Can't Re-install MS Print to PDF

Anonymous
2022-06-29T17:12:24+00:00

This printer recently disappeared.

When I try to re-install using Add a printer/Add manually/Choose a Printer Port/PortPrompt: (Local port) MS Print to PDF Version 10.0.17763.1 (2006-06-21) shows up as a choice. Error message "The system cannot find the file specified".

Using "Have Disk" and navigating to System32/spool/tools/MS Print to PDF brings up prnms009.inf (2022-05-06), but error message says: "The system cannot find the file specified".

The same happens when I use other printer port choices.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2022-07-06T14:52:00+00:00

Hi,

Ok. I got the two folder names from your screenshot. A registry key needs to be fixed that should resolve the PDF printer installation error.

Please try the steps listed under "Fix the NTPrint.INF Registry Branch" in this article.

The two folder names you need to use (in Step 13 of the tutorial) are:

  • ntprint.inf_x86_09386a5bbd47625a
  • ntprint.inf_amd64_09386a5bbd47625a

Note that you need to run Command Prompt under the SYSTEM (Local System) account as indicated in that article. It's because user accounts don't have write access to that key by default.

Hope that helps. Let me know.

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  1. Ramesh 182K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-07-01T17:48:46+00:00

    It looks like component store corruption to me. The CBS log contains some 80070002 (File not found) entries such as this:

    2022-07-01 08:50:38, Error                 CSI    00000082 (F) Installer: Setup Print To PDF Installer	Binary Name: PrintAdvancedInstaller.dll	ErrorCode: 80070002	Phase: 38	Mode: Install (first install)	Component: Microsoft-Windows-Printing-PrintToPDF, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35, ProcessorArchitecture=amd64, versionScope=NonSxS[gle=0x80004005]

2022-07-01 08:50:38, Error                 CSI    0000005d@2022/7/1:15:50:38.504 (F) onecore\base\wcp\plugins\printadvancedinstaller\dll\setupmpdwai.cpp(944): Error HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND) originated in function Windows::WCP::SetupMpdwAI::InstallMpdwDriverStoreAndDriver expression: ::InstallPrinterDriverFromPackageW(pwszServer, pwszInfPath, g_wszpDriverNameValue, pwszEnvironment, dwFlags) [gle=0x80004005]

    ... and that subsequently caused the error 0x800F0922 (recorded in the DISM.log)

    2022-07-01 08:50:41, Info                  DISM   DISM Package Manager: PID=10456 TID=8908  Error in operation: (null) (CBS HRESULT=0x800f0922) - CCbsConUIHandler::Error

    Can you also upload the "C:\Windows\INF\setupapi.dev.log" file?

    Meanwhile, you can check the current state of Microsoft Print to PDF feature (installed or not) using this DISM command:

    dism /online /get-featureinfo /featurename:Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features

    The output look like the one below:

    Feature Information:

    Feature Name : Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features

    Display Name : Microsoft Print to PDF

    Description : Provides binaries on the system for creating the Microsoft Print to PDF Print Queue

    Restart Required : Possible

    State : Enabled

    If the "State" is "Enabled", you may run this command to query the Microsoft Print to PDF printer info:

    RUNDLL32.EXE PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /Xg /n "Microsoft Print to PDF"

    If the PDF printer is not installed, you'll see the error "Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000709)"

    In the case of component store corruption, we have two choices:

    Option 1) Run a repair installation of Windows 11. Full instructions are here → Perform a Repair Upgrade Using the Windows 11

    Option 2) Re-run DISM... RestoreHealth. But this time mention the source (Install.wim in the Windows 11 ISO/USB Setup disk) image.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-06-29T21:02:58+00:00

    sfc /scannow: reboot: no integrity violations

    System Feature / turn on MS Print to PDF: same error code

    Add printer manually/select MS Print to PDF from list: same error message

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  3. Rodrigo Queiroz 78,710 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-06-29T20:09:44+00:00

    On the Start Menu type cmd and select "Run as administrator" on the Command Prompt window type that command below and press enter:

    sfc /scannow

    After finish running the command restart the computer and try the process to activate Microsoft PRint to PDF again.

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  4. Rodrigo Queiroz 78,710 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-06-29T17:49:06+00:00

    Hi K,

    I'm Rodrigo and I will help you.

    To add Microsoft Print to PDF go to Settings > Apps > Programs and Features (on the right) > Turn Windows features on or off (on the left) > Find "Microsoft Print to PDF" check the box and OK to save the changes.

    If it is already turned on, turn it off, press OK to save, then, turn it back on and press OK to apply.

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