Microsoft Print to PDF & XPS Document Writer Missing & Won't Reinstall

Question

One of our machines has lost the Microsoft Print to PDF and Microsoft XPS Document Writer. I have tried the following remedies to fix this issues but nothing seems to work:

1. Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF using “Windows Features” (fails with 0x7 code if print spooler is active, completes if print spooler is stopped)

Microsoft Print to PDF
Microsoft XPS Document Writer

1. Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF Using Devices and Printers, Add Printer (fails with element not found error when selecting driver and next)
2. Reinstall Microsoft Print to PDF Using DISM
3. repair install windows keeping apps & files
4. tried running sfc /scannow & all dsim tools

Any other ideas on how to resolve this issue or do I just need to format the disk and reinstall from scratch?

PS: Windows 10 Pro is the latest 20H2 version from Oct 2020. Not sure when these printers disappeared. They aren't used too often on this system.

Answer 1

Hi, For better clarity and to assist you better I would require more information regarding this: 1. Please run the command get-hotfix via PowerShell on the faulty win10 to see if there is an update installed recently? 2. Have you recently upgraded from a lower version of Windows 10 to 20H2? For now, please compare the drive folder permissions and drive file content of Microsoft Print to PDF and XPS Document Writer in your machines and whether these is the same as the normal Windows10 20H2 based on the figure below. ![92142-case1.jpg][1] ![92172-case2.jpg][2] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnms009.inf_amd64_a7412a554c9bc1fd ![92153-case3.jpg][3] ![![92143-case4.jpg][4]] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnms001.inf_amd64_8bc1bda6cf47380c ![92135-case5.jpg][5] ![92134-case6.jpg][6] Looking forward your reply. Best Regards [1]: /api/attachments/92142-case1.jpg?platform=QnA [2]: /api/attachments/92172-case2.jpg?platform=QnA [3]: /api/attachments/92153-case3.jpg?platform=QnA [4]: /api/attachments/92144-case4.jpg?platform=QnA [5]: /api/attachments/92135-case5.jpg?platform=QnA [6]: /api/attachments/92134-case6.jpg?platform=QnA

Answer 2

1. PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> get-hotfix

Source Description HotFixID InstalledBy InstalledOn

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GNHFC42-05... Update KB4601050 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 4/27/2021 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Update KB4562830 11/19/2020 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Security Update KB4570334 11/18/2020 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Security Update KB4580325 11/19/2020 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Security Update KB4586864 11/19/2020 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Security Update KB5001330 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 4/27/2021 12:00:00 AM
GNHFC42-05... Security Update KB5001405 NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM 4/27/2021 12:00:00 AM

2. The 20H2 upgrade was done a while ago. Not sure exactly when it was installed.
3. When looking at control panel > devices & printers > Microsoft Print To PDF & XPS Document Writers are NOT listed. If I view the print server properties Print to PDF is NOT listed but XPS Document Writer is listed.
4. Comparing the XPS folder permissions to the provided looks the same on my end as you have shown.

Answer 3

Hi， Thank you for waiting. Well, is there a working fine win10 (20H2) computer in your work station? - If so, please completeness check whether the files and their sub-files in the following path are the same as those displayed in a working fine win10 (20H2) computer? Microsoft print to pdf C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-printing-printtopdf_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.1_none_382102bfe5e97ed1 ![95217-image.png][1] Microsoft xps docuemt writer C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-printing-xpsprint_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.488_none_8973292870393f12 ![95249-image.png][2] ![95218-image.png][3] ![95234-image.png][4] Microsoft print to pdf C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnms009.inf_amd64_a7412a554c9bc1fd xp docuemt writer C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnms001.inf_amd64_8bc1bda6cf47380c - Does the portprompt in ports point to microsoft xp document writer,microsoft print to pdf/text only? ![95293-print.png][5] - Please confirm that Microsoft print to pdf and Microsoft xps docuemt writer drivers display in the list. ![![95236-print2.png][6]][7] - Please confirm that Microsoft print to pdf print and Microsoft xps document writer print registry and its subkeys in the following path are the same as those displayed in a working fine win10 (20H2) computer? Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\Microsoft Print to PDF ![95237-r1.png][8] Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\Microsoft XPS Document Writer ![![95179-r2.png][9] - Please confirm that driver files Microsoft print to pdf and Microsoft xps document writer registry and its subkeys in the following path are the same as those displayed in a working fine win10 (20H2) computer? Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-4\Microsoft Print To PDF ![95323-r3.png][11] Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-4\Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 ![![95228-r4.png][12] Looking forward your reply. Best regards [1]: /api/attachments/95217-image.png?platform=QnA [2]: /api/attachments/95249-image.png?platform=QnA [3]: /api/attachments/95218-image.png?platform=QnA [4]: /api/attachments/95234-image.png?platform=QnA [5]: /api/attachments/95293-print.png?platform=QnA [6]: /api/attachments/95312-print2.png?platform=QnA [7]: /api/attachments/95312-print2.png?platform=QnA [8]: /api/attachments/95237-r1.png?platform=QnA [9]: /api/attachments/95313-r2.png?platform=QnA [10]: /api/attachments/95313-r2.png?platform=QnA [11]: /api/attachments/95323-r3.png?platform=QnA [12]: /api/attachments/95273-r4.png?platform=QnA

Answer 4

The first set of folders/files all check out and look the same on this machine as does a working Print to PDF/XPS Document writer on my main system.

Looking at the print server properties, I see portprompt listed but a printer is NOT listed next to it.

Looking at the driver tab, I see an "Microsoft XPS Class Driver, Type 4" & a "Microsoft XPS Document Writer V4, type 4". I don't see Microsoft Print to PDF.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\
My known good machine shows the registry keys, the non-working machine does not show a folder for "Microsoft Print to PDF" or "XPS Document Writer"

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-4\
My known good machine shows the registry key, the non-working machine does not show a folder for "Microsoft Print to PDF"

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows x64\Drivers\Version-4\Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4
My known good machine shows the registry key, the non-working machine does show the folder for "Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4" & has lots of keys inside

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So, it looks like we need to repair all the reg keys and then somehow repair the printers??

Thanks,
Clif

Answer 5

Thanks, I'll await your response.