This is the problem:
This reg key: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata\DeviceMetaDataServiceURL
Points to this URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=252669&clcid=0x409Which then redirects to this URL: https://devicemetadataservice.trafficmanager.net/dms/metadata.svc
The 2nd URL is broken and this has happened many times before, going all the way back to Windows 7 in 2015.
Microsoft needs to fix this. It has been noticed in Germany that it started happening after installation of the 2023-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5032288) and the 2023-11 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5032189). Don't know about Windows 8.1. Windows 7 systems are EOL and get no patches without an extended license.
In addition to the following regedit changes, the Metadata Staging (used for many things, not just print queues) can also be disabled by going into Windows Settings, then select System, then select About (lower left), then Advanced System Settings (on the right-side), then select the Hardware tab, then click the Device Installation Settings button. In the popup box that appears, you can change it from YES (recommended) to NO (your device might not work as expected).
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Device Metadata]
"PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Device Metadata]
"PreventDeviceMetadataFromNetwork"=dword:00000001
Now I don't know about you but, for me, I would prefer that Microsoft gets off its behind and fixes the URL, once again... Then I can expect my device to work "as expected"). Capiche?!?
Changing the regkey or changing the system setting are both quick fixes and they are NOT acceptable options to me...