Sometimes, owners of older versions of operating systems, up to Windows 7, may receive the error "The print subsystem is unavailable." Its result is a complete failure of the printer to interact with the computer, simply put, to print. Do not panic, the main thing is to strictly follow the instructions, and also try to identify the cause of the problem.
Possible Causes of a Print Subsystem Error
You can, of course, immediately rush to the service center with the system unit / laptop and printer to solve the problem, but this approach is far from always the right one, rather the opposite. There are a number of possible situations where printing cannot be completed. "Printing subsystem unavailable" - this error is systemic in nature and, as a rule, is easily fixed.
So, here are the main causes of the malfunction:
- virus program;
- violation of the integrity of system files;
- failure of installed printer drivers;
- Disabling the print spooler.
Each of the listed situations in which printing is not possible, the printing subsystem is not available, requires a separate consideration, since it has its own decision algorithms.
Viruses entering the system
Perhaps the most common reason. If you have Internet access, the computer becomes vulnerable to virus attacks, and as a result, the operation cannot be completed. The print subsystem is unavailable because it is blocked by malware. You can fix the problem by running antivirus utilities. You can also use a reliable tool to recover and remove LiveCD.
Of course, there are viruses that are almost impossible to remove without consequences for the operating system. Fortunately, there are not many of them. In any case, the PC must be equipped with an appropriate antivirus program, especially if it often performs work operations.
System errors
This case is a direct consequence of the use of outdated OS. In particular, Windows XP very often has compatibility conflicts with new devices, including printers. Result - when you try to install, the necessary files are damaged, deleted, or replaced by incompatible with the normal operation of the OS. Therefore, the error “Operation completion is not possible. The print subsystem is unavailable. " XP has not been serviced by developers for a long time, despite the fact that it is a very popular system, and therefore such incidents arise.
To check the integrity of system files, you must perform the following procedures:
- launch the command line (Start - Accessories - Command line);
- enter the command "sfc / scannow";
- wait for the scan to finish and try to use the printer.
In some situations, this is the right decision.
Outdated / failed device drivers
Another real option is a malfunction in the drivers of the connected printer. Perhaps the print operation was not completed correctly, the light turned off. You never know what could happen. Printer drivers could also crash due to abnormal shutdowns. After that, the error "Unable to complete printing. Printing subsystem unavailable "may appear. You need to try to restore them or reinstall them.
To check the relevance of installed drivers, you must:
- go to the control panel and select "Device Manager";
- then select "Printers / printing devices";
- double-click LMB on the device, after which you need to go to the "Drivers" tab;
- select the “Delete” command and disconnect the printer from power;
- re-enable the device.
The drivers must be reinstalled, but it happens that you need to go to the printer manufacturer’s website and download the installer there. Quite often, this is an effective solution to the print problem.
Print Spooler - Spontaneous Shutdown
This, in principle, is not even a problem, but a purely technical failure. It is inherent in computers whose users work very intensively, but at the same time do not follow the basic rules for safe operation. Because of such negligence, the error "The printing subsystem is not available in Windows XP" pops up. How to fix the problem in this situation? You should look at the print spooler.
This is done very simply:
- on the “My Computer” label, click RMB and click on the “Management” option;
- in the window that opens, the option "Services and Applications" is selected;
- in the services you need to find the "Print Spooler" and check its status.
If this service is inactive, then you need to enable it by setting the value to "Auto" in the startup type, as well as setting the status to "Running".
After a reboot, the service should start working normally. Although the appearance of the error "Unable to complete printing. The printing subsystem is unavailable. ”This is usually not because of this. Anyway, disabling the print manager is a rarity.
If all else fails
But what if none of the options turned out to be effective? And the error "Unable to complete printing. The print subsystem is unavailable. ”Does it still appear when sending a document to print? In this case, there may be two options:
- non-compliance with recommendations for eliminating the error;
- more serious damage.
In any case, if it was not possible to fix the problem yourself, it is better to contact specialists. After all, as already mentioned, virus programs are different, and regular anti-virus tools are not only removed, but also impossible to detect.
Maybe the problem will be solved by updating the operating system to a more current version (starting from the late packs of Windows 7 and ending with Windows 10). But it should be remembered that only the proper operation of the computer and the devices connected to it will help to avoid such problems, respectively, and save time, money.