I would be very interested in your Linux conversion. I have tried it myself and concluded that the average user could not manage it. I'd like to know if your wife can?
This problem should only be experienced once per month. Then it can be done on an over-night basis.
Check to see if KB3102810 is installed. If not, download it directly and install it.
Wife has played with Linux before but has an AIO HP printer that I haven't checked to see if it will work under Linux yet.
I've been playing with Quelitu Linux, http://wavesofthefuture.net/computers/linux-operating-system-refurbish-computer-free.shtml and it is as easy as pie to get that distro set up. It's an off shoot of Lubuntu without all the garbage.
As long as you run the set up that gets placed on your desktop after installing and go through the list of installing third party items, such as flash and codecs, etc., it's the easiest Linux distro I've ever used. Been using Linux some where for the last 10 years.
Yes, KB3102810 is installed.