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Windows 10 still has its share of bugs and breaks with each new update, with the latest update released on June 28, 2022, breaking USB printer functionality.
According to Microsoft, there are two main symptoms of this Windows 10 bug: âWindows might show duplicate copies of printers installed on a device, commonly with a similar name and the suffix âCopy1ââ and âApplications that refer to the printer by a specific name cannot print.â
The problem is being worked on for a future update, so for now the company has provided users with several workarounds until then, as well as a way to report the problem to Microsoft to help speed up a fix for the issue. If youâre one of the many Windows 10 holdouts and your printer has suddenly stopped working after an update, you can submit your issue to the company by doing the following:
[ul]
[li]Launch Feedback Hub by opening the Start menu and typing âFeedback hubâ, or pressing the Windows key + F [/li][li]Fill in the âSummarize your feedbackâ and âExplain in more detailâ boxes, then click Next. [/li][li]Under the âChoose a categoryâ section, ensure the âProblemâ button, âDevices and Driversâ category, and âPrintâ subcategory are all selected. Click Next. [/li][li]Under the âFind similar feedbackâ section, select the âMake new bugâ radio button and click Next. [/li][li]Under the âAdd more detailsâ section, supply any relevant detail (Note this is not critical to addressing your issue). [/li][li]Expand the âRecreate my problemâ box and press âStart recordingâ. Reproduce the issue on your device. [/li][li]Press âStop recordingâ once finished. Click the âSubmitâ button. [/li][/ul]
There are also these workarounds that might help resolve the issue:
[ul]
[li]Open the Settings app, navigate to âBluetooth & devicesâ, and select âPrinters & scannersâ [/li][li]If there appears to be a duplicate installation of an existing printer, such as with suffix âCopy1â, confirm if printing works for this printer. This printer should operate as expected. [/li][li]If there is a need to use the original printer installation and not the duplicate, right-click the duplicate printer, select âPrinter propertiesâ and select the âPortsâ tab. Observe the port in use. [/li][li]Open âPrinter propertiesâ on the original printer and select the âPortsâ tab. From the list displayed, select the port option in use by the duplicate printer. If this original printer works normally, the duplicate copy printer can be removed. [/li][/ul]
And if the above doesnât work, then the following steps can be taken instead:
[ul]
[li]Update the print driver for your device. For guidance, see Install the latest driver for your printer. [/li][li]If you already have the latest driver, consult the printer Manufacturerâs website for any device firmware updates [/li][li]If you are still having issues, uninstalling and reinstalling your printer might help. [/li][li]Turn off your printer and disconnect any cables[/li][li]Open the Settings app, navigate to âBluetooth & devicesâ, and select âPrinters & scannersâ [/li][li]Select the affected printer and select the âRemove Deviceâ option[/li][li]Restart your device[/li][li]Turn on your printer and reconnect it to your device[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=1]Analysis: Windows 11 isnât the only OS plagued with issues [/HEADING]
Though this latest problem is annoying, it isnât Windows 10âs first rodeo into update bugs breaking basic features. In May, Microsoft had to release a patch to fix a bug that was caused by a previous patch fixing a whole different issue. A sort of patch inception it would seem.
There was also an update released in May that fixed a Bluetooth bug causing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death on some PCs. And there was also a string of ransomware attacks disguised as Windows 10 updates, which spread the Magniber ransomware strain. And these are only the most recent issues.
Even though Windows 11 problems get a lot of press, Windows 10 problems have a long history full of bugs, weaknesses, and feature breaking updates. So before you berate Microsoftâs latest OS, remember that its problems are a legacy issue.
Continue readingâŚ
According to Microsoft, there are two main symptoms of this Windows 10 bug: âWindows might show duplicate copies of printers installed on a device, commonly with a similar name and the suffix âCopy1ââ and âApplications that refer to the printer by a specific name cannot print.â
The problem is being worked on for a future update, so for now the company has provided users with several workarounds until then, as well as a way to report the problem to Microsoft to help speed up a fix for the issue. If youâre one of the many Windows 10 holdouts and your printer has suddenly stopped working after an update, you can submit your issue to the company by doing the following:
[ul]
[li]Launch Feedback Hub by opening the Start menu and typing âFeedback hubâ, or pressing the Windows key + F [/li][li]Fill in the âSummarize your feedbackâ and âExplain in more detailâ boxes, then click Next. [/li][li]Under the âChoose a categoryâ section, ensure the âProblemâ button, âDevices and Driversâ category, and âPrintâ subcategory are all selected. Click Next. [/li][li]Under the âFind similar feedbackâ section, select the âMake new bugâ radio button and click Next. [/li][li]Under the âAdd more detailsâ section, supply any relevant detail (Note this is not critical to addressing your issue). [/li][li]Expand the âRecreate my problemâ box and press âStart recordingâ. Reproduce the issue on your device. [/li][li]Press âStop recordingâ once finished. Click the âSubmitâ button. [/li][/ul]
There are also these workarounds that might help resolve the issue:
[ul]
[li]Open the Settings app, navigate to âBluetooth & devicesâ, and select âPrinters & scannersâ [/li][li]If there appears to be a duplicate installation of an existing printer, such as with suffix âCopy1â, confirm if printing works for this printer. This printer should operate as expected. [/li][li]If there is a need to use the original printer installation and not the duplicate, right-click the duplicate printer, select âPrinter propertiesâ and select the âPortsâ tab. Observe the port in use. [/li][li]Open âPrinter propertiesâ on the original printer and select the âPortsâ tab. From the list displayed, select the port option in use by the duplicate printer. If this original printer works normally, the duplicate copy printer can be removed. [/li][/ul]
And if the above doesnât work, then the following steps can be taken instead:
[ul]
[li]Update the print driver for your device. For guidance, see Install the latest driver for your printer. [/li][li]If you already have the latest driver, consult the printer Manufacturerâs website for any device firmware updates [/li][li]If you are still having issues, uninstalling and reinstalling your printer might help. [/li][li]Turn off your printer and disconnect any cables[/li][li]Open the Settings app, navigate to âBluetooth & devicesâ, and select âPrinters & scannersâ [/li][li]Select the affected printer and select the âRemove Deviceâ option[/li][li]Restart your device[/li][li]Turn on your printer and reconnect it to your device[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=1]Analysis: Windows 11 isnât the only OS plagued with issues [/HEADING]
Though this latest problem is annoying, it isnât Windows 10âs first rodeo into update bugs breaking basic features. In May, Microsoft had to release a patch to fix a bug that was caused by a previous patch fixing a whole different issue. A sort of patch inception it would seem.
There was also an update released in May that fixed a Bluetooth bug causing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death on some PCs. And there was also a string of ransomware attacks disguised as Windows 10 updates, which spread the Magniber ransomware strain. And these are only the most recent issues.
Even though Windows 11 problems get a lot of press, Windows 10 problems have a long history full of bugs, weaknesses, and feature breaking updates. So before you berate Microsoftâs latest OS, remember that its problems are a legacy issue.
Continue readingâŚ