Error when accessing rundll32.exe from Settings

M

Mark-Blood

Hi

I manage a Windows 2016 Standard domain controller. It is the only domain controller managing a very small domain (5 clients).

It was installed several months ago. It shares a Samsung CLX-9301 printer which is managed by a third party. Their technical rep installed the printer driver on the server and shared it and everything was working fine until yesterday. The printer is used as the default device on the server and by staff.

Yesterday one of the staff contacted me with an Excel issue on their Windows 7 client and said the page setup had changed from portrait to landscape. When asking them to bring up the print command so that we could access page setup, no printers were listed. This person uses two printers - the default Samsung and a desktop HP mono printer.

I asked them to open Devices and Printers > Add printer > Network printer but nothing was populating the window.

Moving to the server I accessed Settings > Devices > Printers & Scanners and can see the built-in devices listed (XPS etc) including the Samsung MFP. I can select the device and click Manage but choosing any of the options from the following page - Test page, properties, preferences result in an error message:

--
C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
--

This is generated while logged on using the domain administrator account.

However, if I launch Server Manager > Tools > Print Management > Custom Filters > All Printers - select the Samsung printer > More Actions and choose 'Set Printing Defaults' or 'Properties' the appropriate windows are displayed.

I have tried running:
sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

All either completed successfully or did not detect component store corruption so the system looks clean. I also tried rebooting after running the commands.

I have seen this forum post: [Win10] rundll32.exe "Windows cannot access the specified device..." Error message when trying to open settings

which mentions using Group Policy to change the state of the security options of the 'built-in' administrator account. However, I did not know if this was applicable to a domain administrator account or even if advisable to perform this action on a domain controller.

Today, I have spoken to the staff concerned and they say they are now able to print again and documents are formatted as expected so that's a relief.

However, if anyone can help me troubleshoot the rundll32.exe access issue I will be very grateful.

I have seen other posts regarding no access to rundll32.exe but am able to carry out the operations they specifically reference e.g. changing icons on a shortcut, but where Settings is involved e.g. right-click the Desktop > Personalise > Themes > Desktop Icon Settings; or Mouse and Touchpad settings > Additional mouse options results in the same error message.

Thank you.

Mark

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