News Windows update renames every installed printer HP LaserJet Ultra M106, changes icons, and forces install of HP Smart app

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I look at this and think: Tell me you want me to never consider buying an HP printer again without saying you want me to never consider buying an HP printer again.
The issue isn't with HP but with Microsoft's Windows Update / Windows Store.
For all we know someone at Microsoft is shorting HP and hoping this decreases their stock price.
 
No info what the update was supposed to be doing. Seems rather basic. Perhaps no one knows. MS is looking for the root of the problem, but it's too dark! We have pics of that.
 
for now at least, there's no workaround or fix for this.
Try this:
1. Install a firewall like SimpleWall, block Windows' updates & any other online Windows processes.
2. Backup a C drive image (Acronis ... etc.).
3. Compatibility: If some future program/game won't run, find out what specific Windows updates it needs and try to install them manually.
4. Security: Use care & common sense, not updates or antiviruses.
 
I also noticed that Windows 11 on my computer installed the HP Smart app on November 28 without telling me… however, there is a networked HP printer at home (my mom’s), so I assumed that that was the reason. It did not rename the other printer/scanner (a very old Canon) I installed. Still, it’s really bad practice to silently install apps, in my opinion (automatic installation of drivers is useful, but it can sometimes also cause problems). I always turn off automatic updates of drivers in Windows Update (with the group policy editor). Not to be confused with Advanced system settings > Hardware tab > Device installation settings > “Do you want to automatically download manufacturers’ apps and custom icons that are available for your devices?”

Since then, I’ve found out that Windows (10/11) has a setting that should prevent automatic installation of network printers : Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings > checkbox “Set up network connected devices automatically”. That setting can also be accessed from the Control Panel > Network and sharing centre > Change advanced sharing settings
 
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Hmm, I just checked my recently updated win10 box (this one) and all looks fine to me, my Canon printers/drivers are right where I left them. But my win11 box is behind on a few updates at least..... Now I'm a bit worried about letting the thing back online. Anybody know which update causes the issue?
 
Hmm, I just checked my recently updated win10 box (this one) and all looks fine to me, my Canon printers/drivers are right where I left them. But my win11 box is behind on a few updates at least..... Now I'm a bit worried about letting the thing back online. Anybody know which update causes the issue?
I’m not sure, but in my case, it seems to have happened outside any update as listed in Windows Update because the HP Smart app got installed on my Windows 11 system on 28/11, but looking at my update history in Windows Update, I installed no update on that day besides Microsoft Defender definitions. And I don’t think that Windows detected and installed the network HP printer on that day either since I already had the computer for about one month at that point, and the printer had definitely been online before. As I wrote above, my old Canon printer/scanner still works, though. I didn’t need to reinstall anything
 
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