I was reading on Microsoft Community (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-performance/print-spooler-does-not-start-at-windows-restart/26334567-f970-4f9f-acb1-872df550a32b?page=2&tm=1399605889359#LastReply) that cases of Printer Spooler not starting was related to Kaspersky Anti-virus? Turns out my SONY Vaio VFC13 cames pre-loaded wit Kaspersky...
The plot thickens ;-)