up vote 8 down vote favorite
3
share [g+] share [fb]

I'm trying to cancel a print job in Vista to an HP 3845. I've rebooted, but it's still there, with Status "Deleting - Printing" thought nothing is happening.

How can I make it really go away?

Edit: I have rebooted already, and its still there.

link|improve this question
80% accept rate
feedback

6 Answers

up vote 7 down vote accepted

If it is really serious you can restart the Windows Printing Service under the Services MMC. What I normally find with the HP the following steps fixes it.

  • Switch off the printer
  • Delete the job
  • Restart the Printing Service
  • Restart the printer

Sometimes however the restart requires a complete machine restart.

link|improve this answer
My suggestion when i read the question was to stop and restart the print spooler service. – Ian Boyd Aug 28 '09 at 13:34
I'm accepting this based on your comment under my answer. Nevertheless, I'll mention that this printer has only two buttons, and neither were shutting it down. – Eric Wilson Aug 28 '09 at 16:45
1  
If you know which folder you have set to store spool files then (you can find it in the print server properties window from the printers and faxes window) you can manually delete the spool files once you've stopped the print spooler service – Col Aug 28 '09 at 21:28
@Diago: Sometimes restarting the spooler doesn't always work. As Col mentioned, sometimes it's necessary to trash the files in the print spooler folder. – EvilChookie Aug 28 '09 at 22:03
1  
It's amazing that in 2010 we still have to reboot to cancel a print job. – Eduardo Molteni Sep 21 '10 at 19:24
feedback
up vote 5 down vote

Neither of these suggestions did it, but unplugging the printer, and then plugging it back in did the job.

link|improve this answer
1  
I've had this issue alot in the past, and there is some sort of shared queue between the user/pc printing and the printer the job is sent too. The best/fastest way I've found is to reboot both PC and printer. I'm glad you managed to answer your own question :) – Szetak Aug 28 '09 at 11:18
1  
If it was switched on and off correctly it would have had the same effect as plugging it in and out. – Diago Aug 28 '09 at 11:20
feedback
up vote 4 down vote
  • start
  • run
  • services.msc
  • Find the printspooler service
  • restart this service
  • Fix missing paper / wrong port / any problem...
  • print again
link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 2 down vote

Stop the print spool service go to local disk>windows>System32>spool>PRINTERS and delete all the files here then restart the spool service and you should be fine.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

I usually just wait until it goes away.

If the print job already is in the printer (meaning, the printer keeps printing), I usually take the paper from the printer, and switch it off after it stops printing.
Switching off a printer while printing usually is not a good idea, leads to paper jam.

link|improve this answer
The emphasis on the paper jam sounds like a traumatic sysadmin experience. – Gnoupi Aug 28 '09 at 13:13
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

What Donald said...deleting all files in the PRINTERS directory usually clears this up.

Failing that, try this fix from MS:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2000007

link|improve this answer
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.