Widespread Printer Bug caused by Windows Store!

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[Intrepid]

Widespread Printer Bug caused by Windows Store. This is affecting just about all of my clients. Thankfully, printing is unaffected but double-clicking on a printer is broken.
Details: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-confirms-windows-bug-renames-printers-to-hp-laserjet-m101-m106/

See Screenshot below.

 

 

 

• This topic was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Intrepid.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Intrepid.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Intrepid.

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Rob Kay

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Printer names and icons might be changed and HP Smart app automatically installs

Status Investigating

Affected platforms Client Versions Message ID Originating KB Resolved KB Windows 11, version 23H2 WI695523 – – Windows 11, version 22H2 WI695524 – – Windows 11, version 21H2 WI695525 – – Windows 10, version 22H2 WI695526 – – Windows 10, version 21H2 WI695527 – – Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 WI695529 – – Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016 WI695530 – – Windows 10, version 1607 WI695530 – – Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB WI695531 – – Server Versions Message ID Originating KB Resolved KB Windows Server 2022 WI695528 – – Windows Server, version 1809 WI695529 – – Windows Server 2019 WI695529 – – Windows Server 2016 WI695530 – – Windows Server 2012 R2 WI695532 – – Windows Server 2012 WI695533 – –

Some issues related to printer configurations are being observed on Windows devices which have access to the Microsoft Store. Microsoft is investigating this issue and coordinating with partners on a solution. Symptoms can include the following: Some Windows 10 and Windows11 devices are installing the HP Smart App. Printers are renamed as HP printers regardless of their manufacturer. Most are being named as the HP LaserJet M101-M106 model. Printer icons might also be changed. Double clicking on a printer displays the on-screen error “No tasks are available for this page”. Note: Printing processes are not expected to be affected by this issue. It should be possible to queue printing jobs as usual, as well as other features such as copying or scanning. Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations. As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue. Next steps: We are investigating this issue and will provide an update when more information is available.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Intrepid

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If I disable the Micrososft Store from running in the background in Settings, will I be safe from this bug? Many thanks!

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Susan Bradley wrote:

Status
Investigating

Those Adminportal Message ID links only work with a work or school account.

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Then what is the easiest way to block access to the Microsoft Store?

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Settings within the Microsoft Store app, after clicking on your account profile icon:

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No, I’ve done it………………..I didn’t realise you had to type Microsoft Store into the search bar to open the app and access the settings. Also found an account icon I didn’t even know about! I have turned off updates, so should I be pretty bug-proof now? Many thanks again for your help.

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b

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I don’t have an account profile icon; my desktop P.C. is not set up with a Microsoft Account and I am the only user/administrator. Attached are the only permissions I can find in my Microsoft Store app. Many thanks.

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The Surfing Pensioner wrote:

Then what is the easiest way to block access to the Microsoft Store?

To the right of the search bar is your profile

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THIS is my profile? Really?

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The important detail Alex left out is, it’s to the right of the search bar at the “top” of the MS Store app itself like this.

Click on it, select Settings, and the first item in the list is the setting for auto-update apps that needs to be turned off..

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NaNoNyMouse, Alex5723

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Yes, I’ve managed to turn off updates for Microsoft Store, many thanks. But I had assumed Alex was referring to the search bar on my desktop! Thanks for explaining.

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This discussion prompted me to look for the HP Smart app.  I found that it was installed on 8/21/23.  I don’t understand how it got installed considering that I login with a local account and the Microsoft Store app shows that I am not signed in.

Printing to my two printers (one HP, one Brother) has not been affected.  Double clicks on printer icons work as expected.  Is uninstalling the HP Smart app the smart thing to do at this point?

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The store does not require a login or MS account to  update or install apps without your consent.  Works similar to Windows update without the prompts.  You would need to disable store updates (see n0ads post above)  and even then I don’t know if that would have prevented this bug.

 

 

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Intrepid wrote:

You would need to disable store updates (see n0ads post above)  and even then I don’t know if that would have prevented this bug.

It will. No Store updates after setting to disable.

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Just for additional information, this is not limited to systems with the Microsoft Store. It’s either contagious, or has another vector. I have a print server and a domain controller with the issue, and both are 2012 R2.

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Microsoft fixes Windows printer issues with new troubleshooter
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-fixes-windows-printer-issues-with-new-troubleshooter/

Overly complicated nonsense for most users. This should have been released as a KIR (Known Issue Rollback) or incorporated into an Out of Band Windows update. Usual MS incompetence.

I ran the tool and rebooted. If then took an hour for the fixes to be implemented. Before that time, all printer icons and names were missing – don’t panic, just wait.
Note: This fix is mostly a cosmetic fix as the original bug did not prevent the printers from printing. Although it did break double-clicking on them – right click still worked.

Update: Double clicking still broken when using the legacy Control Panel “Devices and Printers”. Also, some printers are using generic Windows printer icons. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝. The cosmetic model name was fixed in the printer info bar though.

Tool Info: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=105763

KB: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5034510-microsoft-printer-metadata-troubleshooter-tool-december-2023-b3197f24-fd25-430d-96d2-70f2044ce6a1

Observation:  This will never really be completely fixed without removing and reinstalling the printers (in some cases, this must be done in Device Manager).

 

 

 

 

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Yea, it was not a nice “fixit” but more of a “itscomplicatedit”

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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