A little bit of a tempest in a teapot. It doesn’t sound like they’re actually going to stop distributing existing drivers, they’re just not accepting any new drivers or updates (unless they’re critical security updates) for those packages.
Microsoft is withdrawing support for older printers' drivers
Submitted 9 hours ago by Beep@lemmus.org to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
GreenBeard@lemmy.ca 4 hours ago
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
We have an old HP D110 (I think). Worked just fine with Windows 10. Works fine with Linux. Built my wife a new PC with Windows 11, and now it will only print 1 page every few minutes. Windows 11 never marks the print job as complete, so you have to wait for it to error out before it will start the next job. Microslop at its finest.
snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
I have a similar issue. I am considering running a VM just to be able to print and scan.
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Linux: where you run a VM because niche proprietary software won’t run on Linux.
Windows: where you run a VM because a multibillion dollar company can’t figure out generic printer drivers as well as underpaid (or volunteer) open-source developers.
JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 8 hours ago
You can still install the drivers, you just don’t get them through windows update. I hate when windows update touches my drivers without my permission, so this sounds like a win-win.
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 6 hours ago
Since the page and article have multiple dark patterns, here’s the meat of the story:
Got an older printer? Here’s what you can do
If you have problems, you can still download the correct driver directly from the printer manufacturer’s website. Go to the official website of your printer’s manufacturer and search for your model in the Support or Drivers section.
It’s worth noting that after a fresh Windows 11 installation, or when setting up a new user profile, Windows may install a generic printer driver instead of the manufacturer’s own version. Basic printing should still work, but some features such as scanning might be missing. All you need to do is go to your printer manufacturer’s website and download the correct driver from there.
Beware of dodgy drivers
At Which? Tech Support, we’ve seen an increase in people being charged for drivers. You should never pay for a driver as they are free from the manufacturer. Always go directly to your manufacturer’s website so you’re not at risk of this.
Changes to printer drivers can cause some confusion, and scammers often take advantage of that. For example, watch out for any pop-ups that claim you have a ‘driver error’ and ask you to call a phone number – this is a common scam technique.
For peace of mind, use the official support pages for these major brands:
helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Microbloat is deprecating something? That’s new. Do AI next.
Sims@lemmy.ml 6 hours ago
They seem to be contracting on all fronts except their datacenters. With a little luck, Micros**t will die out with a huge bang in a few years. The world will instantly become a better place for everyone…
TheOctonaut@mander.xyz 4 hours ago
Instantly?
Hospitals, telecoms, schools, universities, research labs the world over would be left without security updates or tech support. Businesses would crash out, access to everything from Sharepoint to Outlook to Entra ID SSO cut off rendering tens of millions unable to work and likely furloughed or redundant.
Enjoy your accelerationist fantasies if you like, daring to assume that the void would be filled by fucking Linux Mint or something and not literally just Apple. But the idea that it would be instant is even more unhinged than the average .ml stammering about the misunderstood virtues of Russian anti-Imperialism.
Mondez@lemdro.id 1 hour ago
Hopefully be a massive teachable moment to humanity?
Repelle@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
If AI were causing real automation improvements and productivity gains, shouldn’t they be extending support, if anything?
snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Windows 11 bricked my PSC I have had since 2000 and it worked fine on 10.
DickFiasco@sh.itjust.works 7 hours ago
It’s hard to hear what Microsoft is saying over the sound of my 15 year-old printers running on CUPS.
elvith@feddit.org 7 hours ago
Toes@ani.social 6 hours ago
Just a heads up some of those old drivers are just encapsulated perl scripts with root access. Easy network target for bad actors.
Blaster_M@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
“The Paper!”