Windows 10: Windows 10 Virtual Printers no longer work and can't re-add them

Hi,


I have been intensely researching this for the last few days, and all I could find did not work, so please bare with me, I am WAY beyond the easy solutions here...


Windows version is 1903. All updates are up to date.


First and foremost, my problem is EXACTLY as described here:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ng-error/e75911f1-7b49-482c-ac16-153cffb26049

And it is the same for other virtual printers. Print to PDF / XPS are saying the driver is not installed.


Frequent Answer 1:

Add Printer -> Not Listed -> Add a local printer

Then choose Microsoft Print to PDF. Driver is not present in the list.

Windows Update sometimes create an entry with version 2016.

Trying to re-add driver fails with "Element Not Found"


Frequent Answer 2:

Windows Add Remove Features, turn off Print to PDF then turn on Print to PDF.

Turning off removes the feature. I cannot turn on again, it fails with 800F0922 error.

Also tried to reinstall .Net 3.5 and such


Frequent Answer 3:

Do as #2 but with DSIM. Does not work.

Tried DSIM CheckHealth, ScanHealth, RestoreHealth, and Enable-Feature with the PDF printer. reports are always good, but do not fix the problem

Tried SFC /scannow, does not find anything wrong.


Frequent Answer 4:

Just install a third party PDF Printer.

Guess what, I tried installing Bullzip PDF Printer, when it comes to installing its driver, it gives the SAME error message: Drivers Not Installed, Element Not Found.


This leads me to believe it's not a problem with the PDF or XPS printer, but rather something regarding the management of printer drivers (I haven't tried installing other non-printer drivers to see if it's generalized)


A few notes:

I am trying to avoid the all mighty solution of "re-initialize your PC" because this is a business and we have software installed by specialised software prodivers.

In all fairness, this problem "seems" to have appeared with one of their latest software update recently. But according to them, they haven't touched anything regarding printers, and anyway, it should have been only a simple 'Software install'. The software is .Net native


Weird thing I noticed, the Send to One Note is on Port "nul:" on these computers. (5 out of 6 have this problem). But removing the OneNote printer and nul: port does not solve the issue.


I would have liked to find a "repair windows" option that keeps all the software still registered and installed, basically re-installing windows features but leaving the registries and things like that alone.


Speaking of which, could it possibly be a registry problem of some sort?


I also tried in Safe Mode. turning the feature on and off does not give any error message in safe mode, but does not solve the issue when coming back to normal mode.


As a reference and to not repeat, here are all the posts I have read and tried:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/printmanagement/add-printer?view=win10-ps

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...r/874a4fa7-aa3d-44e6-961c-9e76f69925c9?page=2

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ng-error/e75911f1-7b49-482c-ac16-153cffb26049

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...r/70377c34-e50a-42be-b9f3-92345d6e25df?page=7https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...n10-1803/f8c65a3e-bf05-47f5-bea8-ae747e611e64

Thanks.

:)

 

Virtual Pdf Printer Driver Won't install and Fixes won't work

You might be able, if needed, to get the old version, here at oldapps web site (disclaimer: I do not vouch for this site... check any and downloads with your fav malware/antivirus apps): Old Version of PrimoPDF for Windows XP

PrimoPDF forums are down it seems... however, I found this at PCReview forums, quote from "Unable to Install "Software" Printers":

Same solution on MSDN thread, "cannot install printer driver in XP Embedded":

 

network printers no longer working for windows 10

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community Forum.

• 
  Have you installed any third party software in compute?
  

I suggest you to make printer as a default printer you can follow the below steps:

• 
  Press Windows key+ X and select
  device manager.
  
• 
  Select devices and printers
  
• 
  Right click on the printer you want to use, and then click
  set as default printer (You'll see a check mark on the printer's icon signifying that it's now your default printer).
  

I also recommend you to run the print troubleshooter to check the issue.

• 
  Type troubleshooter in the search box and then press enter.
  
• 
  In the left pane click on View all.
  
• 
  Select the printer option and
  follow the on screen instructions.
  

If the issue persists, I suggest you to uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers and check if it helps

• Press Windows key+ X and select device manager.
• 
  Select devices and printers.
  
• 
  Right click on printer driver and select uninstall.
  
• 
  Now try to install the printer drivers from manufacturing website.
  

Hope it helps. Please reply to us with the status of the issue.

Thanks.

 

Printer isn´t working after latest update.

After the latest update from Windows, my Canon Pixma ip6600 printer isnt working. In Device Manager it shows up as working properly but when I go to print it isn´t listed as an option in any programs. Troubleshoot suggests it´s a USB 2 printer on a USB
3 port and that that´s the problem but that cant be since it worked fine before the update. I´ve tried to uninstall and plug it back in but that doesn´t work either.