splwow64.exe crashes when trying to print on network print server

Question

My organization uses a print server for printing. Users can bring their own device. I have a Windows 7 laptop, up to date with ESU.

I had no problem printing until the "print nightmare" bug. The print server was patched very quickly back then by our IT service. After that, I could not access the print server at all (which is normal). After installing the latest ESU updates, I could access it again, but I cannot print anymore, the spooler crashes. I have uninstalled the drivers and driver packages. Re-installing the printer works fine, drivers are downloaded. I can print a test page from the driver, and for some reason printing an image from Windows Photo Viewer works as well.

However, printing from Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft word, Notepad, etc. makes splwow64 crash. Actually I cannot even try to print: selecting the printer in the application print menu creates the error (I suppose, when the application tries to acces the printer to know its status). When printing from Acrobat it says the issue is with splwow64.exe, with Word it says winword.exe, but it's the same error, happening at the same moment when trying to print.

Errors from event viewer application log:

Faulting application name: splwow64.exe, version: 6.1.7601.17514, time stamp: 0x4ce7b4c8
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.26063, time stamp: 0x62df66bb
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000be8e2
Faulting process id: 0x16dc
Faulting application start time: 0x01d8b879638a7b22
Faulting application path: C:\windows\splwow64.exe
Faulting module path: C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: a7d878e2-246c-11ed-8992-a62e7a877981

Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: splwow64.exe
P2: 6.1.7601.17514
P3: 4ce7b4c8
P4: StackHash_a78c
P5: 6.1.7601.26063
P6: 62df66bb
P7: c0000374
P8: 00000000000be8e2
P9:
P10:

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
C:\Users\<redacted>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_splwow64.exe_c047b55b7468b8ec4cf969335a62ba3ec49b38c_0db84836

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a7d878e2-246c-11ed-8992-a62e7a877981
Report Status: 0

Faulting application name: WINWORD.EXE, version: 16.0.4266.1001, time stamp: 0x55ba1919
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 6.1.7601.26063, time stamp: 0x62df66bb
Exception code: 0xc0000374
Fault offset: 0x00000000000be8e2
Faulting process id: 0x1db0
Faulting application start time: 0x01d8b879079d9d12
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\WINWORD.EXE
Faulting module path: C:\windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 48bf6122-246c-11ed-8992-a62e7a877981

Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: APPCRASH
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: WINWORD.EXE
P2: 16.0.4266.1001
P3: 55ba1919
P4: StackHash_de3f
P5: 6.1.7601.26063
P6: 62df66bb
P7: c0000374
P8: 00000000000be8e2
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
C:\Users\<redacted>\AppData\Local\Temp{EBFD3052-B39F-43DF-A8BE-ADD756E9FEC0} - OProcSessId.dat

These files may be available here:
C:\Users\<redacted>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_WINWORD.EXE_9f37472f6a697816838a421eadf03d6134537e15_154da3dd

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 48bf6122-246c-11ed-8992-a62e7a877981
Report Status: 0

Is there anything I can try to do? The only thing I noticed is that the driver that is installed when installing the printer does not seem to be the latest one to be available from the printer manufacturer. From what I understand it is not possible to install another newer driver on the client than the one that the print server provides. Or at least I couldn't find how, is that really the case?

Thanks in advance for all suggestions...

Answer 1

Hello

Thank you for your question and reaching out. I can understand you are having issues related to splwow64.exe crashes.

splwow64.exe is related Print Spooler error that caused by faulty drivers or Print jobs

1. Disable Print Spooler Job and Delete Unwanted Printer drivers or re-install them.
2. Disable any Antivirus program or Windows firewall you may have for temporary purpose.
3. Cleanup below Temp folders
   C:\Windows\Temp
   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
4. Run sfc /scannow
5. Run below DISM command from elevated prompt.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

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