Printer Driver Error 0xC0000138: Ordinal Not Found Fix

Fix Printer Error 0xC0000138 – Ordinal Not Found

You see 0xC0000138 – {Ordinal Not Found} when trying to install or use a printer. The culprit here is almost always a corrupted printer driver or a mismatched DLL. I've seen this on HP, Canon, and Brother printers — especially after a Windows update or a driver update that didn't complete cleanly. The error means the driver is calling a function (the ordinal) in a DLL that doesn't exist or is the wrong version.

Skip the registry edits and system file checker for now. Start simple.

Step 1: The 30-Second Fix – Reinstall the Printer Driver

This works about 70% of the time. Don't bother with the generic 'update driver' — you need a full removal.

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
2. Click your printer, then Remove device.
3. Download the latest driver from the printer manufacturer's site. Not the one from Windows Update, the exact model driver from HP/Canon/Brother.
4. Run the installer as Administrator (right-click > Run as administrator).

If the error pops up during install, reboot after uninstalling the driver, then run the installer again. That clears any half-loaded files.

Step 2: The 5-Minute Fix – Reset the Print Spooler

If the driver reinstall didn't work, the spooler is holding onto a bad copy. I've seen this when the error appears on every print attempt after a failed install.

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, hit Enter.
2. Scroll to Print Spooler. Right-click, Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and go to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS. Delete everything in that folder. (Don't worry, it's just temp print jobs.)
4. Back in Services, right-click Print Spooler, Start.
5. Now reinstall the driver again (Step 1).

This kills any stuck spooler files that might reference the missing ordinal.

Step 3: The 15-Minute Fix – Clean Boot and Manual Driver Install

When the error persists, something else is interfering. Usually a leftover driver from another printer or a security app blocking the install. A clean boot strips that away.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, hit Enter.
2. Go to Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
3. Go to Startup tab, click Open Task Manager. Disable everything listed.
4. Click OK, reboot.
5. Once booted clean, run the driver installer again as Admin.

If the install succeeds, you know a third-party service was the problem. Enable them one by one to find the culprit — usually antivirus or a printer management tool from another brand.

When to Try Manual Driver Installation

Sometimes the manufacturer's installer is the problem. It pulls the wrong DLL. I've fixed this on Windows 10 and 11 by installing the driver manually.

1. Download the driver package (usually a .exe or .zip from the manufacturer).
2. Extract it to a folder. If it's an .exe, run it with -x or /extract in a command prompt to get the files.
3. Go to Printers & scanners, click Add device, then Add manually (the link below the list).
4. Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
5. Select Create a new port (usually Local Port), click Next.
6. Click Have Disk, browse to the extracted folder, pick the .inf file.

This bypasses the installer entirely. Works when the ordinal error hits mid-install.

What About System File Checker or DISM?

Don't bother. This error is not a corrupted system file — it's a third-party driver issue. SFC and DISM will scan for hours and find nothing. Save your time.

If Nothing Works – Check for Conflicting Printer Drivers

Old printer drivers from previous devices can cause this. Especially if you've swapped brands (e.g., replaced a Canon with an HP).

1. Open Print Management (search for it in Start).
2. Go to Print Servers > Your PC > Drivers.
3. Remove any driver that's not for your current printer. Right-click, delete.
4. Reboot and reinstall your working printer driver.

I've seen this fix cases where the ordinal error showed up only when printing to a specific app (like Word or Chrome) but not others.

Final Blunt Truth

If you've done all three steps and still get 0xC0000138, the printer itself might have faulty firmware. Check the manufacturer's support site for a firmware update. On older printers (5+ years), it's often cheaper to replace the unit than keep troubleshooting.

This error is stubborn but simple. Start with the driver reinstall, move to the spooler reset, then clean boot. You'll fix it in 20 minutes tops.