When you attempt to start the Print Spooler service on Windows XP, you receive:
Could not start the Print Spooler service on Local Computer. Error 1075: The dependency service does not exist or has been marked for deletion.
When this occurs, your System event log records an event similar to:
Event Type: Error Event Source: Service Control Manager Event Category: None Event ID: 7003 Date: MM/DD/YYYY Time: HH:MN:SS User: N/A Computer: <Computer Name> Description: The Print Spooler service depends on the following nonexistent service: <Service Name> For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.This behavior will occur if a printer or fax adds itself to the Print Spoolers DependOnService Value Name during installation, and the printer or fax is removed, or incorrectly uninstalled, leaving the dependency, which is now a " nonexistent service".
NOTE: To determine if any other service is dependent on the nonexistent <Service Name> service, open a CMD.EXE window and run:
FOR /F "TOKENS=*" %s in ('DependOnService <Service Name>') do @echo %s
To resolve this problem:
1. Use Regedit.exe to navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler key.
2. Right-click the DependOnService Value Name and press Modify.
3. Click in the Value data area of the Edit Multi-String dialog to turn off the selection (highlighting).
4. Delete the <Service Name> line. This normally leaves just the RPCSS line, but you may of other services listed.
5. Press OK and close Regedit.exe.
6. Shutdown and restart Windows XP.
