Q162365: How to Delete Print Jobs That Will Not Print

Article: Q162365
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbprint
Last Modified: 07-SEP-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

A print job is stuck in the printer queue of the Windows NT print server and
cannot be deleted.

RESOLUTION
==========

To remove the print job, follow these steps. On the print server:

1. Close Print Manager in Windows NT 3.5x. Close the Printers Folder in Windows
  NT 4.0.

2. In Control Panel, double-click the Services icon, click the Spooler Service,
  and then click Stop. If you are using TCP/IP Printing Services, click it and
  then click Stop.

3. Delete the *.spl and *.shd files that show the approximate time and date of
  the print job causing the problem. They are in the
  %Winroot%\System32\Spool\Printers directory.

  NOTE: In some cases, Windows NT may not allow the *.spl file(s) to be deleted
  or renamed. Renaming the *.shd file and restarting the spooler service may be
  enough to clear the problem.

4. Restart the services stopped in step 2.

MORE INFORMATION
================

With corrupt or too many .spl and .shd files, a Dr. Watson or Application Error
in Spools may also occur.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  ARTICLE-ID: Q147347
  TITLE : Application Error in SPOOLSS.EXE When Printing

Additional query words: spoolss.exe dr watson access violation application error
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Keywords          : kbprint 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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