Windows 10: when selecting 'print' it goes to 'Print to File' not the printer

I had a major Windows 10 crash unknown cause, assume automatic update Managed to get to function properly after booting safe mode. Can't find where to change the setting from 'Print to file' to print to my printer driver and settings OK.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Natalie

:)

 

Windows 10 Home Won't Print to Remote Printer


I have three computers.
Machine 1: Windows 10 pro, has the USB Brother HL-5040 printer
Machine 2: Windows 10 pro, prints OK to the remote printer.
Machine 3: Windows 10 home, Used to print, but not anymore (THIS IS THE PROBLEM).
I’ve tried everything that I can think of, and would appreciate any suggestions.
I did these steps on Machine 3 that did not work.

1. Remove the printer device.
2. Add a Printer
3. The printer that I want isn’t listed
4. Select a shared printer by name
5. Browse
6. Select the displayed Machine 1.
7. Select the displayed Printer.
8. Next
9. Failure “Connect to Printer”.
10. Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or Hostname
11. Next
12. Set Hostname to Machine 2, and set port name.
13. Detecting TCP/IP Port
14. Additional Port information required.
15. Device Type – Standard, Brother Port Server
16. Next
17. Detecting the Driver Model
18. Install The Print Driver
19. Select Brother and Brother HL-5040
20. Next
21. Replace the Current Driver
22. Printer Name (setting it to HL-5040)
23. Next
24. Do not share this printer
25. Next
26. You’ve successfully added “HL-5040”
27. Finish

Printing on Machine 3 puts the document in the print queue, which reports error printing.
Printing from Machine 2 to the printer on Machine 1 works perfectly.
All three machines are in the same HomeGroup. Machine 3 can access the shared files from Machine 1.

 

Error - Printing on Network printer

We have 4 printers on our Windows print server. The server was migrated from win2k3 to 2k8 on friday. 3/4 printers are working great, the other is having issues. When trying to print a test page to it, it gets a job status of Error - Printing.

When sending a small word document to it, it sends it to the printer, the queue is empty but nothing prints. If I goto the printer itself, it doesnt show any errors and I can print things such as information sheets and diagnostic files just fine.

All four printers are the same model, all 4 have a static IP. I can ping the printer successfully. I've tried printing from both an XP machine and the print server itself. I tried removing and adding the printer on the print server. And lastly, uunplugged the printer for 30 seconds, plugged it back in.

Any ideas?

 

Printing

Hi,

Print Spooler service is your main connector with the printer, and if this service doesn’t work, you won’t be able to print your documents. To assist you with your printing concern, kindly refer to the troubleshooting steps below:

Method 1: Run the Printing Troubleshooter

We suggest that you click on this article and follow the steps to run the troubleshooter:
Fix printer problems.

Method 2: Uninstall unnecessary printers

Having two or more printers installed can cause issues with the Print Spooler and printing. Follow the steps below to uninstall any unnecessary printers:

• Press Windows Key + X and select Control Panel from the list.
• When Control Panel opens, locate Devices and Printers.
• In Devices and Printers section select the printer you want to remove and click Print server properties.
• Go to Drivers tab. You should see the list of all installed printers.
• Select the printer you want to remove and click the Remove button.
• Select Remove driver and driver package and click OK to completely remove the printer.
• After removing unnecessary printers, restart your PC.

We'll be waiting for your response.