If the installation goes wrong, you can use the restore procedure (see further down in this document) to roll back the changes. You can use the same script to backup the printers before you install a new driver. Create a folder that will hold the backup of the printers (for example d:\printerbackup, and create a small batch file that runs the following task : del d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.5 ren d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.4 d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.5 ren d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.3 d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.4 ren d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.2 d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.3 ren d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.1 d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.2 ren d:\printerbackup\printers.cab d:\printerbackup\printers.cab.1 c:\scripts\printmig -b d:\printerbackup\printers.cab -iĬreate a scheduled task which runs this batch file on a regular basis, and then make sure you copy the printers.cab* files to another location (a tape or another remote server) so you can get access to this file again when the server dies. Put this exe file on your 2000 or 2003 server (let’s say in c:\scripts). This utility will backup the printers, printer settings, share definitions, and drivers. In order to make a solid backup, you can use a small free utility from Microsoft, called printmig.exe. If this server breaks down, you would have to redo all of this work, unless you have a good backup of these printers.
Each of these printers were probably added manually, a lot of drivers have been installed and configured manually, printers have been shared manually. Let’s assume you have one or more Windows server that hosts some or all of your network printers, so end users can connect & use these shared printers. Backing up Windows 2000 / 2003 Print Server settings
After having to recover a broken Windows Server based print server yesterday, I decided to write this small article on how to set up print server backups, and describe the simple process of recovering the print server after a crash (or even roll back printer drivers in case a newly installed driver messes up your print server).