Windows 10: microsoft print to pdf impossible to restore

this problem has been haunting me for years now.

my new [3 years ago] windows 10 laptop did not have microsoft print to pdf functioning.

i searched online and found a dozen websites with the same information on how to get it back, but nothing worked for me.

i had re-installed the OS [reminder- brand spanking new 8K$ laptop] three times and still no print to pdf.


trying again, i found that if i created my own port i could install it- huzzah!

but then found that only worked as long as the machine was running!

once shut down and restarted, the function was gone.

no problem; make a new port and create it again when needed.

band-aid fix, but at least i got print to pdf working...

three years later and hundreds of invented ports later [just for reinstalling the exact same feature],i now cannot even select microsoft print to pdf as an option for a printer type to install! it is GONE!

updating/refreshing the list does not bring it up.


So, now what?


--the optional features dialogue throws error 0x800F0922 which has no fix available for it online.


--using powershell [in administrator mode] to apply this:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features -All

...results in a specific error mentioning that print to pdf fails.


--trying a command prompt option [also in administrator mode] to run this:

dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:"Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features" /NoRestart

...also fails.


--trying to just add a printer is impossible because the microsoft print to pdf option NO LONGER EXISTS.



SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION!?

This broken issue with the optional features menu is a long standing bug going back to day one of windows 10 and has yet to be fixed.

I MUST save documents to pdf from my application that DEPENDS on it running in order to do so. I have no other option available for saving my documents to a pdf from any other application because my documents come from a specific program that absolutely relies upon the microsoft print to pdf function running.


this problem DOES NOT EXIST on my desktop so i never have this problem- but when i travel i use the laptop and normally i have been able to apply the band-aid solution. But not any more.

the laptop itself is a beast of a machine and the ONLY issue that has ever happened with it is this print to PDF nightmare that simply must be fixed and permanently.


WHAT CAN I DO!!!???

:)

 

Microsoft "Print to PDF" prints out Garbage

Hi,

To better assist you regarding Microsoft Print to PDF, we just have a few questions for you:

• What are the documents that you're trying to save as a PDF file?
  
• Can you provide us a step-by-step screenshot of how you print your documents as PDF?

 

Microsoft Print to PDF mixes up JPGs.

Hi Anita,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

To understand the issue better, I suggest you to answer the below questions.

• What happens when you select small bunch of images and try to print?
• Is the issue specific to the Microsoft Print to PDF?

I would suggest you to follow the below steps and check if it helps you.

• Create a new folder and copy the images you want in PDF.
• Sort the images as you want. (It always copies as per the sorted time/date)
• Set the images in Order/Sequence as you want it to be set in PDF.
• Select all and Print it to PDF.

Keep us posted to help you better.

 

Print to PDF missing in Printer List

Hi William,

We suggest that you disable and re-enable the Print to PDF feature. Here are the steps:

• Click on the Start menu and type in Windows Features.
• Choose Turn Windows features on or off.
• On the next window, find Microsoft Print to PDF and disable it. Click
  OK to save changes.
• Restart your PC.
• Repeat the same steps to re-enable Microsoft Print to PDF.

If the issue persists, we suggest that you perform the troubleshooting steps suggested on the link below under
Advanced:

Fix printer problems

Regards.