Print Spooler does not work after Win 8.1 install

Question

I upgraded several computers to Win 8.1.  Most are operating normally and do not have this problem.  This is relevant to show that it is not a printer hardware or compatibility problem.  On one computer, the print function is not working. 
I've tried reinstalling printers, getting new drivers, etc.  It comes down to this.  An active (connected) printer is selected and print test page is selected.  The dialog box says that the print queue is full.  I went to the queue subdirectory
and deleted all files, no change to the results.  The Print spooler is active in task manager.  Stopping and restarting the print spooler makes no difference.  Any ideas?

Answer 1

I had similar problems with HP Printers on the LAN (after upgrade from Windows 8 tot 8.1 
32bit)
HP Laserjet 4000  Laserjet 4050 and Laserjet 4250 - all with Network interface.
Erratic behaviour: inserting blank pages, no duplex printing, programs stalling when printing etc…
Printers and network are fully functional and work perfectly with W7 and XP. Not with Windows 8.1.
Strange thing: Epson Aculaser and Ricoh Aficio 3224  worked fine but those were installed after the Windows update.
So definitely something with the Microsoft drivers for the HP Laserjet printers.
After a few installs and uninstalls of the HP printer drivers the problems stayed.
Then I removed all HP related driver files (C:\\Windows\\system32\\spool\\PRINTERS")
and all references in the Register because the standard uninstall of the drivers did not remove all files.
-> First uninstall ALL  HP printers (laserjet, deskjet, officejet etc ..)
-> Then look in
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers]
Make a backup of the registry keys and then remove all files starting with hp….
Remove the print processors starting with hp 
(i.e. hpzpplhn.exe)
Then restart your system.
Reinstall the printers, they should be OK now.
If you still have duplex printing problems : replace the hpzpplhm print processor with the winprint processor. (may give other limitations, google for more info).
In my case this solved the erratic printing problems.