Unknown option removes 'Microsoft Print to PDF'

[Pendrag00n]

After reviewing the many options I can't tell what is disabling the PDF printer

[cschneegans]

After installing Windows 11 24H2, I find the Microsoft Print to PDF printer indeed missing, despite

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName 'Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features'

clearly showing that the feature is enabled. However, I don't think this problem is related to any option in the autounattend.xml file or the autounattend.xml process in general. For example, see this Reddit thread with many reports of the missing printer and no mention of an autounattend.xml setup. After I ran Windows Update and rebooted, the missing printer indeed appeared.

[rcon-git]

I broke down my basic code I use to rectify this issue. I encountered the same problem after users complained. You can use this code to grab the correct driver from windows update and install the printer for you.

# Set script variables
$printerName = "Microsoft Print To PDF"
$cabFile = "prnms009.75bc_878ac663b4acf8936132086ac82e68e1cc7497c9.cab"
$infFile = "prnms009.inf"
$savePath = Join-Path $env:TEMP $cabFile

# Check if printer already exists
if (Get-Printer -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq $printerName }) { return }

# Download driver from Windows Update Catalog
try {
    # Download the CAB file
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://catalog.s.download.windowsupdate.com/c/msdownload/update/driver/drvs/2019/04/$cabFile" -OutFile $savePath

    # Extract the CAB file
    $null = expand.exe $savePath -F:* $env:TEMP
} catch {
    $_.Exception.Message
}

# Install driver
if (-not (Get-PrinterDriver -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq $printerName })) {
    # Add the driver package to the system driver store using pnputil
    $null = pnputil /add-driver (Join-Path $env:TEMP "prnms009.inf") 2>&1

    # Locate the path to the driver INF inside the DriverStore repository
    $system32Driver = (
        Get-ChildItem -Path ([System.IO.Path]::Combine($env:windir, "System32", "DriverStore", "FileRepository")) `
            -Recurse -Directory -Filter "${infFile}_*" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
            Select-Object -First 1 -ExpandProperty FullName
    ) | ForEach-Object { Join-Path $_ $infFile }

    # Register the printer driver from the DriverStore location
    Add-PrinterDriver -Name $printerName -InfPath $system32Driver

}

# Install the printer
Add-Printer -DriverName $printerName -Name $printerName -PortName "PORTPROMPT:" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue