The print spooler stops whenever I restart the computer

Look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with this service, or a boot.

Here are the events I found. Thanks for the help.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7009
Date: 4/21/2005
Time: 2:23:18 PM
User: N/A
Computer: VAW00000
Description:
Timeout (30000 milliseconds) waiting for the Print Spooler service to connect.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Date: 4/21/2005
Time: 2:23:18 PM
User: N/A
Computer: VAW00000
Description:
The Print Spooler service failed to start due to the following error:
The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7003
Date: 4/21/2005
Time: 2:23:18 PM
User: N/A
Computer: VAW00000
Description:
The HPB 1284.4 Protocol Driver service depends on the following nonexistent service: hphparnt

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

ok... The HPB 1284.4 Protocol Driver service depends on the following nonexistent service: hphparnt

first off:
Check the Device Manager: RT click My Computer then click Manage then Device Manager or go to Start | Run and type in: devmgmt.msc for any "!"

Check especially the printer & the ports

What is the make & model of printer?

Did it work ok before?

Any new hardware or software?

The device manager shows no problems. The printer is an HP 4200 series and it worked fine before. The problem started after a windows update ran on the PC. It turns the print spooling service off when it restarts.

Do you know the exact update?

You can find your installation history at the Windows Update site on the left hand menu.

Just further thoughts:

First is this your printer?

HP LaserJet 4200 Printer

If so check the Support and troubleshooting section.

As to Windows Updates: These were all from Tuesday April 12:

Security Update for Windows XP (KB893066) Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - April 2005 (KB890830) Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates
Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (KB890923) Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates
Security Update for Windows XP (KB893086) Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates
Security Update for Windows XP (KB890859) Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates
Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 Successful Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Automatic Updates

Is this when the problem started?

Also: If you manually start the Spooler Service is everything ok?
Have you checked the status of the service via Administrative Tools | Services?

Also: Do you see this key on the Registry?
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
2. View the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es
3. In this key, do you see the hphparnt value?

I am thinking to try uninstalling the Windows Updates to see if it makes a difference or else uninstalling the printer & software & then reinstalling per the instructions from HP.

Hope this helps.

that is the correct printer. I looked in the regestry and did not find the hphparnt key. Could that be the problem? Also I was wrong about the updates this machine only has service pack 2.

Was the printer working ok under SP2?
Just to verify that SP2 is not the issue.

Is this computer/ printer on a network?

hphparnt I see as coming from PhotoSmart. Do you have that program?
The HPB 1284.4 Protocol Driver service depends on the following nonexistent service: hphparnt
Did you install any imaging related software that might coincide with this problem?

Also: If you manually start the Spooler Service is everything ok?
Have you checked the status of the service via Administrative Tools | Services? Is it set to Automatic?

The printer worked under SP2, and the computer is on a network. We have not installed any immaging software on it. The service works if I manualy start it. The problem is I have to manualy start the service every time I reboot.