Comments on: How to Fix 99.9% of Windows XP Printer Driver Issues – AKA Windows Printer Reset

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:26:14 +0000

Thank you! After many hours of not fixing the problem and various registry software attempts, your steps led me to a fix. Thank you for posting this information. It was an enormous help.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:25:45 +0000

Thanks for posting this!

Worked like a charm. I knew that if I could manually clean out all the printer items I could fix a machine that couldn’t print.

The directory C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers on the machine I was working on was corrupt. Had to run chkdsk /f to gain access. Then followed the rest of the instructions and reinstalled the drivers.

Thanks again!

By: Shan

Shan — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:57:13 +0000

Many thanks, I could not get around “environment specified is invalid” error message during printer installation, your post worked like a charm.

By: Pablo

Pablo — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:54:45 +0000

Thanks for that tip. Worked a treat. However, if you go to the knowledge base article in you link there is a “fix it” that you can just download and run that saves you having to do all this manually {:o)

By: JB

JB — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17:49 +0000

Worked great. Too bad all my printers need to be re-installed. I have a server on our domain that has about 20 shared printers. Would definitely be a PITA if I had to do this to that machine.

By: AP

AP — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:13:07 +0000

Error: ‘The Data Area Passed to a System Call Is Too Small’ installing zebra 2844. All these steps resolved the issue. Thanks!!!

By: harold

harold — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:32:05 +0000

did not work for me.
still says “Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed.”

By: Ex Navy Nuke

Ex Navy Nuke — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:45:37 +0000

I am grateful that you posted this information. I was going crazy trying to fix a ‘data area passed to a system call is too small’ error when trying to add a printer. Following your instructions I was able to clean everything up and reinstall all the printers back.

By: Dewaddict

Dewaddict — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:03:46 +0000

Thanks for the lifesaver!!!!!

windows explorer would crash and take 20 min to even start.

NOW MY COMPUTER STARTS UP IN 15 SEC AND ALL PRINTERS WORK!!!!

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:06:00 +0000

Thank you!! I wanted to copy a driver onto another computer and I stumbled upon your site…found that driver..and others! Peace and regards….