try this...
delete the printer if its there (from windows printers/faxes)

Then go into the c:\windows\system32\spool\printers
and delete anything thats there.

run the installation file again for the printer (ideally from the manufacturers website so its a fresh new driver). dont plug the printer in until it asks.

see if that makes any difference.

[Edited on 12-04-2007 by Bart]

I reformatted a colleague's home PC, and reinstalled windows using their own copy of XP Home. Got SP2 and all updates whilst I had it at home (since she doesn't have a web connection at home) Took it to her house, installed printer, but couldn't because "Print Spooler" was not active, went into msconfig, in services tab - and it was listed, but not enabled.

I fixed it by going into add/remove programs and Windows Components, and installing additional Network and Printing components. Printer installed, tested and working, I left.


Few hours later she phones me to tell me she switched the printer off, turned it on again to use it - now the printer is no longer detected by the PC, and when she tries to install it she gets the Print Spooler error again! Goes into windows components, and the additional network/printer bollocks is still installed, tried removing then adding that - and it still doesn't work!!

Installed XP on hundreds of machines before, but never encountered this before!

Any ideas?

Cheers