Windows 10 update crippled all printing tasks

2 days ago, Windows performed a forced major update to v1809.17763.194. I say "forced" because I have Windows set to perform updates between midnight to 07:00 and this one ran by itself at 10:40 while I was working. It successfully trashed the documents I had been working on!

Anyway, since that update, I get an error with no code every time I try printing anything. At first, I suspected the printer was the issue as it warned me ink was low in 2 cartridges so I replaced those and still got the error.

I then ran a print verification page direct from the printer itself and that printed ok. It even gave a message saying the printer was functioning normally.

Next, I checked the printer's warranty and noticed it was just out of warranty being 2 years and 1 month old so I thought maybe this is a case of forced redundancy to oblige me to buy another one. However, before purchasing a new printer, I decided to try printing from my old Windows 7 based laptop. Lo and behold, the printer worked perfectly!

As the problem began immediately after the Windows 10 update, I think it's more than a coincidence. Windows is definitely the cause!

I should point out that this particular update appears to be a new operating system because once completed it went through the process of configuring all its applications and Classic Shell warned it would have to reconfigure itself for my "new operating system". Therefore, I'm not sure it can be rolled back.

Does anyone have any idea how I can get it to print again please?

 

FYI, never use Windows when it is updating. Let it do the updating restart and go back to your projects. Using it when it is updating is asking for trouble. And using 3rd party software can also cause update issues when Windows update. At this point your going to have to take it to a computer shop to diagnosis the problem. Basing one problem from another O/S provides no clear diagnosing of the problem.

 

There was no way I could know it was updating. It is not supposed to do that during the daytime and it gave no other indication other than the message "Windows will now restart to complete installing updates." It didn't ask if it could. It just went ahead and did it.
Both PC's connect to the printer via WiFi so as far as I'm concerned, if one has no problem printing then the other one is at fault, not the printer.

 

That's exactly why every computer I have, has automatic windows update turned off. While there is no official MS way to turn auto updates off in Win 10, you could go to network settings and put it on metered connection and that should stop auto updates. Since I have 4 laptops running Win10, to update I download updates manually and install from USB stick. In your case, either click on "check for updates", but be prepaid to get beta updates for testing as well with no way to opt out, or switch back to non metered connection and let it run it's course.
As far as your current problem, I would delete and reinstall printer driver, making sure it's for version 1809 (I assume), unless it's beyond your capabilities. Fall update changed a lot of settings on my computer, which I had to set back to original, so you could try printer/wifi settings as well to make sure they're correct.

 

First thing first I never say "restart" button right away I tell it just exit the update and then save my work and then do the restart manually. The only time you don't get a chance is if you waited and waited cancelling update notification - that is time when your choices will be made by Windows for a reason to restart so the updates work then is when it will restart whether you want to or not options. So if you see it asking to do or doing update just cancel it and save your work and then manually do the update and then restart and go back to your work. The loss of your work if you don't save regularly is not the computer fault but the USER issue.

 

Who cares about the official way when there's OOSU10? =p But yeah, I get your point. )=

 

I'm gonna shy away from Windows 10.

Purchased a laptop with 10 recently. Went to the support site of the brand.Tried to install the software & drivers for my printer this morning.noted that there was an optional driver added about 10 days ago.
I skipped the optional driver..but was forced to go back and install.
Printer has to be controlled through a windows app and without the optional driver, I wouldn't be able to use the scanner.

Been using XP pro for years and only switching up because I have to.

 

Windows 10 is the problem.
I think you have to get the windows printing app installed and control printing from there. The support page for your printer model probably recently added info or update that would help you.

Windows 10 is pulling a Christopher Walken King of New York move....."nothing moves without my permission...a dime bag gets sold I want my cut"

 

Windows 10 isn't the problem I got my network printers installed including a older HP 8400 searched for it and installed the driver and have no issue and my other HP MFP M277dx with software driver installed and both set as network printers have no issues even when I update they function no issues. So Blaming just W10 is a non-starter here since my own setup and updates work just fine. At this point I call this user caused problem with updates and Printer driver not something caused from Windows itself. So if you not willing to take to a computer shop to resolve there nothing more that can be done here.

 

I found a work-around to the issue.
The Brother driver has not been updated since 2016 so it was pointless downloading that from their site. I decided to uninstall all the Brother software, remove the printer from Windows Devices and Printers, and then reinstall the software. As soon as I had uninstalled everything I was asked to restart the PC which I did, but before I could reinstall the Brother software and drivers, Windows gave a message saying it had installed my Brother printer and it was ready for use. So, without installing the software and drivers, I tested printing from a Word document and it works again!

I don't want to upset it so I'm not going to install the Brother software although this will mean I have no ink level monitor but the touch screen on the printer itself should warn me when that needs attention, I suppose.

 

The problem here is if there is no W10 drivers for the printer the user must do a Online Windows Update to find it and then make sure they are picking the right driver not a Microsoft driver as that isn't the right on. That is how I did the install for my HP8400 that was only XP driver but once W10 found and installed the right version it works fine as a network printer.

 

You can use windows update catalog to download drivers. As an example I typed brother printer. https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=brother printer
You can type HP "PrinterModel" and version should say 1803 and later servicing OR 1809 for best compatibility & performance.