Updating the Windows 95 Spool Driver

Quick Contents

• Introduction
• Download and Install SPOOLSS.EXE
• Manually Update SPOOLSS.DLL
• Related Information

Introduction

• Note: the updated SPOOLSS.DLL driver only applies to the following versions of Windows 95:
  • 4.00.950
  • 4.00.950A
  • 4.00.095B (OSR 2.0 and OSR 2.1)

Download and Install SPOOLSS.EXE

• Note: MFM Technical Support does not support the following steps. These steps may vary from computer to computer. If you have difficulty following the steps listed below, contact your computer manufacturer or an independent consultant for assistance.

1. Download and save the WinZip self-extracting file: SPOOLSS.EXE to a directory on your hard disk, for example C:\DOWNLOAD.
   • Note: the Microsoft Windows 95 SPOOLSS.DLL driver is version 4.03.1212.
2. After you have downloaded SPOOLSS.EXE, click Start | Programs | Windows Explorer.
3. Go to the C:\DOWNLOAD folder (or the folder where you saved the SPOOLSS.EXE file). Double-click on SPOOLSS.EXE.
4. A WinZip self-extractor window will appear defaulting to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
5. Click Unzip to unzip the SPOOLSS.EXE files to your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
   • Note: if Windows 95 prevents you from overwriting your existing SPOOLSS.DLL driver in the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, see: Manually Update SPOOLSS.DLL
6. After WinZip unzips the files, click OK to close The WinZip Self-Extractor window. Click Close to exit WinZip.
7. Restart your computer.

Manually Update SPOOLSS.DLL

1. Go to the C:\DOWNLOAD folder (or the folder where you saved the SPOOLSS.EXE file). Double-click on SPOOLSS.EXE.
   • Note: if you need to download the SPOOLSS.EXE file, follow steps 1 and 2 in Download and Install SPOOLSS.EXE.
2. A WinZip self-extractor window will appear defaulting to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. Change the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory to another directory on your computer, for example C:\TEMP.
3. Click Unzip to unzip the SPOOLSS.EXE files to your C:\TEMP directory.
4. After WinZip unzips the files, click OK to close The WinZip Self-Extractor window. Click Close to exit WinZip.
5. Click Start | Shutdown | Restart in MS-DOS Mode.
6. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the following commands:

       CD \WINDOWS\SYSTEM
       REN SPOOLSS.DLL SPOOLSS.DL2
       MOVE C:\TEMP\SPOOLSS.DLL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
       

7. Restart your computer.

Related Information

• What is the Windows Start Button?
• WinZip
• Microsoft Knowledge Base: Spool32.exe Error When Printing on a Network
  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q167/7/75.asp
• Microsoft Knowledge Base: SPOOL32 Caused a Stack Fault in Module SPOOLSS.DLL...
  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q159/8/73.asp
• Microsoft Knowledge Base: How to Troubleshoot Spool32 Error Messages
  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q191/9/49.ASP
• Microsoft Knowledge Base: SPOOL32 Caused a General Protection Fault in Module...
  http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q190/8/25.ASP
• HP DeskJet 600, 700, 800, and 900 Series Printers - Solving Spool32 Errors when Printing in Microsoft (R) Windows 98 and Me
  http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/get_doc.pl?SNI=dj712c&LC=printers&Tfile=bpd07626
• HP Deskjet printers - Troubleshooting Garbled Printing and Communication Problems in Windows 95 and 98 (Parallel Connection)
  http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport/get_doc.pl?SNI=dj712c&LC=printers&Tfile=bpd04682

If you need further assistance, please complete the PC Access for Windows Problem Report Form.