Microsoft marks latest Windows printing issue as resolved (KB5005033)

Microsoft has recognized another problem with printing on Windows. After installing the August 2021 hotfixes for Windows, for example KB5005033 or KB5005031, some users noticed that printing caused problems on these devices.

According to Microsoft’s description, the affected printers used Point and Print in certain environments. These would throw the “Trust this printer” error message on any print job started from the affected device. Users were prompted to enter their administrative credentials each time an application attempted to print or a print client connected to the print server.

Microsoft’s analysis of the problem concluded that the problem is caused by a file name conflict.

This is due to a print driver on the print client and the print server using the same file name, but the server has a newer version of the file. When the print client connects to the print server, it finds a newer driver file and is prompted to update the drivers on the print client, but the package file offered for installation does not. not include the latest version of the file.

Microsoft suggests that affected customers install the latest drivers on all printing devices to resolve the issue and to ensure, “where possible,” that they use the same version of the print driver on the clients. print and print servers.

The issue affects all major versions of Windows supported by Microsoft.

Client: Windows 10, version 21H1; Windows 10, version 20H2; Windows 10, version 2004; Windows 10, version 1909; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016; Windows 10, version 1607; Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB; Windows 8.1; Windows 7 SP1

Server: Windows Server 2022; Windows server, version 20H2; Windows server, version 2004; Windows server, version 1909; Windows server, version 1809; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1; Windows Server 2008 SP2

Microsoft has posted a support page, KB5005652, which provides additional information on the issue.

The company has changed the way print drivers are installed or updated accordingly. Non-administrators cannot install or upgrade print drivers using drivers from remote computers or servers without elevation of privilege for the administrator.

Microsoft created a new registry key to restore the old behavior.

• Registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Software Policies Microsoft Windows NT Printers PointAndPrint
• Dword value name (32-bit): RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators
• Value data:
  • The default value is 1 ; this requires administrative privileges to install or update print drivers when using Point and Print.
  • A value of 0 allows non-administrators to install drivers when using Point and Print.

Windows users in Point and Print environments have four options to install printer drivers or printer driver updates according to Microsoft by default:

• Provide an administrator user name and password when you are prompted for credentials when you try to install a printer driver.
• Include the necessary printer drivers in the operating system image.
• Use Microsoft System Center, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, or an equivalent tool to remotely install printer drivers.
• Temporarily set RestrictDriverInstallationToAdministrators to 0 to install printer drivers.

Closing words

Microsoft released several printing updates this year alone, some to address the PrintNightmare vulnerability, others to address non-security issues, such as printer blue screen issues.

Most home devices shouldn’t be affected by the new issue, but another printing-related issue already exists after installing the September 2021 Patch Day updates.

Now you: Have you encountered printing problems on Windows lately?

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