Unable to create print job

Or similar.

It seems to be widespread on the 1903 version, in particular KB4522016.

I have an acquaintance with the problem, which does not occur on my two laptops thank goodness. She has an HP something or other, AMD 64-bit processor.

I�ve done the things recommended by several googled results but no improvement. Stopping the print spooler (which I did through Task Manager) and clearing the spool folder, that sort of thing. Printer drivers replaced. Even Print a test page doesn�t work, with the same error.

I got the above KB number last night from this Forbes article. I found the referenced Microsoft Update Catalogue but am completely out of my depth looking at it.

Can anyone help please? I assume the fix is in that catalogue, but no idea which or how to find it. Then, obviously I know how to download it, but is there anything I need to know to install it. I�m used to selecting what I want or not from Windows update lists of what has auto-downloaded, but have never done this sort of thing.

I�m seeing her this afternoon.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 28-Nov-19 10:21:07)

I'm not familiar with the issue but you might as well install Windows 10 1909 on it and see if it helps.

Thanks, but I wouldn�t have a clue how to find that either, as I gather it�s a Developer/Insider pre-release version so I daren�t install that on hers.

Even if I had access to it. It�s years since I was a registered �anything� with Microsoft. Plus, I had read about it existing but also some scares about it in its current state. Such as breaking File Explorer.

I see in the results of that search that I might be able to install it, but no way can I risk it. The laptop is used for serious business.

So far I�ve provided her with a 32GB card so she can copy anything she needs to print onto the local machine that is running Win 7 and has no problem. What she will do at other sites if their machine has the same problem I don�t know. That�s another reason it needs fixing on hers .

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Thanks, but I wouldn�t have a clue how to find that either, as I gather it�s a Developer/Insider pre-release version so I daren�t install that on hers.

1909 is in General Availability, it will most likely be showing in Windows Update, you just have to click Install there. It's very possible the update for the print spooler is included within it without having to download manually from the Catalog. It's also much quicker to install than previous Feature Updates.

Personally I would do it, I've had no issues with 1909 here.

It might be a sledgehammer to crack the nut, but after all else had failed, my approach would be to make a clean start with Windows that's if time allows.

Thanks, but that would indeed be a sledgehammer .

It is simply a known Windows bug in version 1903, but doesn't affect all machines that are running it. Apparently fixed by Microsoft by something released just before 3 October according to the Forbes article I linked to. Also expected to be sorted out in version 1909, which Oliver suggested.

I've just checked this laptop "Windows update" and 1909 is showing as available for me.

I spoke with the person with the problem earlier this afternoon about that upgrade, and just at the moment it is out of the question. There is an awful lot on the machine and I would need to sort out a full backup etc. She also said that the upgrade to 1903 really worried her as it took an age to start up. (I didn't get the detail but I expect it was we would see as a "normal" long-running upgrade).

She is really busy at the moment, with the computer being heavily used. There is no way. (I do know what she is doing). She has successfully already copied files to print using the SD-type card and succeeded in printing what she needs and can manage with doing the same when necessary for a while.

Once the current job is done she will probably be able to get it upgraded to 1909.

Thanks for your help too Oliver.

As you can see, for now it's going on the back burner as transferring files by the "SD" card is working fine to print using a working computer. It can be sorted properly once the pressure is off.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Thanks for your help too Oliver.

No problem, hope she manages to sort it out without having to go down the "Reset this PC" route, although it's not a bad thing to do occasionally provided one has plenty of time (and patience!) to reinstall all the software and such.

I'm well out of it! When it comes to be done it won't be my problem.

She is a straightforward non-techie user. I was surprised to find she knew about the "Safe eject" of plugged in stuff.

My PC upgraded to 1909 a few weeks ago and it was painless and a lot quicker than all the previous upgrades. Hopefully that will be the same for your friend too.

Edit: Had issues with printing for some time now myself, just checked and mines now working again

Edited by deleted (Fri 29-Nov-19 11:05:03)

Thanks for the edit. That sounds like just what we need to know.

Was it the same sort of problem though? Just no printing at all. Not even a test print?

I�ll give her the good news, but she still won�t be doing it. I think I probably would if it was my machine here, but I understand why she won�t want to. If it went wrong for any reason, she would be out of a job. Seriously.

If I was doing her job, I wouldn�t do the upgrade either until the immediate project was complete.

I would guess you've advised much the same as I'm thinking - mission critical hardware that is tottering along on a workaround means it's time to buy a new PC and get it all setup and working reliably then sort the old one out and keep it as a reserve. Can't beat peace of mind 8^)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Was it the same sort of problem though? Just no printing at all. Not even a test print?

Sounds like the same issue to me but I can't be 100% sure but I'm optimistic it is, it use to printer OK but stopped some time ago, no even a test print would work. I did all the usual stuff like uninstalling/reinstalling the printer drivers including switching from using IPv6 to IPv4 to target the printer without any luck. I ended up giving up and started printing from the wife's PC as that continued to work.

Yes, deft. That is exactly the problem.

There is nothing �tottering along� though. It is purely and simply a bug in 1903, affecting a lot of users worldwide.

There is a known patch according to the Forbes article but nowhere could I find where it is. I could have contacted Forbes and asked them but might not have got a useful reply as I would have expected them to specify it in the article if they knew.

We can also be fairly sure that the 1909 update cures it.

It�s all out of my hands anyway. She isn�t a client, and her employer has an IT department. Which as is frequently the case is not actually as technically competent as most on this site, never mind this specialist forum.

The printer itself was having paper feed problems when printing from the office tower computer even before I got involved. The printer engineer summoned had tried to fix it the paper feed and this problem with the laptop. He failed on both counts, having contacted his firm�s IT staff about the laptop issue

Then I sorted it after a while so the laptop was seeing the printer in that it was correctly reporting its status and toner levels.

Printer even worse with paper feed problems so another printer �engineer� was called out in my absence. Apparently there for a couple of hours taking instructions over the phone re the laptop, but failing.

I go in after starting this thread and hoping I would get a reply from here and another source as to where the fix is, and discover the second engineer had installed the printer twice more, leaving mine, a -2 and a -3, all of which had exactly the same drivers and settings as mine, which are exactly the same settings as those I copied from the main machine that prints!

At that point I started a gentle backing out of the issue yesterday. Citing �too many cooks�. Senior staff in the particular office, where this person is being sent to by Head Office are totally IT clueless, so of course a professional �engineer� fixing a printer and being advised by his IT department are going to be preferring that route. Thus (understandably) absolving themselves from all responsibility.

The last things I know that the printer engineer told them was that the paper feed problem was because the paper was damp, because when jammed sheets were removed from the laser printer rollers they were curved, (I had to stifle laughing out loud and keep a nearly straight face), and the IT department had suggested disabling the anti-virus system on the laptop to see if that cured its problem.

Ahh... Corporate IT Dept - the bane of my life when I was still working.

As you say you're as well out of it 8^)

Exactly .

I shall probably see her next week and pass on the good news about 1909, and how to get to it in settings. I expect she knows that much, as she is far from stupid. She can navigate reasonably well through other settings.

If I don't then I'll text her.