Printers have become a pretty important part of our work life and so, them not working and throwing an error can be very annoying. If you are facing the error code 0x8007007e and don’t know how to get rid of it, this article will give you all the information related to this error along with ways to fix it.
About the 0x8007007e Printer Problem
Many Windows 10 users have reported issues with their printers, especially while using Microsoft Edge. Whenever they try to print an online document or a webpage on Microsoft Edge, they face this error. However, the error might not occur while using Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.
Another thing to know is that your Microsoft Windows Update service might not do a great job all the time. And due to the same reason, you might be getting the error 0x8007007e after a bad Windows update. This error code is often accompanied by a message like “Windows have encountered an unknown error,” “Failed to install the update/build. Please try again,” or “ERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUND-(0x7E).”
What Causes The Unexpected Configuration Problem 0x8007007e?
You need to consider a lot of factors when you get the 0x8007007e printer error like a recent Windows update, app installation, and so on. It isn’t that easy to pinpoint the exact cause behind the issue. The following are a couple of causes that might lead to the error 0x8007007e:
- Your printer driver is outdated
- Incompatibility of the printer with the recent Windows update
- The printer device driver has been updated but the Windows OS is not.
- The DLL versions could be mismatched. This could happen if the server-client environment uses a 32-bit universal driver but your computer is running on a 64-bit environment.
- System files associated with the printer are corrupt or have been deleted.
- There has been a virus infection
- The printer drivers are outdated
- Printconfig.dll file is missing or has been misplaced.
- The printer drivers are damaged or have been corrupted.
How to Fix Printer Configuration Error 0X8007007e?
Turns out, fixing the error 0x8007007e is no rocket science. However, you might need to try out a bunch of different methods to successfully resolve this error. Go through the 11 fixes we have listed below and you should be able to get rid of the Windows Update error 0x8007007e in no time.
- Fix 1: Using a Different Browser
- Fix 2: Updating Windows 10
- Fix 3: Update Your Printer Device Driver
- Fix 4: Reset The Update Services
- Fix 5: Edit the Registry Entry of Your Remote Printer
- Fix 6: Copy the PrintConfig.dll File to the Correct Folder
- Fix 7: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Tools and Firewall
- Fix 8: Perform a Clean Boot
- Fix 9: Repair Damaged System Files
- Fix 10: Using Windows Update Troubleshooter
- Fix 11: Download NET Framework 4.7 Offline Installer Package
Fix 1: Using a Different Browser
The first thing to try out when you encounter such a problem is switching to a different browser to print the online doc or webpage you were trying to print earlier. This is a workaround in case you urgently need to print something.
But, keep in mind this is not a final fix. Proceed to the next solutions if you really want to resolve the printer configuration problem 0x8007007e.
Fix 2: Updating Windows 10
Step 1. Right-click on the Start icon on your system tray and click on Settings
Step 2. Click on Update & Security
Step 3. Click on Check for updates.
Step 4. Install the update. Wait till the update downloads and gets installed.
Step 5. Now, reboot the system.
Fix 3: Update Your Printer Device Driver
Step 1. Go to the search bar and type in Device Manager
Step 2. Select the Device Manager option from the list of search results.
Step 3. Find the option that says your printer device’s name.
Step 4. Right-click on it and from the drop-down menu, click on Update Driver Software.
Step 5. Your system will search for all available drivers now. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation procedure.
Step 6. Now, restart the Windows to complete the installation.
Fix 4: Reset The Update Services
The BITS service might stop working due to several reasons. Also, it can prevent the Windows Update service from working normally. The error 0x8007007e could occur due to the same reason:
Step 1. Press the Windows key and the key X.
Step 2. Then, click on the command prompt (Admin)option.
Step 3. Type in the commands given below and press the Enter key after each of them:
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
ren C:\\Windows\\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\\Windows\\System32\\catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Step 4. Close the command prompt window
Fix 5: Edit the Registry Entry of Your Remote Printer
If you are utilizing a remote printer, then perhaps the server-client environment is running a 32-bit driver. Now, that is not supported on Windows 10 anymore. The 32-bit universal driver might have created a registry entry on your computer that could have caused the issue.
You need to delete the registry key to resolve this issue. Delete the registry key located here: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\<printer name>\CopyFiles\BIDI
Once you are done, the computer will create a new 64-bit registry entry for your remote printer the next you connect it to the system.
Fix 6: Copy the PrintConfig.dll File to the Correct Folder
For one reason or the other, the printconfig.dll keeps getting misplaced or gets lost. This also leads to the printer configuration problem 0x8007007e. Follow the given steps to resolve this problem:
Step 1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2. Type spool and press the Enter button.
Step 3. Go to the Drivers folder and find the x64old folder.
Step 4. Now, open the x64old folder and look for the printconfig dll file. You can type in printconfig in the search box to find the file.
Step 5. Once found, right-click on it and click on Copy to copy it. Now go back to the printer drivers folder to find the x64 folder.
Step 6. Then, paste the printconfig dll file in the same place as in this location: C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\x64\3 folder. Restart your system to check if the error code 0x8007007e has been resolved or not.
