Replies

A “home user” here with a desktop and a laptop PC, both running Windows 8.1 64-bit. The desktop has an Epson XP-6000 printer/scanner attached via USB, and the laptop has an Epson XP-6100 printer/scanner attached via its USB. The two computers communicate to each other over a local Ethernet network via a router.
Before installing the MS September KB5005613 cumulative update for Windows 8.1 today, I was able to print on each computer not only to its own USB-connected printer, but also to the “other” computer on the network on ITS printer.
Noting the advice “I haven’t seen printing problems with directly attached printers…” in this thread – but not sure if my setup qualified as a print client/server situation, I went ahead with installing the September update(s). Sure enough… I can no longer print on the “remote” computer via the local network.
However, the Epson Status Monitors work fine as before the MS update, showing the status/ink levels of both printers from either PC. And both printers show up in the Control Panel > Devices and Printers window. When trying to “print a test page” on the “remote” computer, I get “Test page failed to print…”. Printing from applications to the networked printer also fails. Printing on the local USB-connected printer works fine in all cases.
Also: ‘printmanagement.msc’ tells me I have ‘Type 3’ printer drivers on both machines for the Epson printer/scanners.
Don’t know where to go from here. This is not a critical situation for me, but I get the impression that Microsoft is handing the solution resolution to the users…

Since the update to Adobe Acrobat/Reader was mentioned: I ran into a problem similar to what is reported at: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/adobe-acrobat-and-reader-september-update-2021-007-20091-botched/m-p/12387606 . To quote:
“The issue is that after applying the 2021.007.20091 updates for Adobe Acrobat DC or Adobe Reader DC each time you attempt to launch the application from the shortcuts (Start Menu, or Desktop) the application performs an install/configuration before it launches. If you open a .PDF file directly it will open in Acrobat or Reader without performing the install.”

Adobe replies: “This issue has already been escalated and reported to engineering team.”

Noticed the same delays on two Win 8.1 machines here; seemed like it took a total of about five reboots for things to return to normal after a login.

I might also note that both Microsoft and Belarc Advisor – both for the first time – seemed to think I had Office 2007  on both machines here – which I do NOT have installed. I can’t figure out what might have triggered that.   (I did not download/install those from WU.)

1 user thanked author for this post.

DrBonzo

Yes, but that advise was posted over two weeks ago…

Also voted “no problems” because I have Windows 8.1 set to not check for updates – until given the green light from AskWoody/Susan. Related: the Master Patch list still shows “Defer” for the March 2021 Windows 8.1 updates – but it shows the sheet updated as of 3/26; hence, it looks like I missed the March updates completely.