Can't get rid of unused printer icon

[cnoblejr]

Probably not important, but I hate loose ends.

Vista Home Prem Gateway 2 Gigs Ram laptop Centrino Duo. Was visiting my brother & used his network & his printer (after several tries -- could never install it (Hp psc 1300 series) but I could find it at each printing instance) I have it (twice) at Control panel/printers & there is one document waiting to print listed under one of the icons. (you know what's coming)

I try to kill the document & the computer just "spins" (I can get out -- don't have to reboot) If I try to delete the icon via right click I get the message that it won't delete because of the pending document.

I checked the registry & found a few "hp psc 1300" items, but without expert guidance I don't feel comfortable deleting anything.

It doesn't afect anything that I do now that I'm home & not using that printer, but......

Thanks,

Carl

[Steve]

Hi Carl,

try this.

Open a command prompt by typing cmd into the search

Then type "net stop spooler" ( without the " and hit enter)

Then Delete all files in the following folder: C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers

Then type "net start spooler " ( without the " and hit enter) in the command promt again

Hope this helps,

regards

Steve

[cnoblejr]

Thanks, but it didn't work. I got the 0x000006ba error when I tried to cancel the document. So it looks as if by trying to cancel the ocument the spooler stops. I restarted it & same thing. Trying to delete the icon still says "sorry ol man got jobs waiting to print"

I only had 2 files in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers. One was a .SHD file and the other was a Flash file .SPL (that wouldn't play)

Stranger than truth.

Carl

[Steve]

Hi Carl,

those 2 files need to be deleted as these are for the printout that wont print.
The .SPL file is the Spool file that gets sent down to the printer.

regards

Steve

[cnoblejr]

I see. My system thinks the .spl file is a flash (because of the associations) Both ae gone & the control panel/printers icon still shows the 1 document & when I try to cancel that the spooler stops & I get the error.

I can just ignore it -- or wait until next year when I go to my brothers & then hook up to the printer...

Cheers,

Carl

[Steve]

Hi Carl,

lets try remove all the related drivers for this printer from the system.

I'm not near my Vista PC at the moment but try this :

Open Printers and Faxes.

On the File menu, click Server Properties, and then click the Drivers tab.

In the Installed printer drivers list, click the driver for the problem printer, click Remove, and then click Yes to confirm.

reboot and see how it goes,

regards

Steve

[cnoblejr]

Persistent little bugger. It will not allow me to delete prnhp001.inf. So I went to explorer & tried to find it (brute force--use a bigger hammer!) but the search came up blank. Must be hidden. Do you know where the .inf file might be?

Getting some great snow here in Lake Forest (just north of Chicago) Very pretty -- getting into the Christmas Spirit.

Carl

[cnoblejr]

Icon is GONE! Was there last night, but when I went into Control Panel/Printers the offending icon was (is) gone.

Must have been the new sweatshirt I wore this Am when I snowblowded the driveway. Unbelievable.

Stay tuned for the next weird problem from here. (and possibly even weirder solution)
Cheers,

Carl

[Steve]

Carl,

great news about the printer.

It seems very picturesque where you are. Did you get a lot of snow?

We just have loads of wind at the moment, great for drying clothes

Talk soon,

regards

Steve