Windows 8 clients on our network connecting to networked printers on a 2012 print server. Normally they talk to the printers perfectly. However, after a remote desktop session to a client machine, the printer shows as offline and the print spooler needs restarting for the printer to show as online again.

Now, while this is a workaround, I'd love to know of a fix. Most of our users are not local admins on their machines, so restarting the spooler isn't normally an option unless I do it for them.

For this issue, try following steps:

First give yourself ownership and full access to c:\windows\system32\spoolsv.exe

1.       Start Search > services.msc

2.       If spooler is not on, turn it on. If after turn on, it turn off automatically, proceed to step 3, if can turn on go to step 4

3.       Start > Start Search > C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (Right click > Properties)

4.       Click on Security Tab > Advanced > Owner. Take ownership of the file and give full permission to the file. Once done, close everything and try to start the service again.

5.       Start > Start Search > cmd (Run as Admin)

6.       del /Q C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS\*.* > Press Enter

7.       Once done, try to start the spooler in Services

Then, try to update printer firmware by contacting the manufacturer.