Print Spooler not running - can't add a printer

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax (More info?)

I'm running XP and up to last weekend was able to print on my HP 880C - now I
get an error message - no printers installed - and when I try to install I
get the print spooler not running error message. Tried all of the steps in
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/Cl [...] rivers.htm both manually and
with cleanspool.exe - neither has improved things - also stried a system
restore back to the last day I remember printing anything.
In the services list print spooler and RPC are shown as autostart - though
print spooler does not show running or stopped - until I start it. Once
print spooler is shown as running trying to instal a printer just leads right
back to the 'print spooler not running' message.

Any bright ideas on what to try next?
sdg_77
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