How to Copy a Printer's Configuration to Another Machine
Business administrators can use the PrintUI command in Microsoft Windows to install, control and configure printing devices on local and remote computers; the command enables companies to automate and streamline the management of printers in the office. With PrintUI, you can store a printer's configuration to a DAT file and import the settings to one or all of the other workstations in an organization.
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1.
Click "Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt."
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2.
Type "cd\" and then "cd C:\Users\Public\Documents" (omit quotes here and throughout) into the prompt, pressing "Enter" after each command.
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3.
Type the following command into CMD:
printui.exe /Ss /n "[Printer Name]" /a "[File]"
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4.
Replace "[Printer Name]" with the name of the printing device and "[File]" with the desired file name.
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5.
Press "Enter" to export the DAT file to the C:\Users\Public\Documents folder.
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6.
Sign on to the other computer. Click the Start button, then "Computer." Expand "Homegroup."
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7.
Select the computer sharing the DAT file. Open the public documents folder and then drag the file to the C drive.
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8.
Open Command Prompt following the instructions in Step 1. Type "cd\" and then press "Enter."
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9.
Type the following command into CMD:
printui.exe /Sr /n "[Printer Name]" /a "[File]"
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10.
Press "Enter" to import the printer's configuration.
References
Tips
- To find the name of the printer, click the Start button, then "Devices and Printers." Locate the device under the section labeled Printers and Faxes.
- If your computers are not part of a homegroup or file sharing is not enabled on the network, store the file to an external drive. Enter "[x]:" (again, minus the quotes) into CMD to navigate to the drive. Replace "[x]" with the letter assigned to the drive.
Writer Bio
Ruri Ranbe has been working as a writer since 2008. She received an A.A. in English literature from Valencia College and is completing a B.S. in computer science at the University of Central Florida. Ranbe also has more than six years of professional information-technology experience, specializing in computer architecture, operating systems, networking, server administration, virtualization and Web design.