Question
Issue: How to fix 0x00000bc4 (No printers were found) error in Windows?
Hello, I am generally using a networked printer at work, and I had no problems with doing so whatsoever. However, in the past few days, I suddenly started receiving the 0x00000bc4 error, which says that no printers were found. Please advise.
Solved Answer
While printers became a bit less of a necessity over the years, with digital data being used more often, these machines are still very prevalent, especially in corporate environments. In the said locations, printers are usually connected to a network of computers[1] so that users can print out a document from their desks for convenience purposes.
Even though networked printers are not necessarily in a worse condition than those which are not connected, additional issues may arise when using them. To be more precise, users might encounter various networking issues which prevent them from using printers. 0x00000bc4 is one of the errors some people encounter, and it prevents them from using their devices properly. They usually receive the following error message:
Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000bc4).
No printers were found.
The message can come as a surprise as those affected know that the printer is indeed connected and should be working. Unfortunately, no matter how many times users try, they receive the same error code and message.
Several reasons could be causing the “0x00000bc4 No printers were found” error on a Windows device. In some cases, users can fix the problem by simply resetting the printer, while, in other cases, more thorough troubleshooting steps need to be undertaken – updating drivers and restarting the print spooler service, among other options.
We provide all the manual fixes below, so check them out and see which one works for you. We also recommend running a scan with FortectMac Washing Machine X9 PC repair tool, which is particularly useful when dealing with common PC issues, including errors, registry[2] corruption, BSODs,[3] etc.
Solution 1. Reset your printer
Trying this solution is among the easiest ones, so let's start here. You can easily hard reset your printer by simply unplugging its power cord, waiting a few minutes, then plugging it back in. This method could be problematic if the power cord is unreachable, however. If that's the case, proceed with the next steps.
Solution 2. Run the troubleshooter
Troubleshooters are great built-in tools that can resolve various computer issues automatically, including when one has problems with printers. Follow these steps:
- Type in Troubleshoot in Windows search and hit Enter
- Select Additional Troubleshooters
- Pick Printer and click Run the troubleshooter
- Wait till the scan is finished, and then apply the proposed fixes
- Restart your PC.
Solution 3. Clear and reset Print Spooler
- Type cmd in Windows search
- Right-click on Command Prompt result and select Run as administrator
- When User Account Control shows up, click Yes
- Type in the following command, and press Enter after each:
net stop spooler
del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers* /Q”
net start spooler - Close down Command Prompt and restart your system.
Solution 4. Update printer driver
An outdated printer driver may occasionally be the cause of the error. In this situation, we advise downloading and installing the most recent driver. There are a few ways to accomplish that, with DriverFix being one of the simplest. As an alternative, you can download the driver from the website of the printer's maker or try to install all the optional Windows updates, although this option might not always be effective:
- Type Updates in the Windows search and press Enter
- Here, click Check for Updates
- If optional updates are available, access the Drivers section
- Select all the available drivers and then click Download and install
- Reboot your computer.
Solution 5. Use Windows registry
Changing values in the Registry Editor managed to solve the problem for many. Make sure you back up the registry database just in case before proceeding.
- Type regedit in Windows search and press Enter
- Go to the following location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\RPC - Double-click the RpcOverNamedPipes entry on the right
- Set value data to 1 and click OK
- Next, double-click the RpcOverTcp (default) entry and set the value to 0, then click OK
- Restart your PC.
Solution 6. Uninstall the latest Windows updates [workaround]
This method could help users who started facing the update error after they applied the newest Windows update. Note that this option is not available for some users.
- Type Control Panel in Windows search and hit Enter
- Go to Programs > Uninstall a program
- Select View installed updates
- From the list, uninstall the most recent Windows update (right-click > Uninstall)
- Type in Updates in Windows search and press Enter
- Here, click the Pause updates for 7 days button.
Repair your Errors automatically
ugetfix.com team is trying to do its best to help users find the best solutions for eliminating their errors. If you don't want to struggle with manual repair techniques, please use the automatic software. All recommended products have been tested and approved by our professionals. Tools that you can use to fix your error are listed bellow:
Prevent websites, ISP, and other parties from tracking you
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Recover your lost files quickly
Unforeseen circumstances can happen at any time while using the computer: it can turn off due to a power cut, a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) can occur, or random Windows updates can the machine when you went away for a few minutes. As a result, your schoolwork, important documents, and other data might be lost. To recover lost files, you can use Data Recovery Pro – it searches through copies of files that are still available on your hard drive and retrieves them quickly.
Gabriel E. Hall is an expert troubleshooter who has been working in the information technology industry for years.
- ^ Ramya Mohanakrishnan. What Is a Computer Network? Definition, Objectives, Components, Types, and Best Practices. Spiceworks. Business and Industry News, Analysis.
- ^ Registry. Computer Hope. Free computer help since 1998.
- ^ Blue screen of death. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
