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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2023-12-18 18:18:16.295
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Microsoft fixes Windows printer issues with new troubleshooter. Microsoft has released a new troubleshooter tool to fix an issue where the HP Smart app would automatically install on Windows after renaming all printers to HP LaserJet M101-M106. Customers have reported experiencing this issue on various online social networks and Microsoft's own community website since late November. Microsoft confirmed this as a known issue two weeks ago, affecting client (Windows 10 1809 or later) and server (Windows Server 2012 or later) platforms without impacting devices that lack access to the Microsoft Store. Over the weekend, the company released a Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool to help admins and users address this printing issue. "This tool will review your printer information. It will restore any previously downloaded model information and icons and will remove HP LaserJet M101-M106 model information, icons, and application associations from printers that do not match this name and model," Microsoft says. "This tool will uninstall the HP Smart application if incorrect metadata was found, there are no HP printers or HP printer drivers installed, and the application was installed after November 25, 2023." Troubleshooter requires admin privileges Windows admins and affected users can download the troubleshooter for their platform from the Microsoft Download Center. Users have to run the tool with admin privileges from a Command Prompt window using the following steps: "When it is run by enterprise administrators, correcting printers for all users and sessions on a system requires running the tool as the Local System account," Redmond said. The troubleshooter will display "Troubleshooter completed successfully" when incorrect printer information is fixed or "Troubleshooter not applicable since metadata package not found" if the device is unaffected. According to Microsoft, it may take a couple of hours for icon and metadata changes to take effect after running the troubleshooter tool. The company fixed a similar known issue earlier this year, which was experienced by some printers during automatic Wi-Fi connection setup.
Daily Brief Summary
Microsoft launches a new troubleshooter to correct a widespread issue where Windows PCs mislabel printers as HP LaserJet M101-M106.
Users reported printers being renamed and the HP Smart app installing without prompting across various online platforms and Microsoft's community site.
The problem stems from incorrect printer metadata introduced in late November and affects Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) and Windows Server 2012 or newer.
The troubleshooter restores correct printer model information and removes unrelated HP Smart app installations.
Enterprise administrators are advised to run the tool with Local System account privileges to address the issue across all users on a system.
Microsoft indicates that it might take several hours for the changes to take effect once the troubleshooter has been run.
This incident follows a previous similar issue earlier in the year, which affected certain printers' automatic Wi-Fi connection setup.