Prints defaults to PRN after Windows 10 pushed required upgrade yesterday. How do I repair this?
After August 02 2019 MS push of WIN 10 upgrade, my PC stopped printing to printer and, instead, offers to save prints as prn files. It does not matter from which application the print command is issued. I've tried WORD, browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox),
Adobe PDF, etc. All try to create a prn file. I have checked the Printer Application each time. The "Print to File" option is turned OFF. I have tried turning it ON, then OFF to try to jog it with no success. My printer, which has worked well for me for the
past couple of years (until this MS OS upgrade), is set as the default printer. The printer is an HP Officejet Pro 8710 and shows to be in "Ready" state. Running a test page from it also offers to create a prn file. I do notice under printer properties that
the port for the printer now, for some odd reason, shows as "Print to File". I tried using the "Configure Port" option to change that, but a message pops up informing "There is nothing to configure for this port". The other options are "Add Port" and "Delete
Port", which I have not tried doing at this time. … I am not a novice techy. My formal occupation involves me in computer software and hardware issues daily. Any Expert suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I have already perused the older related posting,
but they all appear to direct to the turn OFF the "Print to File" option, which is not the problem I appear to be having with my machine. … It is always something different each time Microsoft pushes a major WIN 10 upgrade. I know my weekend will be wasted
trying to resolve a problem they create. … Thank you.
4) Now type Control Panel in Start Search, open CP, choose Icon View. In Control Panel open Devices and Printers, right click printer to delete Printer and any scanner or fax of the same name. Restart PC.
5) Go to the printer model’s Support Downloads webpage to download and install the latest full software package. Now is also the time to check for any newer printer firmware to install which matters a lot.
6) Extract Printer software, right click Setup file to Run as Administrator. Follow the setup screens closely as you install the software. For USB it should prompt when to plug in the printer.
I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.
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____________________________ Retired 2023, thirteen year daily forums volunteer, Windows MVP 2010-2020
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