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Waiting for printer connection

Anonymous
2023-12-14T05:51:25+00:00

“Waiting for printer connection” pop up started coming up a couple of weeks ago and has been causing multiple issues.

Excel and Word randomly do not open, and then when I open the program again it tells me the file is already in use yet nothing is open. Task manager shows nothing open or running. I have to restart my computer each time to use the document or workbook and I sometimes I need to do this more than once before it will decide to randomly work.

I cannot print new documents or workbooks, it becomes unresponsive and then the program has to close. I can only print from saved documents, which o can’t always open!

MYOB cannot print now, I have to save as a pdf and then print. I know MYOB isn’t “Microsoft” but this only started when this pop up started. I have never experienced this issue before.

This is happening on all four computers and started at the exact same time.

I have tried turning off all network sharing connections and still no change.

This is really impacting my day to day operations ans these programs are all I use. It causing a significant loss of time.

Can someone please help?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-11-13T21:09:52+00:00

    You did both of the following:

    1. Turned off the "Allow Windows to manage my default printer" setting?
      and
    2. Switched your "default" printer back to your regular printer from the PDF printer after switching "Microsoft Print to PDF"?

    Because from your description is seems like one of the settings is still forcing it to go to PDF. You don't have 2 instances of your printer driver installed by any chance do you?
    If both of those points have been addressed and you've confirmed your printer is online (which it would be if you are able to print the PDF's there) and there's only one instance of your printer and you can categorically confirm that when you print from word the correct printer is selected in the print dialogue, then I suspect you have a printer driver problem and may need to reinstall the driver.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-19T23:29:05+00:00

    HALLELUJAH!!

    I have been SO frustrated for the last two weeks and followed what you did- and it worked like a charm! I can finally save things to a PDF for the first time in three weeks!!!

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-19T21:36:30+00:00

    Thank you for your solution. For good measure, I restarted before adding my printer back in. It worked.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-08T08:24:58+00:00

    Yes it still happens after running your test?

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  5. Sumit D - IA 167K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-12-14T06:23:24+00:00

    Hi Kel,

    I'm Sumit, here to answer your query at the Microsoft Community.

    I see some reports on Reddit related to the same issue. I wonder if it is due to updates.

    Does the issue persist in a clean boot state?

    Type “msconfig” (without quotes) and press Enter.

    In the System Configuration window, select the Services tab.

    Check the box next to “Hide all Microsoft services”. Ensure you do it carefully, and not disable all Microsoft services.

    Click on “Disable all”.

    Select the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager”.

    In the Task Manager window, select each startup item and click on “Disable”.

    Close Task Manager and click on OK in the System Configuration window.

    Restart your computer.

    More details: https://aka.ms/wincleanboot

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