admin).

Type net stop spooler and press Enter.
Type del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\* /Q and press Enter.
Type net start spooler and press Enter.

theoldwizard1 · May 23, 2026

glasskuter said:
What, if any, print error do you get.

None that I have seen !

glasskuter said:
Other than Chrome, can you print fom any other app, like notepad or Word.?

App does not matter (Not PRINTING from Chrome. The browser actually LOGS INTO the printer)

glasskuter said:
Does your printer show up in settings>bluetooth & devices>printers & scanners?

Yes

glasskuter said:
There are 2 ways to clear spooler.

Perhaps you should read the entire thread before giving advice that has already been tried.

Quandary · May 23, 2026

You could take the heavy-handed approach. From from Settings > Bluetooth & devices >Printers & scanner do an Add device > Add a new device manually > Add a printer using an IP address. Device type = TCP/IP Device. This will prevent it using the horrible Windows IPP device driver. This will add a second printer, likely named HP 7855 (2). If it works then delete the original, and finally rename HP 7855 (2).

I just used this process yesterday with my Canon printer that somehow started using the IPP device.

glasskuter · May 24, 2026

theoldwizard1 said:
Perhaps you should read the entire thread before giving advice that has already been tried.

I did indeed read the thread. While it may or may not be correct, the command you used differed slightly from the one I gave. I also offered an optional method.
Perhaps you should not be so critical of someone who was trying to help.
Best of luck in solving your issue.

MisterEd · May 24, 2026

If nothing else works you might try connecting the printer to your router using WiFi.

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 6975 All-in-One printer. It works with all my computers connected this way.

BTW, I don't know why you messing with the Print Spooler. I have never even done that. The HP Printer Assistant handles all that for me.

joeandmarg0 · May 24, 2026

If you directly connect the printer to the computer by cable,does the problem still exist?

theoldwizard1 · May 24, 2026

Quandary said:
You could take the heavy-handed approach.

Deleted and reinstalled. No Joy.

theoldwizard1 · May 24, 2026

First post.

theoldwizard1 said:
The printer is connected directly/wired to my router.

gunrunnerjohn · May 24, 2026

FWIW, I had a Brother HL-3170CDW that suddenly was no longer able to print. It was connected to my network with a known-good Ethernet cable and on a known good switch port. This happened out of the blue with no warning. I tried removing all the Brother software/drivers, even removed any generic printer drivers, still no dice. I tried the USB connection to the local computer, that didn't work either.

Oddly, I tried the WiFi connection and it woke up and started printing just fine! About a month later, I went back to the Ethernet cable, using the same cable and switch port, and it was back to printing normally. It's worked fine ever since!

KevTech · May 24, 2026

There is another area to manage printers.

Start a search in start menu for printer and what you want is print management.
Here you can check out drivers, ports and printers.
Perhaps you have a ghost device listed in there that is conflicting with your printer.

joeandmarg0 · May 24, 2026

Reference Posts 11 and 13.
My Computer and Router are two separate machines.The printer has never been connected to the Router.
Could you improve my knowledge and explain how to do it ?

theoldwizard1 · May 24, 2026

joeandmarg0 said:
Reference Posts 11 and 13.
My Computer and Router are two separate machines.

Same here

joeandmarg0 said:
The printer has never been connected to the Router.
Could you improve my knowledge and explain how to do it ?

My Router (with WiFi Access Point - WAP) is a Netgear AX3000 WiFi 6 RAX36

There are 1 upstream (to the modem) and 4 downstream Ethernet ports on the back. One of the 4 is hardwired to the printer. (I have manually configured the printer to have a FIXED address of 192.168.1.14). One port is hardwired to my desktop.

joeandmarg0 · May 25, 2026

Thank you.
My printer,Canon MG3560,is used between 3 computers.One permanently connected to the Internet the other two permanently disconnected,XP and Win 10.
Cable connections only are used,no Wi-fi.
I('m still unable to understand why you connect a printer via the router and not directly to the computer.

bignoddy55 · May 25, 2026

joeandmarg0 said:
Thank you.
My printer,Canon MG3560,is used between 3 computers.One permanently connected to the Internet the other two permanently disconnected,XP and Win 10.
Cable connections only are used,no Wi-fi.
I('m still unable to understand why you connect a printer via the router and not directly to the computer.

It would need to be a network printer, connected by an ethernet cable to your router, then all computers on your local network would be able to see it and print to it once that printer was installed on each computer. Note, some routers also allow connection via usb cable.

idgat · May 25, 2026

theoldwizard1 said:
First post.

theoldwizard1 said:
The printer is connected directly/wired to my router.

Not what was asked ...

joeandmarg0 said:
directly connect the printer to the computer by cable

Again, another attempt to help response that varies from the original info, but overlooked.

You're all too quick to jump on anyone trying to help. Ain't gonna get very far.

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