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Print job (2pgs per sheet) sent from Thunderbird; Deletes print job from Queue before printing

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Hello,

Note, this only appears to happen when printing an Email message from Thunderbird (Vs 102.7.2; see my testing details at the bottom of this message).

I often print '2 pages per sheet' to save paper that's the only time I see it occur.

Here's what happens with my HP 8620 Pro printer, only when I print using '2 pages per sheet' from Thunderbird:

      • 1. I set up the print job to print "2 pages per sheet" (usually "all pages" & sometimes a subset). ***

2. I send the print job to the printer. 3. I see the print job in the queue. (Queue Status: "Printing") 4. The printer prepares to "print" (makes some movements, but, doesn't actually print anything). 5. The print job is deleted from the queue before anything can be printed. - I see this in the queue: Status: "Deleting  - Printing" And then it's gone...

- If I change the print job to print "1 page per sheet" it works fine. - If I change the print job to print "1 page per sheet" and "2-sided" it works fine.

- I'm using Windows 10 Pro on my HP Envy 750se Desktop. - This only started happening in the last few months- since (September?) when I changed from using SeaMonkey to Thunderbird as my primary Emailer.

I've been using the previous-latest HP Driver, and I, just days ago, updated to the latest (May, 2022) HP Driver and it's still happening. Nothing else changed with this printer or my computer, except Windows 10 updates, to my knowledge.

Testing: I tested this ("2 pages per sheet") with Google Chrome on my Windows 10 Pro Desktop and there is no problem.

I tested this("2 pages per sheet") with my HP Windows 7 Pro Laptop: - Printing from Thunderbird: this problem *does* exist. - Printing from SeaMonkey: this problem *does not* exist. - Printing from Google Chrome: this problem *does not* exist.

Thank you for any help or suggestions! Jim

Hello, Note, this only appears to happen when printing an Email message from Thunderbird (Vs 102.7.2; see my testing details at the bottom of this message). I often print '2 pages per sheet' to save paper that's the only time I see it occur. Here's what happens with my HP 8620 Pro printer, only when I print using '2 pages per sheet' from Thunderbird: *** 1. I set up the print job to print "2 pages per sheet" (usually "all pages" & sometimes a subset). *** 2. I send the print job to the printer. 3. I see the print job in the queue. (Queue Status: "Printing") 4. The printer prepares to "print" (makes some movements, but, doesn't actually print anything). 5. The print job is deleted from the queue before anything can be printed. - I see this in the queue: Status: "Deleting  - Printing" And then it's gone... - If I change the print job to print "1 page per sheet" it works fine. - If I change the print job to print "1 page per sheet" and "2-sided" it works fine. - I'm using Windows 10 Pro on my HP Envy 750se Desktop. - This only started happening in the last few months- since (September?) when I changed from using SeaMonkey to Thunderbird as my primary Emailer. I've been using the previous-latest HP Driver, and I, just days ago, updated to the latest (May, 2022) HP Driver and it's still happening. Nothing else changed with this printer or my computer, except Windows 10 updates, to my knowledge. Testing: I tested this ("2 pages per sheet") with Google Chrome on my Windows 10 Pro Desktop and there is no problem. I tested this("2 pages per sheet") with my HP Windows 7 Pro Laptop: - Printing from Thunderbird: this problem *does* exist. - Printing from SeaMonkey: this problem *does not* exist. - Printing from Google Chrome: this problem *does not* exist. Thank you for any help or suggestions! Jim

All Replies (10)

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Try this simple step and see if it makes a difference: Help/More Troubleshooting, Printing (near the bottom), Clear saved print settings, restart TB.

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Hello SF,

I cleared the print settings (like you told me- thank you), restarted Thunderbird and tested it but the print job still got deleted before it printed.

There was a difference though: Looking at the print queue after I send the print job I now see this: Status: "Deleting - Printing" - Immediately upon sending the print job. Remember previously it would say "Printing" initially, then change to "Deleting - Printing".

Thank you for the suggestion, Jim

Modified by Jim's Firefox Sync Acct

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I looked up some other sites that report a similar issue, and the fixes include stopping and restarting the Print Spooler service, and adding the correct permissions to the system temp folder. But why this would affect only TB I cannot say.

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Hi SF, I'll give both of these a try tomorrow and let you know how it goes. thank you! Jim

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Hi SF, I found some instructions for restarting the spooler and deleting the Queue at this HP site: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Setup-Software-Drivers/No-Print-Immediate-quot-Deleting-Spooling-quot-Status/td-p/5887297

It did not work. But I'm learning alot, thank you! I am seeing the same thing as before: After I send the print job the Status is "Printing" until the printer starts moving, then Status immediately changes to "Deleting - Printing" and the job goes away.

I'll look at the permissions on the system temp folder next.

Thanks! Jim

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I would try the same print option, but choose Microsoft print to PDF in the printer selection, just to see if the issue is only with TB, and not the HP printer.

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Hi SF, My System Temp Folder permissions are good (default).

I tried printing this same print job to "MS Print to PDF" and it does work. I then sent that PDF to the printer; it printed just fine. A good workaround. I forgot about testing "2 pages per sheet" with this (MS Print to PDF) option. I use this (MS Print to PDF) option all the time, but, since I'm not concerned with using too much paper, I've never had the need to print "2 pages per sheet" to "MS Print to PDF", that I can remember. I'm just happy to have the text big enough that I can see it (in full size pages).

In Thunderbird, is this (MS Print to PDF) the same code path as sending it to a printer? (No other setup necessary for the printer?) Makes no sense that Thunderbird would be the only application to have this problem. I wish I had another printer to test it on.

I'm going to find a print error log; maybe there's more information from this failure somewhere.

Thanks, Jim

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Jim's Firefox Sync Acct said

In Thunderbird, is this (MS Print to PDF) the same code path as sending it to a printer? (No other setup necessary for the printer?) Makes no sense that Thunderbird would be the only application to have this problem. I wish I had another printer to test it on.

I don't know exactly how the print process works in TB, or what happens between TB, Windows and the printer. At least the pdf workaround serves as a stopgap solution.

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Yes, Thank you! Jim

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Hi SF, FYI, I looked at the Printservice Log in the Event Viewer. Here are the entries (read from the bottom-up) that were generated when I sent a print job from Thunderbird with "2 pages per side":

Information 2/13/2023 7:07:31 PM PrintService 310 Deleting a document Information 2/13/2023 7:07:31 PM PrintService 307 Printing a document Information 2/13/2023 7:07:31 PM PrintService 805 Print job diagnostics Information 2/13/2023 7:07:31 PM PrintService 842 Isolating printer drivers and other plug-ins Information 2/13/2023 7:07:31 PM PrintService 311 Printing a document Information 2/13/2023 7:07:12 PM PrintService 801 Print job diagnostics Information 2/13/2023 7:07:11 PM PrintService 800 Print job diagnostics

As you can see there were no Errors. In each of the "Information" steps the details show no errors. At first it shows the Print occurring successfully, then the last entry shows the document being deleted successfully. Not sure how else to read this- maybe there's more info elsewhere?

Thanks for all of your help, I'm guessing there's not much else that can be done- I'm happy using the workaround. If I figure anything out, I'll update this post. Jim

Modified by Jim's Firefox Sync Acct