This short tutorial is concerning wide spread issue on windows XP machines when you see print spooler error 1068 “The dependency service or group failed to start” when starting print spooler service.
Fix for this is really simple:
Here are several ways of doing nearly the same tweak that can help to fix print spooler error 1068. Choose what you think is easier:
1) Editing registry
- Click Start, Run and type “regedit” or “regedit exe” without quotes.
- Press Enter. You should get to Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following branch
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler
- On the right side look for DependOnService value and double click on it.
- Remove anything you see there, and then type “RPCSS” without quotes.
- Close regedit.exe and reboot.
2) Typing command in Run console
- Click Start, Run and type the following in the line:
- Press Enter. Black window with information will show up.
CMD /K SC CONFIG SPOOLER DEPEND= RPCSS
3) Nearly the same as previous but longer.
- Click Start, Run and type the following in the line:
- In opened black window type this lines and press Enter after each.
- Reboot.
cmd
net stop spooler
SC CONFIG SPOOLER DEPEND= RPCSS
net start spooler
exit
4) From Services.msc
- Click Start, Run and type the following in the line: “services.msc” (without quotes)
- Press Enter.
- Double click the “Print Spooler” service.
- Choose “Dependencies” tab and remember the services name.
- In the service list window, find the dependency services and try to start them.
- Please try to start the “Print Spooler” service again.
If all this methods won’t work in your case – this means your case is quite complicated and you need to use Printer Spooler Fix Wizard:
If you want to find more information about Print Spooler problem, then you are welcome to read the following articles:
- “The print spooler service is not running” error
- Print spooler service keeps stopping
- Instructions how to restart print spooler
About Author:
Material provided by: Alexey Abalmasov