Error 0x00000002 – Windows Cannot Connect to Printer

Some Windows 10 and Windows 7 clients have faced the error 0x00000002 when trying to add a network printer(from the Print Server or the local TCP/IP port).

The error 0x00000002 means that the driver of this printer installed on the computer is corrupted. First of all, you should try to remove this driver from the driver store (like in case of error 0x00000057).

Run this command:

printui.exe /s /t2

In the list of installed drivers, find the printer driver you want to reinstall and remove it by clicking Remove and select Remove driver and driver package.

Restart the spooler (net stop spooler & net start spooler) and try to connect your printer again.

It is likely that the driver will be installed and the printer will connect successfully.

Otherwise, try the following:

• Delete this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations
• If there are any subfolders with the names from 1 to 499 in c:\Windows\System32\spool\prtprocs\x64, delete all of them but for winprint.dll
• Delete all Print Processors and drivers (except winprint) from HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments
• Restart your computer and add the printer

As a workaround, if the previous methods haven’t helped, connect your printer using UNC path following the instructions in the article How to Print on Windows 10 Network Printer from XP.