How to remove an spools error

The free file information forum can help you determine if spools.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Spools.exe file information

The process known as Norton Internet Security Service appears to be part of software MetaFrame Presentation Server or Norton Internet Security Service or 45fdf rfgf by StarMicro (www.starmicroinc.net) or 589ukjh.

Description: The file spools.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers. Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 28,160 bytes (7% of all occurrences), 13,312 bytes and 54 more variants.
The file is a file without information about the developer of this file. It is not a Windows core file. The program starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices). The program has no visible window. Spools.exe is an unknown file in the Windows folder. spools.exe is able to record inputs and monitor applications. Therefore the technical security rating is 91% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
If you want to remove the program completely, go to Control Panel ⇒ Software ⇒ Gehalt & Lohn 2005 or Adobe Acrobat.

Recommended: Identify spools.exe related errors

If spools.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 80% dangerous. The file size is 671,232 bytes (23% of all occurrences), 2,125,312 bytes and 9 more variants. File spools.exe is a file without information about the developer of this file. The file is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. File spools.exe is an unknown file in the Windows folder. The process uses ports to connect to a LAN or the Internet. The process starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices). spools.exe is able to hide itself, record inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs.

If spools.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 52% dangerous. The file size is 94,208 bytes. The program has no visible window. File spools.exe is an unknown file in the Windows folder. File spools.exe is not a Windows system file. spools.exe is able to record inputs, hide itself and monitor applications.

If spools.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 74% dangerous. The file size is 610,816 bytes.

External information from Paul Collins:
There are different files with the same name:

"Microsoft Windows Update" definitely not required. Added by the SDBOT.TD WORM!
"Print Spooler" definitely not required. Added by the RBOT-LD WORM!

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as spools.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the spools.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

Sometimes comes back after removal. Very hard to remove.
Gregg Holbert

it's a piece of crap created by microsoft so that we keep buying their antivirus products. shi
jadu

On my PC it was a virus what was causing alot of errors.
Casper M

It spreads through home networks. Don't go to pereto etc who promise to fix it, let you scan and then want you to pay with no previous reference to the cost of software per computer and multiple computers.

We've found it to be a Trojan, located in C:\windows\system32\drivers, file size 11,776
IanB

it slows me down
geof

Summary: Average user rating of spools.exe: based on 8 votes with 6 reviews.

1 user think spools.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 1 user suspect danger. 6 users think spools.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.

Spools scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

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