Help Information for Printmig.exe Version 2.0

Microsoft Printer Migrator 2000 (Printmig.exe version 2.0) is included with the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit Supplement version 1.0. However, the Help file that is included with this supplement is for use with Printmig.exe version 1.0. This article provides Help information for Printmig.exe version 2.0.

Overview

Printer Migrator 2000 (Printmig.exe) performs a complete printer configuration backup of a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer. This backup data is stored in a user-specified .cab file. If Printmig.exe is enabled (by default, it is enabled), Printmig.exe also writes status information to the Pm.log file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm folder. The following data is backed up to the .cab file:

• Printers
• Defined print queues in Windows NT and Windows 2000
• Print monitor ports
  
  NOTE: Printmig.exe recognizes and backs up the following ports:
  • Hewlett-Packard network port
  • LexMark MarkVision port monitor (IP/DLC)
  • Jet Admin
  • LPR port
  • Local ports
  • Digital network port
  • Apple Talk port monitor
  • Standard port monitor
• Printer driver platforms for Windows NT 4.0: x86, Alpha, Mips, PPC. Printer driver platforms for Windows 2000: x86.
• Share point information. Note that all file shares, print shares, and user permissions are backed up. Also, by default, only print shares are restored.

NOTE: Printer Migrator 2000 does not back up the actual monitor, instead, it only backs up the defined ports. Prior to the restoration operation, you must reinstall the original set of port monitors to ensure complete functionality. Printer Migrator 2000 generates a warning message for each monitor that is not present after the restoration. However this information is only written to the log file if you use the -i switch, or if you previously clicked to select the Suppress Warning Popups check box.

Features That Are Included in Printmig.exe Version 2.0 But Not Version 1.0

Merge Configurations

In Restore mode, Printer Migrator version 1.0 performed a printer configuration registry overwrite of the target computer. Because of this, any existing printer configuration would be lost after the Printer Migrator restoration process finishes. The majority of development efforts for Printmig.exe version 2.0 have been dedicated to the registry-merging code upon a restoration. By merging registry information, printer configurations can be merged (this is the default behavior) or overwritten. To overwrite printer configurations, use the /o switch (in combination with the /r switch) or click to select the Replace (overwrite) existing print shares check box in the Restore dialog box.

Full Operation from a Command Prompt

Because you can start Microsoft Printer Migrator version 2000 from a command prompt, you can use it with a script. Several switches have been added to Printer Migrator 2000 version 2.0 that are not included in version 1.0, and you can view these switches by using the /? switch. Note that if you start Printmig.exe from a command prompt, the user interface also starts, but it automatically shuts down when the operation is complete. The following list provides a description of the different switches you can use with Printmig.exe:

• -?
  
  This switch was introduced in version 1.0. The /? switch displays the available switches.
• -d
  
  The disable spooler switch was introduced in version 1.0. The /d switch disables the spooler. When you use the /d switch, Printer Migrator does not allow any backup or restore activity, but enumerates the target computer and populates the tree view with related information. Use the /d switch if you are unable to gain access to the target computer when the spooler is started and you want to check which printers are installed. This switch is provided in case you do not have sufficient access permissions to modify spooler information.
• -b
  
  The backup switch causes Printmig.exe to backup the printer configuration information of a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer. Note that if you do not specify the target computer name (in the form of \\computer name), the local computer is implied.
• -f
  
  The file name switch determines the file name to read from or write to, and this depends on whether you use the /r or /b switch. In either case, the file name directly follows the switch. For file names or paths with spaces, the complete file name and path must be enclosed in quotation marks.
• -r
  
  The restore switch causes Printmig.exe to restore the specified printer configuration of a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer to a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer. Note that Printmig.exe 2.0 does not allow restoration from a Windows NT 4.0-based computer to a Windows 2000-based computer or from a Windows 2000-based computer to a Windows NT 4.0-based computer. Like Printmig.exe 1.0, Printmig.exe 2.0 only allows like platform restorations for Windows NT 4.0-based computers (for example, x86 to x86). Also, the default for the /r switch is to merge the printer configuration from the .cab file to the existing printer configuration on the target.
• -o
  
  The overwrite switch (in combination with the /r switch) causes the target server to be overwritten with the printer configuration information that is contained in the .cab file that is specified by the /f switch.
• -s
  
  The restore file shares switch merges the file shares in the .cab file with the existing file shares that exist on the target.
• -p
  
  The restore user permissions switch merges the user permissions in the .cab file with the existing user permissions on the target.
• -i
  
  The suppress warning popups switch disables warning dialog boxes that require user intervention, such as OK, Cancel, and so on. Note that the warnings are still written to the log file. You should use this switch when you use a script to start Printmig.exe.

