[BUG] HP printer not working (and possibly other printer devices, too)

[KnivesTV]

Please confirm these before moving forward

• I have searched for my issue and have not found a similiar in the Open or Closed issues.
• I have tested that this issue has not been fixed in the latest (beta or stable) release.
• I have checked the Discussions section for solutions.
• This issue is about a bug (if it is not, please use the correct template).

UnattendedWinstall Version

UnattendedWinstall main page (not 3.0.0)

Windows version, edition, and architecture

Windows 10 and 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 and 2024

Describe your issue

This is not 100% confirmed, but I suspect that the autounattend.xml file prevents HP printer drivers from working with HP printers. The driver installs, but printing is not possible. This may also happen to other printer brands as well, but I have no way of testing that.

P.S. I am using the correct printer driver for my printer. This only occurred after using the autounattend.xml file. This has been tested on both Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024. The same issue occurs on both editions.

Steps to reproduce the issue

Use the autounattend.xml file with Windows on a bootable Windows USB drive during installation.

Expected behavior

The HP printer driver should work with my HP printer after the driver has been installed, but it does not work.

Actual behavior

The HP printer driver installs but the printer still does not print. It is NOT possible to select my HP printer as the default printer device since it does not appear in the list of default printer device options in Windows.

Screenshots or Logs (if applicable)

No response

Additional context

No response

[KnivesTV]

Problem solved. Here is the issue:

The only change made here is from "-Value 3" to "-Value 2" to automatically manage print jobs sent to printers, which is the default setting in Windows.

From:

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler' -Name 'Start' -Type 'DWord' -Value 3 -Description 'Manages print jobs sent to printers. If you don''t use a printer, set to Manual or Disabled to free up system resources'

To:

Set-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Spooler' -Name 'Start' -Type 'DWord' -Value 2 -Description 'Manages print jobs sent to printers. If you don''t use a printer, set to Manual or Disabled to free up system resources'

This change can also be made in Winhance here:

Optimizations > Gaming & Performance > System Services > Printer Spooler Service > Automatic

A system reboot will follow in order to apply the setting.

Suggestion:

While this may reduce system resources slightly, people still use printers. As a convenience, I suggest leaving this setting to "-Value 2" in the autounattend.xml file and "Automatic" as the recommended setting in Winhance.

Others that use the autounattend.xml file and/or Winhance will experience this issue just as I have, but they may not have the technical know-how to troubleshoot the problem.

If people don't use a printer, they can always change this to Manual or Disabled themselves using Winhance.

Thank you.