Can't add printer. Print Spooler crashes. Error code 0x000006be

So, I've spent several hours working on this problem and nothing seems to help. 

I have Windows Vista Ultimate SP1.  Whenever I try to add a printer, check server properties, or anything else related to printing, I simply get the error "windows can't add printer [or "server properties cannot be viewed']. The local print spooler service is not running.  Please restart the spooler or restart the machine."

When I restart the spooler via administration tools/services or the command prompt (this is supposedly successful) and try to add a printer again, I receive the error message "Operation cannot be completed (error 0x000006be)" and the spooler promptly crashes again.  This just started happening suddenly, and not because I tried to install any certain printer.  If it helps, I have been using a Dell Photo Printer 720, but I have used it in the past with the same system, OS, and driver without problems.

I have searched for solutions everywhere, and so far have removed any traces of printer drivers from the system in case a corrupted file is crashing the spooler. 

So far, I have:

 1. Removed any printers that could be uninstalled from Add and Remove Programs

 2. Cleared out the Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86and **Windows\system32\spool\printers**folders

 3. Removed subkeys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printersregistry keys

 4. Removed non-default subkeys in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitorsregistry key

Is there anything else that I could possibly do to fix this problem?  Is it possible the spooler app itself has a problem?  Or am I missing something that is messing it up?  Any help would be REALLY appreciated!