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greengirl609

Q: I keep getting an error message that the "spools are full".  How do I access the spools and how do I empty them?

I keep getting an error message that the "spools are full". Where do I find them and how to empty them?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Apr 1, 2014 8:10 AM

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Q: I keep getting an error message that the "spools are full".  How do I access the spools and how do I empty them?

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 1, 2014 3:39 PM in response to greengirl609
    Level 8 (48,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2014 3:39 PM in response to greengirl609

    The only system I can think that applies to that message would concern printing. I suggest a print job may have become stuck in your Mac due to a printer that is no longer available to it. That can occur for a number of reasons.

     

    Read the following document to determine if it is applicable.

     

    Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X

     

    If all else fails. reset the printing system according to the following. It will delete any pending print jobs that may be stuck waiting for the printer to reappear. You will need to add your printers again:

     

    Mac OS X: How to reset the printing system

  • by greengirl609,

    greengirl609 greengirl609 Apr 1, 2014 5:00 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 1, 2014 5:00 PM in response to John Galt

    I actually did that already. Deleted printer, re-installed it.  Cleared printing que.  Restarted the computer.  I've run out of ideas

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 1, 2014 5:06 PM in response to greengirl609
    Level 8 (48,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 1, 2014 5:06 PM in response to greengirl609

    When does the message appear and what does it say, exactly?

  • by greengirl609,

    greengirl609 greengirl609 Apr 2, 2014 11:54 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2014 11:54 AM in response to John Galt

    it simply says:

     

    Printing iPhoto   (because i chose a random picture to print)

     

    waiting for job to complete

     

    spool area full

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 2, 2014 12:06 PM in response to greengirl609
    Level 8 (48,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 2, 2014 12:06 PM in response to greengirl609

    You may be able to determine the reason for this error by examining your Mac's logs with Console. To do that find the Console app - it is in your Utilities folder and looks like this

     

    Screen Shot 2013-10-15 at 1.28.39 AM.png

     

    You can find it by selecting Utilities from the Finder's Go menu.

     

    Open Console.

     

    If the log list column on the left is not already displayed, show the log list by selecting Show Log List from Console's View menu.

     

    Locate system.log in the list and select it. Many date and time-stamped entries will appear, hundreds of them, and you must find the entries relevant to your Mac's problem. To do that choose Clear Display from Console's toolbar. Leave Console running while you choose Print from iPhoto again. Examine any new entries logged in Console. If there are any, copy and paste them in a reply.


  • by greengirl609,

    greengirl609 greengirl609 Apr 7, 2014 7:57 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 7, 2014 7:57 AM in response to John Galt

    Hello John,

    I did as you said and have several messages that I can copy to you.  But I am not comfortable putting my information out for the world to see.  Is there a private setting that I can use?

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 7, 2014 8:23 AM in response to greengirl609
    Level 8 (48,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 7, 2014 8:23 AM in response to greengirl609

    Simply obscure the information before you post the text. x it out or enclose it in brackets such as [edited], just indicate that there was something deleted.