* Printing problem caused by Cumulative update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64 based systems KB5000802

[ColeValleyGirl]

Calico Pie are aware of the printing problems caused by "Cumulative update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64 based systems KB5000802" and are working on it -- they don't need anybody else to report it.

If it's a major problem for you, could could roll back the update as an interim workaround.

[tatewise]

It is because of such problems that we advise our computer club members to Pause updates for 7 days or longer via the Advanced options link below on the Windows Update settings page. Do that just before the 2nd Tuesday each month to postpone updates and let bugs be discovered by other users. Yes, that risks postponing security updates but they are patching loopholes that have already existed for weeks if not months, so a few more days are unlikely to matter.

[Mark1834]

To clarify - it is only FH7 that is affected by this update. My test PC took the update yesterday, and FH6 continues to print and output properly formed PDF files completely normally. The older technology of V6 appears to be somewhat more robust.

[tatewise]

I have reports of more widespread problems with that Windows Update patch. e.g. AskWoody Plus Newsletter:

Patchers who have installed the March Windows 10 updates are reporting that upon printing to various printers, they receive a blue screen of death (BSOD), thus crashing their machines. While it doesn't appear to impact every Windows machine/printer combination, it is widespread enough that Microsoft pulled these particular updates while it investigates.
For March, this includes KB 5000802 for 2004 and 20H1, and KB 5000808 for 1909. It's unclear whether older versions, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, are impacted.

[mjashby]

Further info on the printing problem; and an interim fix for those who are sufficiently confident to delve further:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... 570msgdesc

[arthurk]

That link takes you to a page which describes a Workaround, but if you scroll a bit further (maybe it's been updated since you looked?) there's also a Resolution, in the form of update KB5001567. It tells you how to get this.

I've installed the update, but as I'm still on FH6 and hadn't had any other problems caused by the earlier update, I can't tell whether it's had the desired effect.

[Mark1834]

I have installed KB5001567 via Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, and confirmed from the update history that it installed successfully.

Unfortunately, I still get completely blank PDF and printer output from FH7. Calico Pie have been informed.

[Mark1834]

Reply from CP, 13 minutes after submitting my report, posted here for the benefit of others, as they never seem to post updates themselves

"We are working on an alternate solution to the problem and were aware that the KB5001567 has not fixed the issue for FH7."

[Jeff Shaw]

Problem solved by fh update 7.0.3.0

[Nalaho]

I updated Win 10 to a minor preview update KB5000842 yesterday. That had no effect whatsoever on printing reports in FH 7.0.2 or on saving PDFs, as discussed earlier.

Today, I updated to v7.0.3 and, like magic, the problems vanished. Printing straight from the Report menu works fine and saving to PDF file is also quick and gives output as it should be. The PDF file size is also back to normal - of the order of KB rather than MB. It's such a relief, not having to find work-arounds for what I had taken for granted in V6. Many thanks to the programmers at CP.

[Mark1834]

I wonder if there was any connection between the existing PDF printing issues in FH7 and the more general printing problems caused by the Windows update? Is it just coincidence that the PDF fix was nearly ready for release when the general problems occurred and it also just happened to fix them as well, or did the Windows problem give CP valuable insight into how to solve the PDF issue?

We’ll never know for sure as it will be proprietary to CP, but a happy outcome whatever the chain of events.