Troubleshooting Error 0x000006BA on Windows 10 PC

  • The error message “Local printer spooler service not working” may occur when trying to install a new printer.
  • This error can occur in Windows 10, Win 8.1, or Win 7.1.
  • Printer sharing is not enabled: If this problem occurs when using a printer connected to your local network, it is likely that printer sharing is disabled.

 

In the realm of Windows 10 PCs, encountering errors can be a frustrating experience. One such error, known as 0x000006BA, has been causing headaches for users. This article aims to unravel the mysteries behind this pesky error code and provide effective troubleshooting solutions to get your PC back on track.

Running the Printer Troubleshooter

To troubleshoot error 0x000006BA on your Windows 10 PC, you can use the Printer Troubleshooter tool. This tool helps identify and resolve common printer issues.

First, press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. Then, go to “Update & Security” and click on “Troubleshoot” in the left-hand menu.

Scroll down and click on “Printer” under “Find and fix other problems.” Click on “Run the troubleshooter” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: Before running the troubleshooter, make sure your printer is turned on and connected to your PC.

The troubleshooter will automatically detect and fix any issues it finds. Once it’s done, restart your PC and try printing again. This should resolve the operation could not be completed error.

If the issue persists, you may need to check for Windows updates, restart the print spooler service, or reinstall the printer driver.

Restarting the Print Spooler Service

To troubleshoot Error 0x000006BA on your Windows 10 PC, you may need to restart the Print Spooler Service. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Scroll down and locate the “Print Spooler” service.
4. Right-click on the service and select “Restart” from the context menu.
5. Wait for the service to restart successfully.
6. Close the Services window and try printing again.

Restarting the Print Spooler Service can help resolve various printer errors and ensure smooth printing operation on your Windows PC. If the issue persists, you may need to check for Windows updates or contact your printer manufacturer for further assistance.

Clearing the Printers Folder

To clear the Printers folder and troubleshoot error code 0x000006BA on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:

1. Close any open programs and navigate to the Printers folder on your computer. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “printers” in the Run dialog box, and pressing Enter.

2. Once you’re in the Printers folder, delete any printer icons that are present. Right-click on the printer icon and select “Delete” from the context menu. Repeat this for all printers listed.

3. Next, open the Run dialog box again by pressing the Windows key + R. Type “services.msc” and press Enter to open the Services window.

4. In the Services window, scroll down to find the “Print Spooler” service. Right-click on it and select “Stop” from the context menu.

5. After stopping the Print Spooler service, open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all the files in this folder.

6. Once the files are deleted, go back to the Services window and right-click on the “Print Spooler” service again. This time, select “Start” from the context menu to restart the service.

7. Finally, restart your computer and check if the error code 0x000006BA issue has been resolved.

By following these steps, you should be able to clear the Printers folder and fix the error code 0x000006BA problem on your Windows 10 PC.

powershell
# Stop the Print Spooler service
Stop-Service -Name "Spooler" -Force

# Wait for a few seconds (optional)
Start-Sleep -Seconds 5

# Start the Print Spooler service
Start-Service -Name "Spooler"

To use this code, follow these steps:

1. Open a text editor and paste the code into a new file.
2. Save the file with a `.ps1` extension, for example, `restart-print-spooler.ps1`.
3. Right-click on the saved file and select “Run with PowerShell” to execute the script.

This code will forcefully stop the Print Spooler service, wait for a few seconds (which you can adjust as needed), and then start the service again. This process can often resolve error 0x000006ba related to printing issues on Windows 10.

Please note that modifying system services should be done with caution, and it’s always recommended to create a backup or restore point before making any changes.

If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!

Running SFC and DISM scans

To troubleshoot error 0x000006BA on your Windows 10 PC, you can run SFC and DISM scans. These scans help identify and repair any corrupted system files that may be causing the issue.

To run an SFC scan:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. In the command prompt, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete, and then restart your PC.

