a.k.a. Little L

Note: The solution, outlined, below, resolved the problem. I had to log into her machine with my credentials to make the changes. Even if I supplied my credentials while she was logged in, it would not let me restart the spooler.

Description:

Ashley reported that she didn't have any printers

I visited her desk, and that was true. (Surprising, because she had them in the past).

I looked at the Print Spooler service, and it was not running.

I restarted, and printers appeared.

Ashely tried to print, and no printers appeared in her list.

The spooler had stopped again.

Found several suggestions:

Unplug the HP at her desk, and perform the following:

I was having the same issue with a Dell system (Windows 7) and HP printer, Arthurs steps ABOVE fixed the issue. The directory is hidden so if you are not displaying hidden system folders than you should just copy and paste this path into windows explorer: "C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS" delete any files in this directory, then unplug the printer, restart the print spooler service and plug the printer back in. Worked like a charm for me. Thanks ARTHUR!

Check for the spooler whether it’s turn on in services
1.       Start > Start Search > services.msc
2.       If spooler is not on, turn it on. If after turn on, it turn off automatically, proceed to step 3, if can turn on go to step 4
3.       Start > Start Search > C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (Right click > Properties)
4.       Click on Security Tab > Advanced > Owner. Take ownership of the file and give full permission to the file. Once done, close everything and try to start the service again.
5.       Start > Start Search > cmd (Run as Admin)
6.       del /Q C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS\*.* > Press Enter
7.       Once done, try to start the spooler in Services

I finally got my spooler problem solved. Restarting spooler services does no good on its own, finding the underlying cause is the trick. I deleted the files in these two folders:
c:\windows\system32\spooler\printers  and
c:\windows\system32\spooler\drivers
Then I removed the USB cable on each for 2-3 seconds and reinstalled. Then I restared spooler services and viola--all printers now work. It only took 2 hours of research and trial and error. The one thing I did that may have helped was one suggestion to change the ownership of the file as outlined by Freak05 in a post above. Could be a combination of these steps ultimately fixed the problem.

[source: [social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/wi...](https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/fd7f46d3-baa1-4a38-9ad3-dec5426d9297/print-spooler-keeps-stopping-on-windows-7?forum=w7itproperf) ]

I’ve noticed that one of the teachers always uses an external keyboard with her MacBook.

I thought she was being particular, but then someone mentioned that some of her keys don’t work.

I’ve met with this teacher multiple times, about other subjects, and she never mentioned this. Yes, I know I’m busy, but you can tell me about it. I may not be able to act immediately, but I’ll add it to my To Do list. 

I know she is being considerate of my time (she sees me running around all over the place), but I’d rather know about it than have her dealing with a broken thing.

It’s possible that it is an easy fix. 

I did stop by and blow out the keyboard. That helped a few keys.

But there are still a couple that aren’t responding.

I found a support article over at Apple with some good keyboard troubleshooting tips.

I found a very nifty poster/graphic that shows the different types of PC slots, plugs and interfaces.

Super handy!

[sonic840.deviantart.com/art/Compu...](http://sonic840.deviantart.com/art/Computer-hardware-poster-1-7-111402099)

I just plugged the WASP WCS3905 bar code reader into a Raspberry Pi that I have at my desk.

A few seconds later, I heard the handheld device beep. I didn’t have to install any drivers or other software.

I launched the built-in text editor, Leafpad. Then, I aimed the bar code reader at a bar code. BEEP! The serial number on the box appeared in the text document!

The WCS3905 had been used with our inventory system. But, the inventory laptop crashed about a year or so ago, and it’s been just gathering dust.

I’m trying to get a better hold of all the tech that goes through my office, to be more organized, accountable. This will be a huge boon for me. I can now start scanning hardware as it comes in, capturing information quickly.

I’ve been thinking about building a little inventory control database, and this will be a great part of that.

I’ll go into more detail, later, but I’m grabbing this link for a script that will give me a listing of the Mail & Public Folder sizes.

Reporting Storage Size in Microsoft Exchange 

This will be more efficient that poking around and grabbing my calculator.

Oh man! This will be a very handy tool to have.

