Problem with Print spooler service

A user wanted me to add printer to his laptop but while doing so I received an error about print spooler service being stopped or not running.
I checked the print spooler service and it had been stopped automatically. Started once again and tried to install the printer but again failed with the same error.
To resolve the problem, I did the following:
1) deleted the spool printer and driver files. To do this, start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then delete all the files and the folders in the following two folders (where C: is the drive where you have Windows XP installed):
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86

2) Remove the potentially problematic printer driver subkeys, which may be interfering with the printer you want to use. These may have been installed by third-party printer setup programs. Use the following steps to keep the printer driver and registry entries that came with Windows on your computer and remove all others that may be causing issues.
Start Registry Editor if it is not open. To do this, click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
Locate and then expand the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\DriversThe registry entries for the printer drivers that are installed on the computer are stored in the Version-x subkey or subkeys, where x is a number (typically 2 or 3).
Expand the Version-x subkey or subkeys, and then delete the printer driver entries. To do this, right-click each printer driver subkey, and then click Delete. Click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion.

Restarted computer. Reinstalled all printers. All worked well after that.