Windows cannot connect to the printer. The print processor does not exist – Windows 7 32-bit

abasson

January 27, 2017

So I have came across this error on one of my user’s computer when trying to install a network printer. To give you some background, I usually install network printers (which is installed on the print server and shared) using the following technique:

Go to RUN
Browse to print server by typing the hostname (all shared printers should be listed if setup that way)
Double-click on desired printer to install and there you go.

When I tried this technique today (together with other ways of connecting to a network printer) I came across the error “Windows cannot connect to the printer. The print processor does not exist“. I did the normal print spooler restart / stop-start, but to no avail. I searched the web for answers, but this was one case which had no direct resolution.

So eventually I managed to get this fixed. I hope the following info will help you when you run into this problem, as this worked for me.

Steps to follow:
Firstly, remove all printer drivers installed. To make sure, go to Devices and Printers, select a printer (not double click) and choose “Print Server Properties“.

In the list that appears, Remove all the printers, and when prompted for each printer, select “Remove driver and driver package”

When that is done, stop the print spooler service.

Now, open Regedit and navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors\

Expand “Print Processors” and make sure there is a key called “winprint“. If not, right-click on “Print Processors” and select NEW -> Key. Call it “winprint” (without the quotes). Within the “winprint” key, create a new String Value and call it “Driver“. It’s value data should be “winprint.dll” (without the quotes).

Now navigate to the following path in Windows Explorer:

C:\Windows\System32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86

You will find some files there, but the most important would be the “winprint.dll“, “jnwppr.dll” and “msonpppr.dll” files. Delete them (or to be safe, just move them to another location). If you get an “access denied” or “other program(s) are using the files” prompt, make sure that the print spooler service is stopped.

Now you need to find a similiar PC environment (Windows 7 32-bit, etc). From the working PC, copy the 3 following files to the faulty PC under the same path (C:\Windows\System32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86): “winprint.dll“, “jnwppr.dll” and “msonpppr.dll”

Now start the print spooler service and try to connect to the desired network printer. All should work fine.

Please note that not all IT environments are the same and therefore this solution might not always work. This is just a mere reflection of my own experience and used this steps to solve my problem. Please feel free to drop a comment on your experience on trying to solve the problem / resolution.