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Error 0x8007007e: The specified module could not be found

Error 0x8007007e means a file the printer driver needs is missing or doesn't match. Remove the driver package and reinstall a clean copy.

Updated

What this error means

0x8007007e is the longer code format of Windows error 126, "The specified module could not be found". A module is a program file, usually a DLL belonging to the printer driver, and Windows tried to load one that isn't there or doesn't suit your system. It shows up most often when connecting to a printer shared from another PC, after an update replaces part of the print system, or after a driver install that didn't finish. It's the same underlying problem as error 0x0000007e, and the fixes overlap.

Common causes

  • An incomplete driver copied from a host PC, or one built for a different type of Windows
  • Leftover files from an older or partly removed driver
  • A Windows update or feature update that left the installed driver mismatched
  • A driver add-on, such as a status monitor or print processor, that is missing
  • Damaged Windows system files, which is less common

How to fix it

Start with the first fix. They’re ordered from safest and quickest to most involved.

Fixes for Windows

0 of 7 steps tried

  1. Restart the PC and the Print Spooler

    Restart the computer first, since a pending update can leave driver files half-replaced until a reboot. If the error returns, open Command Prompt as administrator (search for cmd, right-click it and choose Run as administrator), run the command below and try connecting again.

    net stop spooler && net start spooler

  2. Remove the printer and its driver package

    In Printers & scanners, select the printer and choose Remove. Then press Win + R and run the command below to open Print Server Properties on the Drivers tab. Select the printer's driver, click Remove and choose Remove driver and driver package. If Windows says the driver is in use, restart the Print Spooler or the PC and try again. This clears out the broken copy so a clean one can go in.

    printui /s /t2

  3. Install a matching driver from the manufacturer or Windows Update

    Check whether your PC is x64 or Arm-based in Settings > System > About, next to System type. Download the full driver for your model, Windows version and processor type from the manufacturer's official support site and install it as an administrator. Alternatively, look in Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for a printer driver (Windows 10: Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates).

  4. Connect shared printers through a local port

    With the correct driver installed, choose Add device > Add manually > Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings > Create a new port > Local Port, and type the share path, for example \\OFFICE-PC\Printer. Pick the driver you installed when asked. Your PC then uses its own driver rather than copying one from the host, which is where the missing file usually comes from.

  5. Connect directly by IP address

    If the printer has Wi-Fi or Ethernet, add it on each PC with Add device > Add manually > Add a printer using an IP address or hostname. On the driver page, click Windows Update to refresh the list if your model isn't shown; it can take a few minutes. A direct connection avoids the PC-to-PC driver transfer entirely.

  6. Remove leftover printer software

    Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 10: Apps & features) and uninstall software for printers you no longer own, or old versions of your current printer's software. Add-ons from those packages can stay registered with the print system and point to files that no longer exist. Restart, then reinstall only the current software for your printer.

  7. Repair Windows system files

    If a clean, correct driver still fails, open Command Prompt as administrator and run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. When it finishes, run the command below, then restart. These built-in tools replace damaged Windows files, including parts of the print system.

    sfc /scannow

Common questions

What is the difference between 0x8007007e and 0x0000007e?

They are the same "module not found" error written in two code formats. Different parts of Windows report it differently, but the cure is the same: a clean, matching driver.

Can I copy the missing DLL from another PC or a download site?

Don't. DLL download sites are a common source of malware, and a single file rarely fixes a mismatched driver. Reinstall the full driver package from the manufacturer's official website or Windows Update instead.

Why does only one of my PCs show the error?

Each PC keeps its own copy of printer drivers. The one showing the error has an incomplete or mismatched copy, so that's the PC to clean up.

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