How to Copy Your Printer
Settings to Another
Computer
When your business purchases new computers for
employees, configuring the machines with settings, such as printer settings, is
a time-consuming process. Microsoft provides a utility that makes migrating to
new computers a bit easier. The Windows Easy Transfer utility enables you to
copy printer settings, as well as other configurations, from one computer to
another. However, the utility does not transfer printer drivers. You will still
need to download updated drivers for the new operating system and install the
drivers on each computer.
Export Printer Settings
Step 1
Click the Windows “Start” button and then type “MMC”
into the “Search” input box. If the computer is running Windows XP, click the
“Start” button, click “Run” and then type “MMC” into the Run input box. The
search results opens and the management console is listed. Click the entry for
the management console to open the management console window.
Step 2
Click the “File” option on the top toolbar, and then
click the “Add/Remove Snap-in” option. The Snap-ins list opens.
Step 3
Click the “Print Management” entry and then click
the “Add” button. The Print Management snap-in is added to the management
console. The “Configure Print Management” screen opens.
Step 4
Click the “Browse” button and navigate to the entry
for your computer. Click the entry, and then click “Add to List.”
Step 5
Click the “Finish” button. Click “OK.” The
configured printers display in the Print Servers section.
Step 6
Click the “Export Printers to File” option in the
Print Servers section. Insert a USB drive into a free USB port. The drive
registers to the operating system as a removable device.
Step 7
Click the “Browse” button to open a file selection window.
Navigate to the USB drive where the exported configuration file will be saved.
Step 8
Click “Next” and then click “Finish.” The printer
settings are copied to a file and saved to the specified location.
Import Printer Settings to New Computer
Step 1
Insert the USB drive that contains the exported
printer settings file into a free USB port on the new computer. The device
registers to the computer as a removable drive.
Step 2
Click the Windows “Start” button and then type “MMC”
into the “Search” input box. Press the “Enter” key or click the “Search” icon.
The search results display the MMC entry. Click the entry to open the
management console.
Step 3
Click the “File” option on the top toolbar and then
click the “Add/Remove Snap-in” option. Click the “Print Management” entry and
then click “Add.” The Print Management Snap-in is added to the console. The
Configure Print Management screen displays
Step 4
Click the “Browse” button and navigate to the entry
for the new computer. Click the new computer’s entry and then click “Add to
List.” Click the “Finish” button. Click the “OK” button. The new computer’s
entry appears in the Print Servers section.
Step 5
Right-click on the new computer entry and then click
“Import Printers from File” from the context menu. Click the “Browse” button to
open a file selection window.
Step 6
Navigate to and click on the exported printer
configuration file on the USB drive. Click the “Next” button.
Step 7
Click the “Import Mode” entry and then click the
“Next” button. The printer configuration file is imported onto the new
computer.
Step 8
Connect the computer to the printer and print a test
page.