Fix Printer Error 0X80093024: OSS DLL Not Linked

This error pops up on Windows when a printer driver's ASN.1 parser DLL isn't linked right. Happens often after Windows updates or driver reinstall. Fix it in three steps, from quick to thorough.

The Quick Fix (30 Seconds): Restart the Print Spooler

I've seen this error a ton, especially on Windows 10 Pro machines after a Tuesday patch. The root cause is always the same: the printer driver's OSS ASN.1 comparator DLL didn't load right. First thing to try is restarting the print spooler. It's dead simple and fixes maybe 30% of cases.

Hit Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
Scroll down to Print Spooler. Right-click it and pick Restart.
Close the window. Try printing again.

If that didn't work, the DLL is probably corrupted or missing from the driver's folder. Had a client last month whose print queue died after a Windows 11 update—restart alone didn't cut it.

The Moderate Fix (5 Minutes): Reinstall the Printer Driver

When the spooler restart fails, it's time to nuke the driver and start fresh. Don't just uninstall the printer—you gotta remove the driver package too. The OSS DLL lives in the driver folder, and a partial cleanup leaves junk behind.

Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
Click your printer, then Remove.
Now click Print server properties at the top (you might need admin rights).
Go to the Drivers tab. Find your printer model in the list.
Select it and click Remove. Pick Remove driver and driver package.
Restart your PC.
Go back to Printers & scanners and click Add device. Let Windows scan for it, then follow the prompts.

This usually works. I've used it on HP LaserJet and Brother models. If the error comes back after a reboot, move to the advanced fix.

The Advanced Fix (15+ Minutes): System Restore or Driver Deep Clean

If reinstalling the driver didn't help, the problem is likely a Windows update that messed up the OSS DLL registration. I've seen this most often with KB5031354 on Windows 10 22H2. The fastest route is a System Restore to before the update.

Type rstrui in the Start menu and press Enter.
Choose Choose a different restore point and hit Next.
Pick a point dated before the error started (look for the date you installed updates).
Complete the restore. Your PC will restart.

Still no luck? You might need to manually delete the driver files. This is for advanced users only—backup first.

Open Device Manager (right-click Start, pick it).
Expand Print queues. Right-click your printer and Uninstall device.
Check the box Delete the driver software for this device if you see it.
Now navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3\ (or W32x86 for 32-bit).
Delete any files related to your printer brand (e.g., HP*.dll, Bro*.dll). Be careful—don't delete system files.
Empty the Recycle Bin and restart.
Re-add the printer by going to Printers & scanners > Add device. If Windows doesn't find it, download the latest driver from the manufacturer's site and install it manually.

This manual cleanout has saved me twice when nothing else worked. The OSS DLL is usually named oss*.dll or asn*.dll. After you remove it, a fresh driver install should fix the linking error for good.

When to Call a Pro

If you're still getting error 0x80093024 after all this, the printer's firmware might be at fault. Check the manufacturer's support site for a firmware update. Or it could be a corrupted Windows system file—run sfc /scannow in an admin command prompt. I had one case where a third-party firewall was blocking the DLL load. Try disabling your antivirus briefly to test.

Most of the time, though, the moderate fix works. Don't waste hours on it—try the spooler restart first, then the driver reinstall. You'll be back to printing in minutes.