People like me are always banging on about how you should update things. In fact, the last time I talked about how you should Update Windows regularly was only a couple of days ago.
Whilst it is sound advice – after all, you do want to protect yourself from all the cyber nasties out there – it doesn’t mean that it’s always without incident.
Traditionally, you could trust the bigger software companies. Or maybe we’re just more aware nowadays? Anyway, the latest big Windows update – sexily named version 1903 – has a big ol’ printing problem.
If you don’t print, you can breathe a sigh of relief at this point. If you do, read on.
Why Did They Release a Broken Update?
Well, I’m sure they didn’t mean too but, nevertheless, even the best quality assurance processes can fall down.
Former Microsoft employee Jerry probably disagrees though:
Anyway, either way, mistake or recklessness, it’s no good.
Basically they rushed to patch a security vulnerability (good) and in the process kinda broke the print spooler (bad). Well broke it some of the time anyway.
What Do Microsoft Say?
Keep calm and carry on – their devs are busy working on the next update a new update has fixed it. Upgrade now!
Describing the problem:
Intermittent issues when printing
The print spooler service may intermittently have issues completing a print job and may result in a print job being canceled or failing. Some apps may close or error when the print spooler fails and you may receive a remote procedure call error (RPC error) from some printing utility or printing apps.
Microsoft
Affected Versions
Client: Windows 10, version 1903; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10, version 1803; Windows 10, version 1709; Windows 10, version 1703; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016; Windows 10, version 1607; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2015; Windows 8.1; Windows 7 SP1
Microsoft
Server: Windows Server, version 1903; Windows Server, version 1809; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server, version 1803; Windows Server, version 1709 ; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1; Windows Server 2008 SP2
Or, to put it more succinctly, ‘the later versions of Windows’.