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Cannot connect to any shared printers from some Windows 10 workstations

Darrell Graham 101 Reputation points
2020-10-29T23:14:51.077+00:00

Hello,

We have a Windows domain with about 3000 endpoints, all running Windows 10 version 1909. One week ago users started to report that they cannot print to any device shared from any print server. They also cannot install any new printers from any print server regardless of the printer manufacturer or model. If a tech logs into the computer under a different profile, they also cannot install any printers from any print server. However, if we assign the affected end user to a new computer they can install printers just fine. The problem does not follow the user. Oddly this doesn't seem to affect everyone at the same time. We are getting 2-10 callers per day.

Most users are working just fine with no issues. They can install and use printers from both print servers. We have two, one running Server 2016 and another running Server 2019. The issue seems to be isolated to these workstations. The issue appeared exactly 7 days ago, but no updates, security patches or new software were installed immediately prior to the start of the problem. I have reviewed change logs and no changes were made to the network or domain either.

So far the only solution we have found is to reinstall the operating system. There are no log files for these events on either the client or the print server. We tried removing the computer form the domain and rejoining and removing all printers and drivers. Wireshark doesn't show any issues with communication to the print server. We can clearly see the client send an OpenPrinterEx request, it gets the expected response from the server, and then the client inexplicably sends a ClosePrinter Request. The client and the server repeat this several times before it fails.

The errors we receive pop-up almost instantaneously.
When browsing to the print server by using the UNC path \PrintServer, then right-click-> Connect on the desired printer we get the error: Windows couldn't connect to the printer. Check the printer name and try again. If this is a network printer, make sure the printer is turned on, and that the printer address is correct.

36110-capture1.png

When attempting to install by opening Printers and scanners and selecting "Add a printer or scanner", we get the error: We can't install this printer right now. Try again later or contact your network administrator for help. The Error #14 doesn't seem to be valid error that I can find?

36191-capture2.png

We are baffled and would appreciate any assistance.

Thank you

Windows Server Printing
Windows Server Printing
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Printing: Printer centralized deployment and management, scan and fax resources management, and document services
648 questions
Accepted answer
  1. Darrell Graham 101 Reputation points
    2020-11-25T02:05:57.437+00:00

    We finally figured this out. There was an update (KB4052623) that fixed the inability to add printers. Impacted machines must have missed previous version updates, for whatever reason and were failing with the below error on the MpPrintFlt.dll in System32. Updating Defender to the latest platform version (4.18.2010.7) solved the issue.

    42309-error.png

19 additional answers

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  1. Dr. Aries Singularity 1 Reputation point
    2021-09-18T17:43:19.777+00:00

    Been trying to figure that one out for the last 3-4 weeks...........

    Yesterday I added the user account of each PC in the network that needed to access the shared printer to the PC where the "shared printer" is actually USB-ed and BOOM - Connect.

    Do it mean what I think it means??!! I've spent more hours, days and weeks of my life that I will never get back trying to figure out why Microsoft updated something that clobbered a printer.

    FYI -- I've pretty much switched to Brother printers and quit using HP after 20+ years. HP has some real problems that they don't tell the user about. Brother printers tend to just install and work.

    Try the adding a user account the the shared printer PC and let me know the results.

  2. Donavin Fourten 191 Reputation points
    2021-10-21T14:31:40.47+00:00

    I am still having this issue, replaced all existing windows 7 computers with new clean / updated windows 10 computes, NONE of the windows 10 computer can connect to the dymo label maker 450 shared on workstation "A" all windows 10 computers get the can not connect to printer error seen above. THe SEVER CAN connect and print to it.. if I take a windows 7 laptop onto the network it can connect and print, I have already looked at the workgroup settings making sure they are set to "Private" on all pcs, i have checked the firewalls to make sure file an print sharing are enabled, ( as well as all print options in the firewalls) i have tired all reg edits found on the internet, I have disabled tcp IP v 6 as suggested in some fixes....

    I hear that this is and issue caused by an update, and then fixed by another.. all computers have the lasted updates and still cant connect to shared network printers...

    any ideas?

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  3. Christopher Phillips 1 Reputation point
    2021-10-27T07:44:01.713+00:00

    uninstalling KB5006670 on the Win10 boxes
    Yes this fixed the problem. Took me 4 days to get this sorted.

    Also shown and discussed in this video
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSL73_euJvg

    I should add though that I wasn't able to navigate the network share I had to type the path\printer name
    \TomsMachine\TomsPrinter

  4. Sanjay 6 Reputation points
    2021-10-30T13:49:15.267+00:00

    Nothing is working for me though. Network Printer is visible to Add Printer. But it just would not connect to it. All sharing options are as it is.

    System Update history informs both KB5005565 and KB5006670 have been successfully installed. But I can't see them anywhere when I go to Uninstall panel.

    Hope anyone can help please.