I have recently upgraded to 5.2.1.2 and LO cannot find the default printer and does not print. Former versions of LO found the default printer. Changing the default printer makes no change. All other softwares see the printers and print. I have uninstalled and reinstalled LO after a clean start without any change.
Libre Office does not see my scanner too. My other PC with LO 4.4.2 W7 can print through the network on the printer that is not seen by my PC with LO 5.2.1.2 . So this bug is definitely a LO 5.2.1.2 bug which does not see printers or scanners.
For the test, could you rename your LO directory profile? (see https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/UserProfile#Windows) Indeed, you talked about a reinstall but I'm not sure profile is removed when uninstalling.
I have renamed LO profile : no improvement I have uninstalled LO, deleted what was left of it in Program Files and AppData, restarted the computer and reinstalled LO 5.2.1.2 : still no improvement : default printer not found, scanner not found.
Thank you for your feedback. What's the brand and model of your printer and scanner? Are there 64 bits drivers installed for them? If only 32 bits drivers, I think you should stick to LO 32 bits.
My computer is a Dell 8700 XPS with W 8.1. My main printer is an old color 3000 cn Dell Laser Printer. It works with a Vista driver. No recent driver is available. My Scanner is a recent HP Office Jet 4620. It works with its own drivers. I don't know if they are 32 or 64 bit drivers. Both Dell Laser Printer and HP Office Jet are not seen by LO 5.2.1.2 I have uninstalled LO 5.2.1.2 and reinstalled LO 4.4.5.2 The printer and the scanner are seen again by LO. So the cause is apparently that the drivers are not compatible with LO 64 bits. Furthermore, LO 4.4.5.2 does not crash on third saving of XLS file as per bug 101781. So I shall stick to LO 4.4.5.2. Thank you very much.
If you've got some time, you may try 5.2.1 but 32 bits version.
I've looked for version 5.2.1 32 bits for Windows (x86) but I cannot find it.
On this url: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/?version=5.2&lang=fr#change There's "Windows x86-64" and "Windows", the last one is the right one for 32 bits.
I have downloaded and installed LO 5.2.1.2 x86 "on top" of LO 4.4.2 x86 and it works alright : - it finds my default printer and scanner - it does not crash on the third saving of my "faulty" XLS file. So everything is OK. As I have not had any trouble with drivers so far, I did not imagine they could be the origin of that bug. I must thank you very much for your help. The best.