Microsoft's fix for issue that renamed printers and installed extra utilities requires downloading another utility

Stock image of an HP printer
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Microsoft has finally provided a fix for the HP LaserJet printer driver problems currently frustrating Windows users. It comes in the form of a troubleshooting utility that will stop the HP Smart app from forcefully installing itself on Windows devices, and also restore the original name of printers connected to Windows PCs that might have been changed to HP LaserJet M101-M106 for no reason.

The troubleshooter can be downloaded from the Microsoft website. The tool will reportedly restore any previously downloaded model information and icons, and remove the HP LaserJet M101-M106 model name from printers that aren't, in fact, that model. The troubleshooter will also uninstall the HP Smart application if the following conditions are met:  incorrect metadata was found, no HP printers or HP printer drivers are installed, and the application was installed after November 25th.

It's great that Microsoft has finally provided some sort of countermeasure to these issues breaking printers on Windows devices. But it's unfortunate that it comes weeks later, in the form of a troubleshooter that will need to be manually installed and run. It would be preferable if these issues could have been resolved automatically with another Windows update, but Microsoft's current fix is better than nothing.

Problems surrounding these two HP printer issues seemingly began late last month when users noticed the latest Windows driver update (at the time) began rewriting the model name of whatever printer that was connected to the user's system to the name LaserJet M101-M106 — except for HP printers. On top of this, the existence of an HP printer on the PC also triggered HP's Smart application to automatically install, leading to additional "bloatware" installed on the user's machine. Thankfully for some users, the issue did not prevent affected printers from functioning, but for some it did.

If you are a victim of this latest printer nightmare, Microsoft's new troubleshooter is probably your best shot at getting these printer problems fixed until Microsoft (hopefully) implements a fully automated fix in the future.

Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

  • Sippincider
    I really hope this new troubleshooter is better than:

    Is it plugged in?
    Is it turned on?
    Please wait while we search the Internet for a solution.
    Sorry we were unable to resolve the problem.

    (And it drives me UP THE WALL whenever MS needs to have "We" in a fail message. As in a group of you tried and couldn't do it?? :rolleyes:)
    Reply
  • waltc3
    I've been installing a new build of Windows 11 approximately each week since the OS was first released on the Insider's beta testing group (well over a year ago), and am now on build 22635.2915. I have an HP Office Jet 8030 on a network I use, and I've never seen this problem even once. I also much prefer HP Smart hands down over the much larger and far more bloated traditional HP drivers and utilities--HP Smart is significantly smaller and far more efficient--which is, I assume, why HP created this utility. I can't fault anyone who sees HP Smart installed sans an HP Printer, of course. But it does make me wonder how much of this is a Microsoft Win11 bug, because I haven't seen it, and how much is UE. Most of the "Win 11 bugs" I've seen written up with the assumption that these are universal bugs everyone on Win11 suffers, I haven't seen, for some reason...;) I can't think of one, offhand.
    Reply
  • HaninTH
    HP Smart is all well and good for end-users, but in a corporate/enterprise environment, it's totally unnecessary and is a hinderance. IT Professionals are paid to make and keep things working, not to beta test HP's lunacy.

    HP and the rest of the industry are pointing us towards a road where all software is clearly in alpha/beta stage, will be the standard.

    Don't expect to get any actual work done for 2-3 weeks!
    Reply
  • Co BIY
    HaninTH said:
    HP Smart is all well and good for end-users, but in a corporate/enterprise environment, it's totally unnecessary and is a hinderance. IT Professionals are paid to make and keep things working, not to beta test HP's lunacy.

    HP and the rest of the industry are pointing us towards a road where all software is clearly in alpha/beta stage, will be the standard.

    Don't expect to get any actual work done for 2-3 weeks!

    My recent experience fighting with HP Printer drivers suggests that their "Pro" drivers are much better than the consumer package.
    Reply