"Print to file" feature does not work through a Windows-based printer server that uses a version 4 printer driver

Applies To
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation Windows 8.1 Enterprise Windows 8.1 Pro Windows 8.1 Windows RT 8.1

This article describes an issue that occurs when a printer server is running Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2. A hotfix is available to resolve this issue. The hotfix has a prerequisite.

Symptoms

This issue occurs if the Point and Print feature is enabled on the printer server. When you select the Print to file check box in the Print dialog box to print through an application, a zero-byte file is created and you receive an error message. The following list indicates the application that is used and the corresponding error message that you may receive:

  • Notepad:

    Note

    The handle is invalid.

  • WordPad:

    Note

    Could not start print job.

  • Microsoft Word 2013:

    Note

    Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup.

Note This issue does not occur if the printer server uses a version 3 printer driver.

Cause

This issue occurs because the version 4 printer drivers do not support the print to file feature.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix Download Available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website:

http:⁠//support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix Download Available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have update 2919355 installed in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2.

Registry information

To use the hotfix in this package, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 file information and notes

Important Windows 8.1 hotfixes and Windows Server 2012 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8.1/Windows Server 2012 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.3.960 0.17xxx Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM GDR
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information" section. MUM, MANIFEST, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are very important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Pmcsnap.dll 6.3.9600.17415 730,624 29-Oct-2014 01:17 x86
Ppcsnap.dll 6.3.9600.17415 238,592 29-Oct-2014 01:15 x86
Print management.lnk Not applicable 1,118 21-Aug-2013 23:39 Not applicable
Printmanagement.msc Not applicable 146,389 18-Jun-2013 12:40 Not applicable
Compstui.dll 6.3.9600.17415 289,280 29-Oct-2014 01:52 x86
Dafprintprovider.dll 6.3.9600.17415 203,776 29-Oct-2014 00:35 x86
Findnetprinters.dll 6.3.9600.17415 55,808 29-Oct-2014 01:28 x86
Printui.exe 6.3.9600.17415 61,952 29-Oct-2014 01:58 x86
Puiapi.dll 6.3.9600.17415 167,424 29-Oct-2014 00:44 x86
Puiobj.dll 6.3.9600.17415 367,104 29-Oct-2014 01:20 x86
Localspl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 873,472 06-Jan-2015 00:57 x86
Winprint.dll 6.3.9600.17415 34,304 29-Oct-2014 01:02 x86
Win32spl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 602,624 06-Jan-2015 00:58 x86
Prnntfy.dll 6.3.9600.17415 199,168 29-Oct-2014 01:15 x86
Windows.systemtoast.print.notification.lnk Not applicable 1,515 21-Aug-2013 23:39 Not applicable

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1 and of Windows Server 2012 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Pmcsnap.dll 6.3.9600.17415 825,856 29-Oct-2014 01:48 x64
Ppcsnap.dll 6.3.9600.17415 260,096 29-Oct-2014 01:45 x64
Print management.lnk Not applicable 1,118 22-Aug-2013 06:44 Not applicable
Printmanagement.msc Not applicable 146,389 18-Jun-2013 15:10 Not applicable
Compstui.dll 6.3.9600.17415 309,760 29-Oct-2014 02:34 x64
Dafprintprovider.dll 6.3.9600.17415 269,312 29-Oct-2014 00:41 x64
Findnetprinters.dll 6.3.9600.17415 66,048 29-Oct-2014 02:04 x64
Printui.exe 6.3.9600.17415 62,976 29-Oct-2014 02:43 x64
Puiapi.dll 6.3.9600.17415 192,512 29-Oct-2014 00:55 x64
Puiobj.dll 6.3.9600.17415 477,184 29-Oct-2014 01:51 x64
Localspl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 1,092,096 06-Jan-2015 01:06 x64
Winprint.dll 6.3.9600.17415 45,568 29-Oct-2014 01:24 x64
Win32spl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 864,256 06-Jan-2015 01:05 x64
Prnntfy.dll 6.3.9600.17415 221,184 29-Oct-2014 01:45 x64
Windows.systemtoast.print.notification.lnk Not applicable 1,515 22-Aug-2013 06:44 Not applicable
Compstui.dll 6.3.9600.17415 289,280 29-Oct-2014 01:52 x86
Dafprintprovider.dll 6.3.9600.17415 203,776 29-Oct-2014 00:35 x86
Findnetprinters.dll 6.3.9600.17415 55,808 29-Oct-2014 01:28 x86
Printui.exe 6.3.9600.17415 61,952 29-Oct-2014 01:58 x86
Puiapi.dll 6.3.9600.17415 167,424 29-Oct-2014 00:44 x86
Puiobj.dll 6.3.9600.17415 367,104 29-Oct-2014 01:20 x86
Prnntfy.dll 6.3.9600.17415 199,168 29-Oct-2014 01:15 x86

