Share via

Print to PDF on RDS breaks every month

Ben Gaudet 0 Reputation points
2025-09-19T19:43:15.65+00:00

At the start of every month the print to pdf breaks on our RDS servers, we roll the server back to the last day of the previous month and it works fine, until it breaks again next month. Confirmed no patches are re-applying, this affects all Print to File printers, not just Print to PDF

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Remote desktop services and terminal services
0 comments No comments

Answer recommended by moderator

  1. Ben Gaudet 0 Reputation points
    2025-09-19T19:44:17.2533333+00:00

    We had this issue in May, and have been working with MS support on it, the fixes are:

    Workaround 1: You can try running sysprep.exe /oobe to replay the OOBE completion tasks (excluding the completion script). An unattended file can be used to automate the process.

    Workaround 2: Set/Add the following registry value:

    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Notifications\Data\41960B29A3BC0C75

    to

    01 00 00 00 01 00 00 00

    After restarting the machine, OOBE will be marked as completed.

    Couldn't find the other Learn Question to post the response under and just wanted to make sure this was published somewhere.

    0 comments No comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Jørgen Berthelsen 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-15T17:00:56.3766667+00:00
    1. It does not absolve issues to return to previous states, and it will only make your servers more unreliable with flexing previous states.
    2. Please, give more data, if you want solutions tailored to your needs.
    3. It can be OS version, it can be server version. It even sometimes can be manufacturer models.
    4. It can be Error codes.
    5. It can be Even viewer details.

    Microsoft print to PDF issues?

    To restore Microsoft Print to PDF, try disabling it or enable it again through the Windows Features settings.

    Simplest is to go to Programs & Features, then go to left top side, press to Turn on Windows feature on or off. There you can find "Microsoft print to PDF".

    1. In Features. Find "Microsoft print to PDF", then disable it. Reboot.
    2. In Features. Find "Microsoft print to PDF", then enable it.

    -It should be fixed.

    I hope this help any onto looking for answers about "Microsoft print to PDF" issues.


    Other solutions?

    Try omitting driver updates from Windows Updates from on the device by using editing Group policy, if you have in organization, the same overall group policy should be made to omit driver updates from Windows update. Ex. for servers and user devices.

    Start Gpedit (Edit group policy)

    Computer Configuration

    Administrative Templates

    Windows Components

    Windows Update

    Manage update offered from Windows Update

    Do not include drivers with Windows Updates, double-click

    Enable, Apply, OK.


    Do you need policy registry to exclude driver updates from Windows update?

    Save this as "reg": ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]

    "ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate"=dword:00000001


    It can also be that your solutions haven't been received when you have piled up WU data saved both on Server or user devices (computers).

    Run Disk cleanup as administrator.

    Tick (checkmark) all.

    Press OK, and Delete Files.

    -Finished?.


    Continue to delete data inside WU SoftwareDistribution folder.

    C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

    What folder data to delete? Go inside Download.

    C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    -Active? Press Skip. Delete everything, except the one's actively used.

    What folder data to delete? Go inside SLS.

    C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\SLS

    -Active? Press Skip. Delete everything, except the one's actively used.


    Now, these would give more room for newer Windows Updates, also get rid of corrupting Windows Updates.

    -It does happen, if user device or server, has become so corrupt, that you need to perform In-place upgrade. Unfortunately, corrupted states, you don't get to keep apps. Plan for apps installation day, and down time on servers. On user devices, everything need manual installation for apps.

    If the server is not corrupted, or user device not corrupted, you get to keep data and apps. This in-place upgrade is solution for fix.


    Thanks for reaching out for help, please give more details if you need help, but that is the end from me. Only contributing user. Not affiliated in any kind from trouble-maker.

    0 comments No comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.