How to Import Printer Settings to a New PC

Windows includes the tools for transferring printer settings from one computer to another.

From moving personal documents to physically moving devices, changing from one computer to another is a challenging task. Windows operating system includes a utility that eases the pain of moving documents, emails, music, pictures and other files between systems. The utility, known as Windows Easy Transfer, even lets you move your printer settings to your new PC without having to locate your printer's original driver disks. Windows Easy Transfer is part of Windows 7, Vista and XP systems.

Things You'll Need

• Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive or external hard drive
• Windows Easy Transfer

Instructions

Copying Printer Settings to a USB or External Hard Drive

1. Close any open programs or files. Connect a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive or an external hard drive to any available USB port on the front, side or back of your computer.

2. Click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "Windows Easy Transfer," if using Windows 7 or Vista. Click "Next."

   If using Windows XP, click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "File and Settings Transfer Wizard." Click "Next."

3. Click "An external hard disk or USB flash drive" under the heading "What do you want to use to transfer items to your new computer?," if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click the circle next to "Old computer" under the heading "Which computer is this?"

4. Click "This is my old computer" under the heading "Which computer are you using now?" Windows Easy Transfer will start scanning your system for files and settings to transfer, if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click "Next." The File and Settings Transfer Wizard will start scanning your system for files and settings to transfer. Click the circle next to "Floppy drive or other removable media." Then click the down arrow and select your USB or external hard drive icon. Click "Next."

5. Check the box next to the user name you want to transfer printer settings from. Click "Next." If you want to assign a password to printer settings transfer file, enter the password in the box under the heading "Password:" and "Confirm Password:" then click "Save." If you don't want to assign a password, leave the boxes blank and click "Save," if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click the circle next to "Settings only." Click "Next." Your printer settings will start transferring to your USB or external hard drive. Click "Finish" when prompted.

6. Click the USB or external hard drive icon in the "Save your Easy Transfer file" dialog box then click "Save." Your printer settings will start transferring to your USB or external hard drive, if using Windows 7 or Vista. Click "Finish" when prompted.

7. Click the "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" icon on your system tray by the clock---it's a USB cable icon or green arrow icon. Click on your USB flash drive's or external hard drive's name then "Stop." Disconnect the USB flash drive or external hard drive from the USB port on your old computer.

Transferring Printer Settings to Your New PC

1. Connect your USB flash drive or external hard drive to any available USB port on the front, side or back of the new computer. Close any open programs or files on the new computer.

2. Click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "Windows Easy Transfer," if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools" and "File and Settings Transfer Wizard." Click "Next."

3. Click "An external hard disk or USB flash drive" under the heading "What do you want to use to transfer items to your new computer?," if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click the circle next to "New computer" under the heading "Which computer is this?" Click "Next."

4. Click "This is my new computer" under the heading "Which computer are you using now?" Windows Easy Transfer will start scanning your system for files and settings to transfer, if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   If using Windows XP, click on the circle next to "I don't need the Wizard Disk. I already have collected my files and settings from my old computer." Click "Next."

5. Click "Yes" under the heading "Has Windows Easy Transfer already saved your files from your old computer to an external hard disk or USB flash drive?," if using Windows 7 or Vista.

   Click the circle next to "Floppy drive or other removable media." Then click the down arrow and select your USB or external hard drive icon, if using Windows XP. Click "Next." Your printer settings will start transferring from your USB or external hard drive to your new computer. Click "Finish" when prompted.

6. Click the USB or external hard drive icon in the "Open your Easy Transfer file" dialog box then click "Open." Your printer settings will start transferring from your USB or external hard drive to your new computer, if using Windows 7 or Vista. Click "Finish" when prompted.

7. Dsconnect your USB flash drive or external hard drive from your new computer after clicking "Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media" in your system tray.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the printer settings transfer process is complete on your new computer, complete step 1 in the "Transferring Your Printer Settings to Your New PC" section of this article to disconnect your USB flash drive or external hard drive from your new computer, if desired.

References

• Windows.Microsoft: Transferring Files and Settings: Frequently Asked Questions
• Windows.Microsoft: Transfer Files and Settings From Another Computer
• Microsoft: Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP

Resources

• Windows.Microsoft: Windows Easy Transfer