Windows Server 2016 - PDF Printer stopped working

Question

Hi there

Main Description
One of our customers Remote Desktop Session Hosts lost the ability to use "Microsoft Print to PDF", "Windows XPS Document Writer" and even "Some Proprietary PDF Printer".

Why this Post was created
In all the posts on this forum, troubleshooting was only described for Windows 10. The core problem that PDF printers no longer work at all was also deviated from and the procedure only explained for "Microsoft Print to PDF". Because of that, i created this Post.

Affected System
OS: Windows Server 2016 (Build 14393.4583)

My Request
I ask for technical support. All methods that can be found in articles that have been clicked through after 5 hours of research do not need to be listed here, as they deal with a different topic.

Kind Regards
Andy Michel

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out.

I would suggest to check printer Spooler service is running or not and it does not crashed or stopped.

Also please Windows event viewer if you can find any clue related to Print Spooler service.

Other note, It may be due to recent patches installed or may be due to printer nightmare hotfix.

There is similar thread discussed the same issue which can be helpful in your case.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/374186/microsoft-print-to-pdf-amp-xps-document-writer-mis.html

Thank you,

Answer 2

Hi

In your Remote Desktop Session Hosts can you enumerate the print drivers that is present ? To see it click on a printer, and in the top bar you will see print server property.

You fail to tell us if the user can still see those printer in their session, please share more input on the problem.

If the driver is not present please reinstlal it, and if the users can't see the printqueue, make sure the printer is there, installed on a local port, and that the security on it is set for them to use it.

Thanks