At work I use Apple Remote Desktop to manage the school’s computers.

One of the features of Remote Desktop is the ability to run shell scripts on any or all of the machines.

Sometimes, my shell-script-fu is weak, but I know how to do it with Applescript.

But, Remote Desktop doesn’t allow me to run an Applescript in the same way. That is, I can’t send a string of Applescript commands to a machine over the network, and have it do the bidding of the Applescript.

I have created some Applescripts and I’ve saved them as applications, which I then trigger from Remote Desktop. But, sometimes, I need to just do a one-off task, and don’t want to write the script, save it as an application, copy the application to all the Macs, and then run the application.

In the past, I’ve seen ways to wrap an Applescript in a shell script, but I haven’t used that before.

I have a task now, where I want to have the computers tell me their names. I was thinking of modifying a script that creates a text document, identifying the computer by name, and then sends a print job from each computer.

But, I thought, what about this fancy Notification Center. Can I tap into that?

Turns out the answer is yes!

How can I trigger a Notification Center notification from an AppleScript or shell script?

(Via Ask Different as Stack Exchange.)

There are times where my only tool is my iPad. As such, it limits me for testing code.

When I’m at work or at home, I can connect to a server. In those cases, I use Diet Coda. Or I jump onto my laptop and use Coda.

It looks like WriteCodeOnline gives me a way to test some code. This might be interesting.

I was working on a user’s MacBook Air, trying to resolve a kernel panic.

I had been working in their account (the only account on the machine). I shifted my attention to something else.

After being unattended, it locked the screen.  The user was not around, and I was trying to figure out the version of the OS. Looking at the logs, it looked like it a networking library was missing or damaged. I suspected that a system update would fix this. But, how to figure out the OS version, when I couldn’t log in?

I thought I could reboot into Single User Mode and find it that way. 

Sure ‘nuff!

Here’s the string: 

sw_vers | grep -0 '[0=9]*\.[0-9]*\.[0-9]*'

It was running 10.9.2. I restarted the system, which then told me it had updates to install. I clicked on “Install Updates and Reboot.” A few minutes later, the Air restarted. I held command-S, and booted back into Single User Mode.

Ran the sw_vers again, and it replied “10.9.4"

Sweet!

(I had discovered the utility of SUM a few years ago, when I trying to troubleshoot lost user accounts. It’s been a very handy tool on some of the more odd or difficult issues, since)

Ulk what a shame tough way to end!

Ooof! PT totally … Something. Game called after 3 innings after MoundTime hangs 15 runs on us. PT couldn’t get anything. That’s the end of our season.

Hey PT fans! Game 2 is about to begin. We’re playing MoundTime. We played them last year, but this is the first time this season. It’s gonna be tough.

PT battles back and ends up winning 8-4.

Jaz started with a couple strikes, but then hits the batter, walking in a run. Bat Co ties game.

Whew! Things got tight! Bat Company tied the game in the 5th. Jaz came in to take over with 1 out & bases loaded.

Andrew took over on the mound. Pitched well. Some hits, a bad bounce & a run scores. After 4 innings, PT up 3-1.

Jaz' first at-bat was a line drive out to center. He was able to get to first on a dropped 3rd strike, the second time.

After 3 innings, PT is up 3-0. Mitch has been pitching well. Jaz was out in right field for the last inning.

Good morning baseball fans! We have a game at 8 vs. The Bat Company. We’re the #5 seed, today.

Jaz zips a hard line drive towards center, bringing in Cole. PT up 4-2 after 3 innings.

He’s been in the mound doing a good job. But he’s hit two batters. Unusual. PT tied 2-2 after 2.

When Jaz was up, he’s smashed the ball down third base line for a triple. But was wrongly called out when he ran home.

Jaz hits a hard line drive up center for a single, driving on a run. PT ends up scoring 12 in the top of the 6th! PT up 18-3.

NW Diamonds start hitting. They score a few. PT still up 6-3 after 5 innings.

Jaz grounds out to shortstop at his third at-bat. Nice hustle to first, but thrown out. PT up 6-0, middle of 5th.

He stole third, but he couldn’t come in. PT up 3-0. BTW, Jaz' double brought in a run.