Secondary hard disk suddenly interferes with print processes.

Windows Version 21H2.

My computer was working fine, no problems with printing, and when I tried to add a new Brother printer, it kept crashing my print spool services. None of the virtual printers (The print to pdf, print to onenote etc) work either. So, after trying a variety of troubleshooting tips, I decided to do a clean install. However, something interesting happenned while I was in the process. I disconnected my secondary hard disk before the reset, and the print processes started working like magic, but when I plugged the secondary hard disk back the problem also came back.

I never came across this oddity before, so I thought I should share it.

I did end up clean installing windows 11 and print processes work while the secondary hard disk is connected to MOBO.

I gotta say, I like the aesthetic of Win11, but oh boy, it is a chore with all the bugs.

If anyone has any insight as to the cause of this bug so as to prevent it from occurring in the future, it'd be greatly appreciated.

In order to provide possible insight, we need more details. You don't have your system specs listed, so we have no idea beyond the fact that you have a computer and a secondary hard drive.

At the very least, it *seems* as if your secondary hard drive is an external one that you're connecting via USB, perhaps? And did you build or buy the system, did it come with Windows 10 or Windows 11 pre-installed, are all the drivers up to date, etc.

Since you've already got it working, I'd chalk it up to one of those idiosyncrasies that Windows throws up every now and again. If it was still not working, we could probably help diagnose the issue more readily, but since it is gone, unless someone finds an exact reference to your hardware and the exact same bug, it will be mostly speculation on our parts.

Still, if you're curious (and I know I am) then listing out your hardware is a good first step to analyze the situation.