Reader wants to install a printer, but other programs are all OK

[aczer]

I have been a happy and loyal user of Foxit Reader for a long time. Version 2.3 has been working just fine, thank you.

Today, I am inexplicably unable to print, and get this error message:

"Before you can perform print-related tasks such as page setup or printing a document, you need to install a printer."

If I click on Print Setup, the message asks "do you want to install a printer now?".

When I click on Yes, a new error appears:
"Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running."

HOWEVER, it seems that all other software prints just fine, including Firefox 3.0, IE 7, MS Office 2003, and even (gasp!) some freeware called CoolPDF. I have several printers installed, and regularly use the default printer here at my office.
I don't know of any new software installed recently.

I am at a loss in trying to figure out how to fix this problem. Foxit is definitely my preferred PDF reader, and I cannot imagine what other program could be interfering with the print function.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

System details:
IBM Thinkpad T41p, Windows XP SP3,
HP Laserjet 4+ printer
AVG 8.0.138 antivirus, Comodo Firewall 3.0.25.378, Spybot S&D 1.6, Spywareblaster 4.1

[aczer]

I have been trying to figure out what program is interfering with Foxit. So, I have been turning off various programs one at a time.
Now I suspect that my printing problem has something to do with the Defense+ module of the Comodo Firewall Pro.
I switched to Comodo after some recent problems with ZoneAlarm, and I do think it is a good firewall. The Defense+ feature is different from the basic firewall.

Comodo says "Version 3.0 now features a fully fledged Host Intrusion Prevention System called Defense+ to protect your critical operating system files and block viruses and malware before they ever get the chance to install. In fact, Defense+ is so good at blocking malware, you may never need a dedicated anti-virus program ever again."

Perhaps I just don't know where to look inside Comodo to remove or reset any references to Foxit.

Tthe only thing that seems to work is to right-click on the Comodo icon in the system tray, then choose "Defense+ Security Level" and set it to Disabled.

Once I do that, Foxit seems to print normally. So I am posting this story just in case anyone else has the same problem.

As far as I can tell, Foxit is the only program on my machine that is affected by Defense+. Perhaps some reader knows more about Comodo and can point out a fix in there.