How to migrate a printer server configuration between Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 computers with the Printer Migrator 2000 Tool

This step-by-step article describes how to migrate a printer server configuration between Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based computers by using the Microsoft Printer Migrator 2000 tool (Printmig.exe version 2.0).

Printer Migrator 2000

Printer Migrator 2000 is included with Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit Supplement 1. This tool performs a complete backup of a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based printer server, including the registry entries and printer drivers, and stores the data in a cabinet (.cab) file. If you want to migrate a printer server configuration between Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based printer servers, use this tool to back up the configuration on the current printer server, and then restore the configuration on the destination Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based printer server.

Printer Migrator 2000 backs up the following configuration data:

• Printers
• Defined print queues in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000
• Printer drivers
• Share point information, including all file and printer shares, and user permissions
• The following printer monitor ports:

Printer Migrator 2000 does not back up the actual monitor; it backs up only the defined ports. Before you restore the configuration on the destination computer, you must install the original set of port monitors to ensure complete functionality. Printer Migrator 2000 displays a warning message for each monitor that is not present after the restoration process.

When you perform a backup, Printer Migrator 2000 writes all the configuration data to the Pm.cab file by default. If the option to log to a text file is enabled (this option is enabled by default), Printer Migrator 2000 records server status information in the Pm.log file. Both files are located in the following default folder: Printer Migrator 2000 is designed to create or move individual Windows 2000-based or Windows NT 4.0-based printer servers. Both the source and destination computers must be running the same operating system. Do not use this tool to upgrade a Windows NT 4.0-based printer server to a Windows 2000-based printer server.

How to Back Up the Print Server

To back up a Windows NT 4.0-based or Windows 2000-based printer server, follow these steps:

1. Start Printer Migrator 2000.
2. On the Actions menu, click Backup.
3. In the Target server box, type the name of the printer server to back up by using the following UNC format:
   \\Servername
   For example, type \\Server1. If you are backing up the printer configuration on a local computer, leave this box blank.
   
   
4. In the File name box, either accept the default name and location for the .cab file in which the configuration data is saved (%SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm\Pm.cab), or specify the file name and location that you want to use.
5. Click OK. The backup process starts. The contents of the progress report that is displayed in the lower pane of the Printer Migrator 2000 window is written to the Pm.log file. When the backup process is finished, the following text is displayed at the end of the log file:
   Backup complete.

How to Restore the Configuration

Before you restore a printer configuration to the destination printer server, the following conditions must exist:

• The backup computer and the destination computer must run the same operating system (either Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000) and use the same platform (for example, x86).
• Printer monitor information must be consistent with the backup computer. If a monitor is missing, Print Migrator 2000 displays a warning message. You must install the monitor or service, and then perform another restore operation.
• You must have administrative permissions on the destination printer server.

To restore the printer configuration to a remote printer server, follow these steps:

1. Start Printer Migrator 2000.
2. On the Actions menu, click Restore.
3. In the Look in box, locate the folder that contains the .cab file in which the printer configuration data was saved. For example, if you use the default name and location for the printer configuration information, the name of the file is Pm.cab. The file is located in the following folder:
   %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Pm
4. In the File name box, type the name of the .cab file. For example, type Pm.cab.
5. In the Target server box, type the name of the destination printer server by using the following UNC format:
   \\Servername
   For example, type \\Server8.
   
   
6. Select the check boxes for the options that you want to set.
7. Click Open to start the restoration operation. When the restoration process starts, Printer Migrator 2000 temporarily stops the Print Spooler service and the Print Server for Macintosh service (if it is started) on the destination computer to restore print queue information.
   
   A progress report is displayed the lower pane of the Printer Migrator 2000 window. The contents of this report is written to the Pm.log file. When the restoration process is finished, text that is similar to the following text is displayed at the end of the log file:
   Restore complete.
   Registry restored.
   Starting Spooler...
   Spooler Running
   Starting MacPrint...
   MacPrint Running

You can also run Printer Migrator 2000 from the command prompt. For additional information about how to use Printmig.exe, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the Windows 2000 Resource Kit, visit the following Microsoft Web site: For more information about Windows Print Migrator 3.1, visit the following Microsoft Web site: