In Windows, the instructions to clear a malfunctioning print job from the queue are typically straightforward and easy to understand. Clearing a stuck print job can resolve various common problems with printing, such as slow or stuck printing. Follow these steps to clear a malfunctioning print job from the queue in Windows:
1. Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.
2. Click “Devices and Printers” from the list of options.
3. Right-click on the printer you want to clear the malfunctioning print job from.
4. Select “See What’s Printing” from the options.
5. You will see the list of current jobs queued up to print.
6. Look for the job that is not printing correctly and is causing the issue.
7. Right-click it and select “Cancel” to remove it from the queue.
8. Try sending another job to the printer and see if it prints correctly.
9. If the print job still appears in the queue, you may need to manually delete it from the queue.
10. Right-click the job and select “Delete”.
11. Check the printer to make sure the job has been removed from the queue.
12. If the job is still there, then it is likely the program is holding onto the job in memory.
13. To force the printer to release the job, restart the computer or shutdown the printer.
14. If the stuck print job is still in the queue after a reboot, then you may need to delete the job directly from the printer’s memory.
15. To do this, open the printer and look for a small access panel near the paper tray.
16. Remove the panel and use a flathead screwdriver to press the reset button for a few seconds.
17. This will clear any jobs that have been stored in the printer’s memory.
18. Check the queue to make sure the job is now gone.
19. If it is still there, then you may need to delete the job from the spooler folder on your computer.
20. To do this, open the Run command from the Start menu and type “services.msc” without the quotation marks.
21. Hit enter and locate the Print Spooler service in the list.
22. Right-click it and select “Stop”.
23. Then navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder on your computer.
24. Delete all the files in this folder.
25. Now go back to the services list and right-click the Print Spooler service and select “Start”.
26. Check if the stuck print job has been cleared from the queue.
27. If it’s still there, then you may have to restart the computer again to make sure all of the files in the spooler folder have been properly deleted.
28. After the reboot, check the queue to make sure the job is gone.
29. If it is still present, then there could be an issue with the printer driver.
30. To check this, open the Devices and Printers window again and right-click the printer.
31. Select “Printer Properties” from the options.
32. Select the “Advanced” tab and click the “Print Processor” button.
33. If the option is not displayed, then the issue could be due to a corrupt or outdated driver.
34. Try updating the printer driver to the latest version and see if the issue is resolved.
35. If the problem persists, then you may need to contact the printer manufacturer or a technician in order to troubleshoot the issue.
These instructions should help you clear a malfunctioning print job from the queue in Windows. Make sure to follow each of the steps carefully and accurately to ensure the process is successful. If the issue still persists after following these instructions, then contact the printer manufacturer or a technician for assistance.