For all supported ARM-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Compstui.dll 6.3.9600.16384 279,040 22-Aug-2013 03:04 Not applicable
Dafprintprovider.dll 6.3.9600.17626 188,416 06-Jan-2015 00:39 Not applicable
Findnetprinters.dll 6.3.9600.16384 51,200 22-Aug-2013 02:40 Not applicable
Printui.exe 6.3.9600.16384 61,952 22-Aug-2013 03:09 Not applicable
Puiapi.dll 6.3.9600.17238 160,256 24-Jul-2014 07:38 Not applicable
Puiobj.dll 6.3.9600.17626 296,448 06-Jan-2015 01:13 Not applicable
Localspl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 690,688 06-Jan-2015 00:43 Not applicable
Winprint.dll 6.3.9600.17335 31,744 05-Sep-2014 00:05 Not applicable
Win32spl.dll 6.3.9600.17626 517,632 06-Jan-2015 00:43 Not applicable
Prnntfy.dll 6.3.9600.17238 189,440 24-Jul-2014 08:27 Not applicable
Windows.systemtoast.print.notification.lnk Not applicable 1,515 21-Aug-2013 23:33 Not applicable

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 8.1 and for Windows Server 2012 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1

File property Value
File name X86_959e472427f62b5544cef9981712a353_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_c7c9a2585fe55fe0.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 728
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name X86_aa559c88c95bba1d6b04bfe6a7c050e8_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_d1cad46f44516178.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 1,818
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name X86_microsoft-windows-p..erandprintui-pmcppc_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_a04ad5799c18d6e4.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 26,475
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:00
File name X86_microsoft-windows-p..installerandprintui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_6b36d32d11537c48.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 25,052
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:00
File name X86_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-core-localspl_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_c4fdf188ae154a37.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 5,204
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:00
File name X86_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-networkclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_ce55ce468c51354e.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 10,485
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 03:24
File name X86_microsoft-windows-p..randprintui-asyncui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_10c3e5a90d8d56a9.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 6,709
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:00

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1 and of Windows Server 2012 R2

File property Value
File name Amd64_0ab348ded3a7e263fe47f529bc320d75_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_bc033f84bebbb3db.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 1,453
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Amd64_3894551e25df4991b01a5d6aa97bd456_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_7d06d79341e77af3.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 733
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Amd64_3ca478469d59ea1ad527c60cc030797a_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_f0af9784d997d0ec.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 1,089
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Amd64_759ccdd099853aae2020914b99cf4515_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_7d27aed3e7760773.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 732
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Amd64_fd8133c0cb5b6a4ee416156c9b3dd7a4_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_b3ceddff3f589e8c.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 733
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-p..erandprintui-pmcppc_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_fc6970fd5476481a.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 26,483
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-p..installerandprintui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_c7556eb0c9b0ed7e.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 25,056
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-core-localspl_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_211c8d0c6672bb6d.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 5,205
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-networkclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_2a7469ca44aea684.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 10,489
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 04:01
File name Amd64_microsoft-windows-p..randprintui-asyncui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_6ce2812cc5eac7df.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 6,717
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03
File name Wow64_microsoft-windows-p..installerandprintui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_d1aa1902fe11af79.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 24,310
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03
File name Wow64_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-networkclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_34c9141c790f687f.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 9,276
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 03:23
File name Wow64_microsoft-windows-p..randprintui-asyncui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_77372b7efa4b89da.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 3,909
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 22:03

Additional files for all supported ARM-based versions of Windows 8.1

File property Value
File name Arm_e448ead34991588fe9eae7f732efcae0_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_07abe7a438acff9d.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 1,818
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Arm_microsoft-windows-p..installerandprintui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_6b39458511509b0e.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 25,052
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Arm_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-core-localspl_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_c50063e0ae1268fd.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 5,201
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56
File name Arm_microsoft-windows-p..ooler-networkclient_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_ce58409e8c4e5414.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 10,485
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 02:23
File name Arm_microsoft-windows-p..randprintui-asyncui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17626_none_10c658010d8a756f.manifest
File version Not applicable
File size 6,709
Date (UTC) 06-Jan-2015
Time (UTC) 21:56

      

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

References

See the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe software updates.