To run a DISM scan:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) as mentioned above.
2. In the command prompt, type “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” and press Enter.
3. Allow the scan to finish, and then restart your PC.

These scans will help resolve common system file issues that can cause error 0x000006BA. If the issue persists, you may need to seek further assistance from a professional or contact Microsoft support.

Enabling Printer Sharing

To enable printer sharing on your Windows 10 PC and troubleshoot the error code 0x000006BA, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Scroll down and locate the “Print Spooler” service.
4. Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
5. In the General tab, set the “Startup type” to “Automatic”.
6. Click on the “Start” button to start the service.
7. Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save the changes.
8. Restart your PC.

By enabling printer sharing and ensuring the Print Spooler service is running, you should be able to resolve the error code 0x000006BA and successfully use your printer. If the issue persists, it may be caused by corrupt system files or registry entries. In such cases, it is recommended to seek professional assistance or contact the printer manufacturer for further support.

Updating all Windows Drivers

  1. Use Windows Update: Check for updates using Windows Update to automatically download and install the latest drivers for your system.
  2. Device Manager: Open Device Manager, locate the device with the error, right-click on it, and select “Update driver” to search for an updated driver online.
  3. Manufacturer’s website: Visit the manufacturer’s website of the device with the error, search for the latest driver compatible with your Windows version, and download it.
  4. Driver update software: Consider using reputable driver update software that can automatically scan, detect, and update all outdated drivers on your PC.
    Manufacturer's website: Visit the manufacturer's website of the device with the error, search for the latest driver compatible with your Windows version, and download it.
Driver update software: Consider using reputable driver update software that can automatically scan, detect, and update all outdated drivers on your PC.
  5. Rollback driver: If you recently updated a driver and encountered the error, use Device Manager to rollback the driver to a previously working version.
  6. Uninstall and reinstall driver: Remove the problematic driver from Device Manager, restart your PC, and let Windows automatically reinstall the driver.
    Rollback driver: If you recently updated a driver and encountered the error, use Device Manager to rollback the driver to a previously working version.
Uninstall and reinstall driver: Remove the problematic driver from Device Manager, restart your PC, and let Windows automatically reinstall the driver.
  7. Check compatibility: Ensure that the driver you are trying to install is compatible with your Windows 10 version and the specific hardware device.
  8. System Restore: If the error occurred after installing new drivers, perform a system restore to revert your PC back to a previous state when it was functioning correctly.
  9. Windows Troubleshooter: Run the Windows Troubleshooter to detect and fix driver-related issues automatically.
  10. Update BIOS: Consider updating the BIOS firmware on your PC as outdated BIOS can sometimes cause driver errors.
    Windows Troubleshooter: Run the Windows Troubleshooter to detect and fix driver-related issues automatically.
Update BIOS: Consider updating the BIOS firmware on your PC as outdated BIOS can sometimes cause driver errors.

Fixing the Printer Spooler Service by Reinstalling it

To fix the Printer Spooler Service error 0x000006BA on your Windows 10 PC, you can try reinstalling it. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter to open the Services window.
3. Scroll down and find the “Printer Spooler” service.
4. Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
5. In the Properties window, click on the “Stop” button to stop the service.
6. Once the service has stopped, click on the “Start” button to restart it.
7. If the issue persists, you can try reinstalling the Printer Spooler service.
8. Open the Services window again and right-click on the “Printer Spooler” service.
9. Select “Uninstall” and confirm the action.
10. Restart your PC and the Printer Spooler service will be reinstalled automatically.

This should resolve the error 0x000006BA and get your printer working again.

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Mark Ginter is a tech blogger with a passion for all things gadgets and gizmos. A self-proclaimed "geek", Mark has been blogging about technology for over 15 years. His blog, techquack.com, covers a wide range of topics including new product releases, industry news, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your devices. If you're looking for someone who can keep you up-to-date with all the latest tech news and developments, then be sure to follow him over at Microsoft.