Microsoft KB Archive/308666

= How to move the Spool folder in Windows XP =

Article ID: 308666

Article Last Modified on 9/2/2004

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q308666



IN THIS TASK

 * INTRODUCTION
 * How to move the Windows XP Spool folder
 * REFERENCES



INTRODUCTION
This article describes how to change the location of the Windows XP spool folder.

The spool folder is the area on the hard disk that Windows uses to store print jobs as they are being printed. This allows Windows to quickly return control to a program after a document is printed. By default, Windows stores this file on the same partition as the Windows system files. You can increase the performance of Windows, and increase free space on this partition, by moving this folder to a different partition.

Back to the top

How to move the Windows XP Spool folder
 Log on to the computer as Administrator. Click Start, and then click My Computer. Open the driver or folder in which you want to store the spool folder. Under File and Folder Tasks, click Make a new folder. In the Name box, type the name that you want. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes. On the File menu, click Server Properties. Click the Advanced tab.</li> In the Spool folder box, type the complete path to the new folder that you created.</li> Click Apply. The following message appears:

The changes to the spool folder will occur immediately and any currently active documents will not print. It is recommended to allow all documents to complete printing before changing the spool folder. Are you sure you want to change the spool folder?

Ensure that all documents have finished being printed, and then click Yes.

</li> Click OK, and then close the Printers and Faxes folder.</li></ol>

Back to the top

<div class="references_section">