Spool32 Error Message

With older versions of Windows, 95, 98 and ME, spool32.exe was the application necessary to control print jobs. Spooling allows print jobs to be stored on the hard drive of a computer prior to them being sent to the printer for printer. The print jobs are stored temporarily while the printing is occurring. The reason behind spooling is that by moving the print job from the program from which it was sent to the hard drive of the computer, the user would be able to begin using the program again much more quickly instead of having to wait for the printing to finish.

If something within the computer is preventing this process from happening correctly, spool32 error messages will be generated and displayed. Generally, one of the following messages will be displayed when a spool32 error occurs:

• SPOOL32 caused a General Protection Fault in module Kernal32.dll at [system address].
• SPOOL32 caused an Invalid Page Fault in module Kernal32.dll at [system address].
• SPOOL32 causes a Stack Fault in module Kernal32.dll at [system address].

No matter what error message you receive, you should try each of the following to correct it. Upon completing one of the steps, try to print. If a spool32 error message still occurs, move on to the next step.

• Perform a Clean Boot – A clean boot disables all third party programs and ensures another program, such as an anti-virus program, is not causing the problem.
• Change How Print Files are Handled – Instead of having print jobs spooled, you can change the format from Enhanced Metafile (EMF) to RAW. In order to change the spooling settings, you need to open the Properties dialog box for your printer. On the Details tab, click Spool Settings and then click Print Directly to the Printer. In the Spool Data Format box, choose RAW.
• Update or Fix Printer Drivers – Outdated drivers or drivers with errors can cause printing to stop working. Within the Windows Device Manager, you can check if a printer driver has an error (usually shown by an exclamation point on the driver). Also, from within the Properties of your printer, you can update the drivers.