When specific Windows applications like MS Office or PDF readers fail to send print jobs to a Canon imageRunner 1133 or Brother DCP-7055, the issue usually stems from corrupted print spooler data, incorrect default printer settings, or application-specific compatibility conflicts. Restarting the Print Spooler service and clearing the queue often resolves the immediate blockage.
Understanding Application-Specific Printing Failures
It is common for users to encounter situations where printing works perfectly from some programs but fails entirely from others. This behavior indicates that the physical connection between your computer and the Canon imageRunner 1133 or Brother DCP-7055 is functional. The problem lies within the software layer of the specific application or the Windows print subsystem. When you attempt to print from Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat, the application generates a print job and sends it to the Windows Print Spooler. If the spooler is stuck, misconfigured, or blocked by security software, the job never reaches the printer driver. This isolation helps narrow down the troubleshooting scope. You do not need to reinstall drivers for every possible app. Instead, you must verify that the core Windows printing infrastructure is healthy and that the offending applications are communicating correctly with it. Common symptoms include the "Printing..." dialog appearing briefly and then disappearing without error, or the application freezing completely when the print command is issued. Understanding this distinction prevents unnecessary hardware checks and focuses efforts on software resolution.Clearing Corrupted Print Spooler Data
The most frequent cause of silent print failures is a corrupted file in the print spooler directory. When an application crashes during printing, it may leave behind a partially processed file that blocks subsequent jobs. To resolve this, you must stop the spooler service, delete the temporary files, and restart the service. This process clears any stale data that might be preventing new jobs from being processed by the Canon or Brother drivers. Follow these steps to clear the spooler:- Stop the Service: Press
Win + R, typeservices.msc, and press Enter. Locate Print Spooler in the list, right-click it, and select Stop. - Delete Temporary Files: Open File Explorer and navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete all files in this folder. Do not delete the folder itself, only its contents. - Restart the Service: Return to the Services window, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.
Checking Default Printer Settings
Windows allows each application to remember its own default printer setting. It is possible that MS Office or your PDF reader has been configured to use a virtual printer, such as "Microsoft Print to PDF" or a fax driver, instead of your physical Canon imageRunner 1133 or Brother DCP-7055. When the application tries to send data to a non-existent or inactive virtual device, the print job fails silently. To fix this, open the specific application (e.g., Word or Adobe Reader). Go to File > Print. In the printer selection dropdown, ensure that the correct physical printer is selected. If you want to change the global default for the entire operating system, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select your Canon or Brother device and click Set as default. This ensures that any application not explicitly configured will route jobs to the correct hardware.Disabling Conflicting Security Software
Sometimes, antivirus or firewall software can interfere with the communication between the application and the printer driver. While rare, security suites may flag the print spooler or the application executable as a threat, blocking network access or local port usage. If you have recently installed new security software, consider temporarily disabling real-time protection to test if printing resumes. If disabling the security software resolves the issue, add an exclusion for the print spooler directory and the specific application executable. This allows the software to function normally while maintaining overall system security. For users experiencing broader issues with Office applications being flagged by security tools, reviewing our article on Windows Defender Flagging MS Office Apps (Excel & Winword) as Threats: Exclusion Steps may provide additional context on managing exclusions properly.Reinstalling Printer Drivers
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, the printer driver itself may be corrupted. Uninstalling and reinstalling the driver ensures a clean slate. Go to Settings > Printers & scanners, select the Canon imageRunner 1133 or Brother DCP-7055, and choose Remove. Then, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website and install it. During installation, ensure you select the correct connection type (USB or Network) to match your setup.Frequently Asked Questions
Why does printing work from Chrome but not from Word?
This discrepancy usually indicates that Word has a corrupted configuration or is pointing to a different default printer. Clearing the Word template files or resetting the default printer in Windows settings typically resolves this specific app conflict.
How do I know if my Canon imageRunner 1133 is online?
Check the printer's LCD screen for an "Online" status message. On Windows, go to Printers & scanners and verify that the printer shows no error icons. If the status is "Offline," right-click the printer and select See what's printing to check for queued jobs.
Can PDF viewers cause print spooler errors?
Yes, Adobe Acrobat and other PDF readers can sometimes leave corrupted temporary files in the spooler if they crash during export. Clearing the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS folder manually, as described in the main guide, removes these stale files and restores functionality.
What should I do if the Brother DCP-7055 is not detected by any app?
If no application can see the printer, the issue is likely at the OS level rather than the app level. Reinstall the USB or network driver, check cable connections, and ensure the printer is powered on. A full restart of both the PC and the printer often re-establishes the connection.
Is it safe to delete files in the PRINTERS folder?
Yes, it is safe to delete files inside the PRINTERS folder, provided the Print Spooler service is stopped first. These files are temporary print jobs; deleting them does not affect your documents or the printer driver itself. Always stop the service before accessing this directory to prevent file-in-use errors.