Microsoft Windows Printing Fix for Windows update March 2021

Finally Microsoft has released a fix which can be downloaded from the following links:

For Windows 10:

Download kb5001649-x64

For Windows 7:

Download kb5001639-x64

For Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012:

Download kb5001640-x64

For Windows Server 2008R2:

Download kb5001639-x64

Note: if you get error about Windows Modules Installer then Download kb4555449-x64 and install it, after that apply the above patch.

For Windows Server 2016:

Download kb5001633-x64

For Windows Server 2019:

Download kb5001638-x64

Please follow the below steps before installing the above MS Patch.

How to fix Microsoft March 2021 printing bug:

We have to uninstall the buggy Microsoft update which causing the issue using command prompt.

  • First we need to open windows command prompt as an administrator, best way to do that is type “CMD” in windows search field in the task bar. once found do a right click on “Command Prompt App” and choose “RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR“

  • We need to type the following in windows command prompt window:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5000802

 

After that press Enter on your keyboard

  • After windows finishes uninstalling the buggy update we need to reboot the pc and that should fix it.
  • if the issue not fixed after reboot, looks like we need to uninstall the whole March updates using the following command then reboot again:
wusa /uninstall /kb:5000808

Note:

For Windows Server 2016 the command should be:

wusa /uninstall /kb:5000803

For Windows Server 2019 the command should be:

wusa /uninstall /kb:5000822

After doing the above just to be safe, we need to delay the windows update for the next 7 days hoping that Microsoft can push a solution update by then.

To do that, first in your windows 10 go to windows settings:

As you see in the above screenshot, go to updates and security.

Now click on Pause updates For 7 days. see screenshot below:

Different approach

There is a way to print from 32bit applications on Windows 64bit systems for example Acrobat, OpenOffice and many others by Enabling Direct Print as per Microsoft recommendation.

Run Windows Command Prompt As Administrator and run the following command to check if the option is already enabled:

  • rundle32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xg /n PRINTERNAME

don’t forget to replace “PRINTERNAME” above with yours.

If it’s not enabled, then you can enable it with the following command:

  • rundle32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n PRINTERNAME attributes +direct

To print from 64-bit apps on 64-bit OS or using 32-bit apps on 32-bit OS, you have to download and install the Application Compatibility Toolkit to apply the PrinterIsolationAware fix to affected applications using the Compatibility Administrator tool.

Also you can go into properties for the printer and select “Advanced” tab. Switch radio button to “Print directly to the printer”.

Now every 32-bit application will print without BSOD. If you need to print from from 64-bit applications e.g. Chrome browser. Save as PDF and use the Acrobat Reader (which is only 32-bit) for printing the PDF file.

Always check Smartek Help Page for new fixes and hints.