Spool32.exe is a 32-bit Windows 95 or Windows 98 component that manages the spooling of print jobs. With spooling, the computer's processor can quickly process a print job by temporarily storing it on the hard disk before sending it to the printer. As a result, the processor can return control to the program from which you are printing at a much faster rate than if the program were to process the entire print job and then send it directly to the printer. Spool32 error messages may occur if something is preventing the print job from being spooled correctly.
You may get one of the following errors when trying to print in Windows 95/98/ME
SPOOL32 caused a General Protection Fault in module Kernel32.dll at address.
SPOOL32 caused an Invalid Page Fault in module Kernel32.dll at address.
SPOOL32 caused a Stack Fault in module Kernel32.dll at address.
To troubleshoot these errors try the following steps:
1) Disable all the drivers and programs that you do not need (this is known as a "clean boot"). To do this, follow the steps in one of the following sections, depending on your operating system.
Note: The clean-boot procedure eliminates the possibility that an antivirus program or another utility is causing the error message. It also disables any third-party printing software such as Hewlett-Packard Port Monitor or Epson Spooler.
Windows 95
a. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
b. Click to clear the Include Subfolders check box.
c. In the Named box, type config.sys autoexec.bat, and then click Find Now.
d. In the list of found files, right-click the Autoexec.bat file, click Rename, and then type a new name for the file (such as Autoexec.xxx).
e. Repeat step d with the Config.sys file.
f. Quit the Find tool, and then restart your computer.
Windows 98
a. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.
b. On the Tools menu, click System Configuration Utility.
c. Click Selective Startup on the General tab, and then click to clear the following check boxes:
Process Config.sys File
Process Autoexec.bat File
Process Winstart.bat File
Process System.ini File
Process Win.ini File
Load Startup Group Items
Note You must reinstall the printer driver when you disable the Win.ini file because the printer and port information is stored in this file.
d. Click OK, and then quit the System Information tool.
e. Restart your computer.
Windows Millennium Edition
a. Click Start, and then click Run.
b. Type msconfig in the dialog box.
c. Click Selective Startup on the General tab, and then click to clear the following check boxes:
Process System.ini File
Process Win.ini File
Load Static VXD's
Load Startup Group Items
Load Environment Variables
Note You must reinstall the printer driver when you disable the Win.ini file because the printer and port information is stored in this file.
d. Click OK, and then quit the System Information tool.
e. Restart your computer.
2) Change the spooling format from Enhanced Metafile (EMF) to RAW, and then try to print directly to the printer instead of spooling the print job. To do this:
a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
b. Right-click the printer that you are using, and then click Properties.
c. On the Details tab, click Spool Settings.
d. Click Print Directly to the Printer.
e. In the Spool Data Format box, click RAW.
f. Click OK, click OK again, and then close the Printers dialog box.
3) Some printer drivers have a coding error that can cause one of the error messages in the "Symptoms" section to occur. To determine whether this is the cause of the error message, update or change the printer driver.
4) There may be a terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program or another program that prevents the Spool32.exe program from running when Windows 95 or Windows 98 starts. To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods: Create a shortcut to the Windows\System\Spool32.exe file in the StartUp folder, where Windows is the folder where Windows 95 or Windows 98 is installed.