Handy .bat file...

[alexpgp]

I hadn't written a DOS batch file in years, but the following three-liner is pretty handy at "unsticking" a print queue when the spooler refuses to delete a job.

net stop spooler
del c:\windows\system32\spool\printers\*.* /Q
net start spooler

The first line stops a service called the print spooler, the second line gets rid of the data waiting to be printed (the /Q makes the operating system skip asking "are you sure?"), and the third line restarts the spooler.

I saved the three lines in a file called deleteprintjobs.bat in the directory that pops up when I click on Start|Run... and enter cmd as the program to run. In the window that appears, I type the name of the batch file, wait for it to complete, and then type exit to close the window.

Mouse addicts can attain the same goal by

• clicking on Start|Control Panel,
• double-clicking Administrative Tools,
• double-clicking Services,
• scrolling down to Print Spooler,
• right-clicking and selecting Stop,
• right-clicking again and selecting Start, and
• closing the Services and Administrative Tools windows.

EIther way, it sure is a handy thing to know if you're running Windows XP.

Cheers...