Terminal Services Aware

Printmig.exe 1.0 was not Terminal Services aware for restorations. Instead, version 1.0 would target the %SystemRoot% folder on a per-user basis, even though it needed to use a system-wide basis. This has been corrected with Printmig.exe 2.0, and is transparent when you restore to a computer that is running Terminal Services.

Scheduling

Printmig.exe has been fully tested with the Mstask.exe tool, and all known scheduling bugs have been fixed. For example, no one needs to be logged in for the program to operate successfully operate.

Multi-Threaded Graphical User Interface

Printmig.exe 2.0 is multithreaded, so the tool should not stop responding (hang) during a long operation. Do not attempt to run simultaneous backups or restorations with a single instance of Printmig.exe 2.0. Instead, you must run separate instances of Printmig.exe 2.0 to perform simultaneous backups or restorations from a single computer.

Usage

Backup

When you use Printmig.exe 2.0 to back up the printer configuration of a Windows NT-based or Windows 2000-based computer, you must specify the .cab file location and name that Printmig.exe will create. Optionally, you can specify the target server.

To create a backup from a command prompt, use the -b switch and the -f [file name] switch. Optionally, you can specify the target computer name as the last parameter of the command in the \\server name form. To create a backup from with the program:

1. Click Backup on the Actions menu.
2. Manually enter the path and file name of the .cab file to be created, or browse to the desired folder and type the file name.
3. Click Save, and then click OK to begin the back up procedure.

As the backup command runs, a progress report is displayed in the lower portion of the Printer Migrator window. The contents of this report are saved in the Pm.log file that is located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm folder. After this process completes, the .cab file contains the related printer registry data and spooler files.

Restore

When you use Printmig.exe 2.0 to restore a printer configuration to a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computer, the default behavior is to merge the configuration from the .cab file to the existing configuration on the target computer. Note that this behavior differs from Printmig.exe 1.0 which overwrites the existing configuration on the target with the configuration from the .cab file. To overwrite with Printmig.exe 2.0, use the -o switch or click to select the Replace (overwrite) existing print shares check box in the Restore dialog box.

To restore from a command prompt, use the -r and the -f [filename] switches. Optionally, you can specify the target computer name as the last parameter of the command in the \\server name form.

To restore from within the program:

1. Click Restore on the Actions menu.
2. Open the folder that contains the existing .cab file.
3. Type the name of the .cab file you want to read in the File Name box. Optionally, you can specify the computer name in the \\server name form.
4. Select any options you want to use, such as Suppress warning popups, Replace existing file shares, Restore user permissions, and Restore file shares.
5. Click Open to begin the restoration process.

IMPORTANT: Printmig.exe temporarily stops the spooler (and MacPrint, if it is started) on the target computer to restore print queue information. Also, before you run the Restore command on a print server, verify that the following requirements are satisfied:

• The backup computer and the target computer must both be running the same operating system and use the same platform such as x86, Alpha, and so on.
• Print monitor information is consistent with the backup computer. If a monitor is missing, Printer Migrator generates a warning message, and you must install the monitor or service to run the restoration again.
• The current user must have administrative rights on the target computer.

As the Restore command runs, a progress report is displayed in the lower portion of the Printer Migrator window. The contents of this report are saved in the Pm.log file that is located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm folder.

Note that Printmig.exe 2.0 is backwards compatible with .cab files that were created by Printmig.exe 1.0, but not the other way around.

Log File

The log file records detailed information about backups, restorations, and errors that were encountered. The Pm.log log file is stored in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm folder. Warnings and errors are still logged even if these items are disabled. Log To Text is enabled by default on the Options menu. Click this command to disable logging to a text file. However, note that all of this information is still displayed in the lower portion of the Printer Migrator logging window.

View

The Target and Restore Local commands enumerate print queue information in a tree view format. The title bar identifies the computer that corresponds to the currently displayed tree view. Note that this computer is the target of all subsequent operations.

To enumerate a remote computer and populate the tree view:

1. Click Target on the View menu.
2. In the Target Server box, type the name of the target server, for example, \\server1.

To enumerate the local computer and populate the tree view, click Restore Local on the View menu.

Availability of Print Migrator 3.0

As of May 2002, Microsoft has made Print Migrator 3.0 available. For information about how to obtain Print Migrator 3.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site: