.TMP File Stuck in Printers Folder After Every job - Halts Printing

I'm working on a Windows 10 computer on which, after printing a single job, 3 files usually remain in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers folder. 2 can be deleted without issue. The 3rd, a .tmp file throws an error when I try to delete it. (see attachment) Nothing can be printed until the file has been deleted.
Only way I've found to delete the file is to stop the print spooler, delete the file, re-start the spooler. Soon as another print job is sent, problem recurs. I've found information that this .exe is for spooling of .xml files. Haven't found much about others having this problem. There's a little info that malware disguises itself as printfilterpipelinesvc.exe, but I can't find anything real substantial. I would appreciate information helping solve this problem. Thanks!

jamichau said:

I'm working on a Windows 10 computer on which, after printing a single job, 3 files usually remain in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers folder. 2 can be deleted without issue. The 3rd, a .tmp file throws an error when I try to delete it. (see attachment) Nothing can be printed until the file has been deleted.
Only way I've found to delete the file is to stop the print spooler, delete the file, re-start the spooler. Soon as another print job is sent, problem recurs. I've found information that this .exe is for spooling of .xml files. Haven't found much about others having this problem. There's a little info that malware disguises itself as printfilterpipelinesvc.exe, but I can't find anything real substantial. I would appreciate information helping solve this problem. Thanks!

1. For each print job there are two spool files generated by the Windows spooler. One file with the .SHD extension for job settings, and one with the .SPL extension for the drawing commands.
   
   Using notepad ..
   
   @echo off
   net stop spooler
   cd\
   cd \windows\system32\spool\printers
   del *.tmp
   net start spooler
   exit
   
   Save as a c:\windows\clrspool.cmd
   
   Setup a task schedule that runs the cmd sometime in the early morning when nobody will be printing.
   
   

sorry forgot to mention check the folder permission and if Users or Admins doesn't have permission or only special permission set permission to read/write and check

jamichau said:

Thanks, MetalSaint and Brink, for your replies. The .bat file will help my customer (a friend of mine, this isn't something I'm doing at work) clear the queue on his home computer, but doesn't solve the problem. I've seen, at work pretty often, in the past, the printing of PDFs leaving behind .SHD and .SPL on HP LJ P1606 printers. But it was only occasionally and I would just clear those two files and customers could print again. But there was never this .TMP file in use by Printfilterpipelinesvc.exe in those instances, and it wasn't every PDF they printed, so I think there is something more to this.

I should add, that the person with this current problem is printing PDFs (online banking statements). I don't think print jobs from other applications produce the same problem. Still, why the .tmp file and why is it in use by the .exe? On his older, XP machine and on his current machine with Windows 7, he never had this problem. It started some time after upgrading to Windows 10.

BTW, I have checked permissions on the Printers folder. They're OK.

Hello, did ou ever find a solutions to this problem? Because I'm having the exact same problem with an HP Deskjet 3800 Series in windows 7.

btassis said:

Hello, did ou ever find a solutions to this problem? Because I'm having the exact same problem with an HP Deskjet 3800 Series in windows 7.

I was having the same issue, I ended printfilterpipelinesvc.exe using task manager so I could delete the temp files.

Not sure how to restart the service without restarting my computer but I am printing just fine without it.