Can anyone help. I tried to print something today and got error message - no printers installed. Had a look in the printer folder and here were no printers there. I had 2 networked printers attached to a print server. When I try to add printer I get message 'Operation could not be completed' No other message appears. The folder is completely blank. There used to be several icons, add printer one, two printers, print to file (I think) Microsoft fax and I think one other.

Help I'm desperate. (I think that's how you spell it!!)

Hi and welcome to DAL.

Have you tried a system restore to a previous date before the printers disappeared?
Have you installed any new software, run any scans etc?

I tried the system restore but was unable to restore any of the restore points.
I managed to download the Spy Sheffirr virus a couple of days ago & used spybot & Smitfraudfix to get rid of it. But I 'm not sure when the printer problem started as its been about 2-3 weeks since I last printed anything. The only other program I loaded was TomTom home, the Sat Nav interface for the computer.

As you have mentioned spyware I would suggest going here, reading the notes and posting a hijack this log.
http://www.d-a-l.com/help/forumdisplay.php?f=8
It seems strange that you cannot do a system restore. It's possible something else is still lurking around.

Happy Ney Year.

I have now returned from the other forum where Neal helped me clean my system, however I still have the same problems:

Unable to add any printers
Unable to activte windows update
Unable to restore to previous restore points.

Are you able to help any further? If somethig has become corrupted is it possible to just copy the file from another computer?

Maybe you have disabelled the services.

You should check in the services and make sure they're not deactivated.

Printspooler won't stay active and can't find anything else that could be relevant.

Ok now your system is clean right click my computer and select manage. Click on services & applications then services. Scroll down til you see print spooler, make sure it is started and on automatic. Do the same with remote procedure call.

For system restore right click on My Computer and select properties. Select the system restore tab and see if there is a tick in the box turn off system restore. Untick if there is.

Can you also have a look in your event viewer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427 to see if there is any error that is popping up there.

Print spooleralready on automatic but stopped - started it again but won't stay started

There are 2 Remote Procedure Call (RPC) one marked locator this one is set to manual the other automatic and already started.

System Restore is already on

There are many Service control manager errors, here are a few:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7034
Date: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:54:43
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The Print Spooler service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 4 time(s).

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: 7023
Date: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:45:22
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The Computer Browser service terminated with the following error:
This operation returned because the timeout period expired.

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: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:42:45
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The Trend Micro Proxy Service service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the file specified.

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: 7022
Date: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:42:23
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The Automatic Updates service hung on starting.

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

Event Type: Error
Event Source: BTHUSB
Event Category: None
Event ID: 5
Date: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:40:00
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The driver expected an HCI event with a given size but did not receive it.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 0c 00 01 00 5a 00 ......Z.
0008: 00 00 00 00 05 00 05 c0 .......À
0010: 0e 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 44 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 D.......
0030: 0e 04 01 02 ....

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Ftdisk
Event Category: Disk
Event ID: 57
Date: 02/01/2007
Time: 21:25:43
User: N/A
Computer: DAD-266GHZ
Description:
The system failed to flush data to the transaction log. Corruption may occur.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 01 00 be 00 ......¾.
0008: 02 00 00 00 39 00 04 80 ....9..€
0010: 00 00 00 00 0e 00 00 c0 .......À
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........

From the problems you are having I would suggest trying a repair install of XP. You won't lose and user accounts, software etc running it this way. It's a hidden MS option that will simply repair any damaged files.
You will need your XP cd and follow the directions, write them down if necessary. I was going to say print them out but thats not an option.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx