Print spooler [spoolsv.exe] causes 70% CPU utilisation and eats memory on 2003 server causing crash

Hi,

I have a dual CPU 2.4GHz Xeon server, with 1GB RAM, running Windows Server
2003 Standard. The print spooler service [spoolsv.exe] is causing on average
70% CPU utilisation when there is no load on the server. If I stop
spoolsv.exe the average CPU utilisation drops to approx. 2%.

During normal operation the five networked laser printers will be unable to
print after about 15 mins until spoolsv.exe is restarted, then again after
about 15 mins. When a restart is necessary the service doesn't show that it
has stopped, however. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers with no
improvement.

Task Manager shows spoolsv.exe using around 8MB of RAM when restarted and,
even with no print jobs sent it steadily increases to over 300MB within
about 25 mins before the server becomes unstable and ultimately crashes.

It also prevents client software from authenticating with the server over
the network with the clients returning 'incorrect username or password'
messages until spoolsv.exe is stopped, at which point the clients can
connect ok again.

Any advice much appreciated.

Dave.

Hello dave,

Did you use the newest drivers from the vendor of your printer? Maybe ask
them about problems with your printer and Windows 2003. Which kind of printer
did you use?

Best regards

myweb
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.



> Hi,
>
> I have a dual CPU 2.4GHz Xeon server, with 1GB RAM, running Windows
> Server 2003 Standard. The print spooler service [spoolsv.exe] is
> causing on average 70% CPU utilisation when there is no load on the
> server. If I stop spoolsv.exe the average CPU utilisation drops to
> approx. 2%.
>
> During normal operation the five networked laser printers will be
> unable to print after about 15 mins until spoolsv.exe is restarted,
> then again after about 15 mins. When a restart is necessary the
> service doesn't show that it has stopped, however. I've uninstalled
> and reinstalled the drivers with no improvement.
>
> Task Manager shows spoolsv.exe using around 8MB of RAM when restarted
> and, even with no print jobs sent it steadily increases to over 300MB
> within about 25 mins before the server becomes unstable and ultimately
> crashes.
>
> It also prevents client software from authenticating with the server
> over the network with the clients returning 'incorrect username or
> password' messages until spoolsv.exe is stopped, at which point the
> clients can connect ok again.
>
> Any advice much appreciated.
>
> Dave.
>