Other ways to resolve this unexpected configuration problem 0x8007007e is by downloading the printconfig.dll file from the Microsoft website or extracting it from Windows 10 ISO or DVD.
Download from WinBIndex:
The Winbindex or the Windows Binaries Index is a non-Microsoft site that will allow you to download some Microsoft files directly from the Microsoft servers. You can download the executable files like the .exe, .dll, and .sys files.
Step 1. Go to the following URL
Step 2. Now, choose the Windows 10 version you are using from the list that comes up.
Step 3. Then, download both x86 and x64 versions of the dll file.
Step 4. Now, place the x64, i.e. the 64-bit version of the dll file in the C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\x64\3 folder.
Step 5. Also, move the 32-bit version of the dll file, i.e. x86 to this location- C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\W32X86\3
Extract the dll file from Windows 10 ISO or DVD:
You can also extract the dll file from the Windows 10 ISO or DVD. You just need to mount the ISO and then open sources\install.wim via the 7 zip to extract the printconfig.dll file. Now, ensure that you have enabled Flat View from the View menu. This will allow you to find the dll file in the WIM quickly.
But, if you find install.esd file in place of install.wim, you need to convert the install.esd file into .wim format before attempting to open it using 7 zip.
Fix 7: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Tools and Firewall
Here’s how you can disable the third-party antivirus tools:
1. Right-click the antivirus icon on your system tray located at the right bottom of the screen. Click on Disable.
2. Or, you could double-click on the antivirus icon on your Desktop and click on the Disable option from the menu that pops up.
Follow the steps given below to disable the Windows Firewall.
Step 1. Type in the Control Panel in the Windows search box and click on the best match.
Step 2. The Control Panel opens up. Click on System and Security
Step 3. Select the Windows Defender Firewall
Step 4. Click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off from the left window
Step 5. Click on Turn Off Windows Firewall. Then, restart your computer and check if the Windows Update error got fixed or not.
Fix 8: Perform a Clean Boot
Step 1. Press the Windows key and the R key
Step 2. Type in MSConfig in the Run window and press the Enter key.
Step 3. The system configuration window opens up, click on the Services tab
Step 4. Click on Hide All Microsoft Services and select Disable All.
Step 5. Choose the Startup tab and click on Disable All.
Step 6. If the Disable All option is not present, then click on Open Task Manager.
Step 7. Select the Startup tab and click on Disable All.
Step 8. Click on each startup task and then, click on Disable.
Step 9. Click on Apply and then OK and close the window. Restart the computer.
Step 10. Now, the System Configuration Utility window will come up. Check the box that says Don’t show this message and launch the System.
Fix 9: Repair Damaged System Files
Step 1. Type in cmd in the Windows search box. Right-click on the top result that comes up and clicks on Run as administrator.
Step 2. Type in the following DISM command which will repair the corrupted system files:
dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Then, press the Enter key.
Step 3. Enter sfc/scannow which repairs the system files and hit the Enter key.
Fix 10: Using Windows Update Troubleshooter
Step 1. Download Windows Update Troubleshooter from the official site of Microsoft
Step 2. Now, install Windows Update Troubleshooter and run it. The Windows Update interface will show up, select Windows Update and then, click on Next.
Step 3. Wait till the troubleshooter detects any problems and then, follow the on-screen instructions to fix the problems.
Fix 11: Download NET Framework 4.7 Offline Installer Package
Perhaps, your last Windows update was not quite successful due to a missing or corrupt Microsoft NET Framework 4.7 package. If that’s the case, you need to download the Microsoft NET Framework 4.7 offline installer package:
Step 1. Download the NET Framework 4.7 offline installer package from the official Microsoft Download center
Step 2. Keep following the on-screen installation instructions.
Step 3. Restart your PC and then, try to install the Windows update you were facing an error with. Check if the error is gone or not.
Final Words
The 0x8007007e error might seem like a complicated problem at first, but it really isn’t. There could be many possible causes behind this error like outdated drivers, missing printconfig dll file, etc.
However, if you try out the methods listed in the above article, you should be able to find a solution that works for you and fixes the error. If the above solutions don’t help you resolve the Windows 10 update error 0x8007007e, you should consult a professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I fix the error code 0x8007007e?
Since it’s hard to pinpoint the reason behind the error code 0x8007007e, there isn’t a single way to fix it. The above article discusses a lot of solutions (both temporary and permanent) to fix this problem. Try them out one by one until you resolve the error.
What is the 0x8007007e error?
The error 0x8007007e can pop up when you try to print a webpage or any document online from the Microsoft Edge browser. It generally occurs when the printconfig.dll gets deleted or is missing from the printer’s spool folder.
How can I fix the printer configuration?
You can fix the printer configuration problem by adding the printer again, making it shareable, updating the printer driver, and deleting spooler files. You need to work your way through these fixes until the problem is resolved.
What is 0x8000ffff?
The error 0x8000ffff indicates that your Windows OS is facing update issues. It can come up after installing a new app, after updating Windows, or after executing a system restore.