Windows 10: Network Printer disappeared

Environment: A small office network as 3 Windows 10 desktops, a Win10 laptops and a Win 7 laptop in a homegroup. One of the folders on a desktop ‘serves’ a shared folder and a directly attached Laserjet 5000 with the homegroup members. There’s an Epson printer attached to a network switch and it is also shared by client computers. There was a lengthy Windows 10 update this weekend.
Problem: Since the update, the HP Laserjet has disappeared from the Win 10 laptop and stopped printing multiple copies from a desktop. There’s no problem on the Win7 laptop.
Requesting troubleshooting advice.

:)

 

Suddenly one PC on the home network can see PCs on the network but they can not see it except for it's media devices

Hi Greg,

I did a network reset on the disappearing PC and it and the printer reappeared in my network list.

I do not know for how long.

It is still not on the homegroup.

Tim

 

Windows 10 Devices and Printers

Printers disappeared from Devices and Printers after the anniversary update, except for Fax. I have tried re-installing my network printer, and all indications were that it successfully installed, except that it does not appear in Devices and Printers...
and I cannot print to it. There was no problem printing to this printer prior to the anniversary updates. How do I fix this?

 

What happens if you go into Devices and Printers and attempt to add the missing printer onto the affected machines? That's what I would try first, were I in your shoes. I noticed that after the recent FCU, I had to reset my network printers for all updated machines. This might possibly be involved. Give it a try!
HTH,
--Ed--

 

Thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I am able to setup the printers again but it is such a undue activity. The update also reset the printer driver configurations so those also have to be reconfigured. Isn't there a way to 'lock-up' some configurations that would stay protected during Windows updates?

 

I wish there were a way to lock things up as you suggest/request. There is probably a way to automate the process using robokeys or something like that, but it only works as long as the UI for the configuration widgets doesn't change, either. Sigh.
--Ed--