Cannot enable Microsoft Print to PDF once it is disabled

Question

I used the following command to find the feature name and the second one (Powershell) to disable Microsoft Print to PDF, and the third one to re-enable it.

DISM /online /get-features /format:table | find "Disabled"

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Microsoft-Windows-Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Package"

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "Microsoft-Windows-Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Package"

The disable command works perfectly, however, I get the following message when trying to enable it.

"enable-windowsoptionalfeature : One of several parent features are disabled so current feature can not be enabled." (See Screenshot)

Secondly, I try to enable the feature through "Turn Windows features On or Off" but it can't be found. (See screenshot)

I have researched this for several hours now and the only information I can find is how to add the printer back through Programs and Features. I would appreciate all help resolving this problem.

Answer 1

Hello

My name is Alberto, I am an Independent Advisor. Thank you for posting your question. I'll be happy to help.

Please check this link over there you will see your solution:

Press Windows Key + S and enter windows features. ...

When Windows Features window opens, locate Microsoft Print to PDF and disable it. ...

Restart your PC.

When the PC restarts, repeat the same steps and enable Microsoft Print to PDF again.

Click OK to save changes.

For more info, please check this link:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

Answer 2

Hi Joe

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

Not seeing your screenshots.

See if you can add it back as an optional feature in Settings.

Click Start > Settings > Apps > Manage optional features

Click Add a feature

Scroll through the list and see if its listed there.

If not, try adding it through PowerShell from within the built in Admin account.

Open Start

Type: cmd

Right click CMD

Click Run as administrator

At the command prompt, type:

net user administrator /active:yes

Hit Enter

Close command prompt, restart, then try signing into the Administrator account.

If that does not work, try performing a repair upgrade:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...

Answer 3

Hi Alberto,

Thanks for replying. Your solution doesn't help me because, as I stated in my question, Microsoft Print to PDF is not there to enable or disable.

Answer 4

Hi Andre,

Thank you for your response. I tried your suggestion and that didn't work. When I tried to add a new feature through "Apps" there wasn't any features available. I cannot do a repair upgrade because we image with SCCM and we are in a VM environment. I'm testing this on a scrap vm so I can delete it and start over if need be. I need to be able to re-enable Microsoft Print to PDF just in case we have users with problems after we push the image out with that option being disabled. Any suggestions as to how to disable and reenable via a PS script, .bat file, or in the registry?

Answer 5

Hi,

Please check this one:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/35650-turn-...

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