Question 

What are the steps for backing up printer drivers and print queues and importing them on another system through Windows Print Management?

Applicable to

• Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 or later
• Windows Professional Editions and higher

Answer

Exporting/Backing up Printer Drivers

1. Open Windows Print Management
2. Right click print management on the left pane and select the migrate printers option
3. Select the option Export printer queues and printer drivers to a file, and click Next
4. Select this print server to export printers from this PC, click Next
5. Click on Next to accept the exported settings
6. Browse to the location where you want to save the exported .printerExport backup file
7. Click on finish to export the printer drivers and queues.

Importing/Restoring Printer Driver Backup

1. Open Windows Print Management
2. Right click print management on the left pane and select the migrate printer option
3. Select the option Import printer queues and printer drivers from a file, click Next.
4. Browse to the .printerExport file backup file you want to restore and click Next.
5. Select This print server or print server you want to import the printers to and click Next.
6. Select if you want to Keep existing printers or Overwrite existing printers for the import mode, and click Next.
   
   1. Keep existing printers: If the .printerExport file contains a printer that is already installed on this PC, the printer will not be restored from the file. The existing printer on this PC will not be changed.
   2. Overwrite existing printers: If the .printerExport file contains a printer that is already installed on this PC, the printer will be restored from the file. The existing printer on this PC will overwritten (replaced) by the printer from the file.
7. Click finish to start the import/restore process.