Back up and then restore printers when you upgrade from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008

This article describes how to back up the printers before you upgrade to Windows Server 2008. It also describes how to restore the printers after you upgrade.

Applies to:   Windows 10 - all editions, Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number:   938923

Introduction

If incompatible printer queues are found when you upgrade from Windows Server 2003 or from Windows Server 2003 R2 to Windows Server 2008, all printer queues may be deleted during the upgrade process.

If article 938923 is referenced during the setup compatibility report, the server has incompatible printer queues. In this case, do not continue with the setup process until the printers are backed up.

Note

Windows Vista is the first operating system to include the functionality to back up and to restore the print servers in the Print Management snap-in in Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

More information

How to install and to start the Print Management snap-in in Windows Vista

  1. Click Start, type MMC in the Start Search box, and then click MMC in the Programs list.

  2. On the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in.

  3. In the Available snap-ins list, click Print Management, and then click Add. You may have to wait several seconds for the snap-in to be added.

  4. In the Configure Print Management window, type the remote print server name, and then click Add to List.

  5. Click Finish.

  6. Click OK. The printers that you want to back up should be displayed in the Print Servers area of the console.

How to back up the printers by using the Print Management snap-in in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Vista

Windows Server 2008

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Server Manager.

  2. In Server Manager, right-click Roles, and then click Add Roles.

  3. Click to select the Print Services check box, and then click Next.

  4. Click Next two times, and then click Install.

  5. When the installation process is complete, click Close.

  6. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Print Management.

  7. In the Print Management window, right-click Print Management, and then click Migrate Printers.

  8. Make sure that Export printer queues and printer drivers to a file is selected, and then click Next.

  9. In the Select a print server window, click A print server on the network, type the remote print server name, and then click Next.

  10. In the Review the list of items to be exported window, click Next.

  11. In the Select the file location window, type a location to which you want to back up the printers. For example, type the following location: system_drive:\backup\remoteservername.printerExport

  12. Click Finish.

Windows Vista

  1. In the Print Management snap-in, right-click the remote server, and then click Export Printers to a file.

  2. In the Select the file location window, type a location to which you want to back up the printers in the Export printer data to field. For example, type the following location: system_drive:\backup\remoteservername.printerExport
    Then, click Next.

  3. Click Finish.

How to restore printers in Windows Server 2008

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Server Manager.

  2. In Server Manager, right-click Roles, and then click Add Roles.

  3. Click to select the Print Services check box, and then click Next.

  4. Click Next two times, and then click Install.

  5. When the installation process is complete, click Close.

  6. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Print Management.

  7. In the Print Management window, right-click Print Management, and then click Migrate Printers.

  8. Click Import printer queues and printer drivers from a file, and then click Next.

  9. In the Select the File Location window, type a location to which you want to restore the printers. For example, type the following location: system_drive:\backup\remoteservername.printerExport

  10. Click Next two times.

  11. In the Select a print server window, make sure that the print server that is listed is the print server that hosts the printers, and then click Next.

  12. In the Select import options window, click Next.

  13. Click Finish.

Note

We recommend that you review the Application events that have a PrintBRM source to determine whether any more actions are needed. The restored printers are shared in the same manner in which they were shared previously.

How to migrate printers by using the command prompt in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Vista

  1. Start an elevated command prompt. To do this, click Start, type cmd in the Start Search box, right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator.

    If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.

  2. Perform a remote print backup. To do this, type the following command in the %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools folder at the command prompt:
    Printbrm -s \\Universal Naming Convention (UNC) name of the source or destination computer -b -f File name for the printer settings file printerExport

  3. Restore the printers. To do this, type the following command in the %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools folder at the command prompt:
    Printbrm -s \\UNC name of the destination computer -r -f File name for the printer settings file.printerExport

Note

To view the complete syntax for this command, type Printbrm /? at a command prompt.

We do not recommend that you create the backup by using the Printer Migration Wizard (PrintMig.exe). Additionally, the Printer Migration Wizard and the Printbrm.exe tool do not support .cab file backups that were created by using the Printer Migration Wizard.

For more information about how to install, to view, and to manage all the printers in your organization by using the Print Management snap-in, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: Microsoft documentation and learning for developers and technology professionals