Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Bekster
Bekster

asked on

Migrating from Nt4 to 2000. What is best way to move client printer shares from one machine to another

We have  a print server with about a dozen printers shared.  Each win98 and 2000 client has these printers setup as \\servername\AccountingLaser or whatever.  We are moving to 2000 domain and another server will be hosting the printers.  Is there anyway I can batch update the clients to now have their printer shares \\newservername\accounting Laser.  Otherwise i have to walk around to each of the client machines and delete/add the new printers.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of luv2smile
luv2smile

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of SKULLS_Hawk
SKULLS_Hawk

One way that may work is to get the registry keys that point to the paths.

I know ports are under HKey_Local_Machine\microsoft\windows NT\current Version\ports.

Each printer will have a key that points to the port.  Do a search on a current machine in the registry for the current share.

\\servername\printer.  IF there is only one printer and everyone uses the same one, this will probably work, but it will need testing first.

Once you have found the keys, you will want to edit the ports to reflect the new name, and test it.  If it works, export the various keys out, combine into one single one, and then apply to each machine.  I think you can add the .reg file to the login script, this will overwrite their current paths with the new one.

A little bit of a long way around, but only one I can think of at the mo.  Someone may know a better way or with a util.

Good luck.
I use logon vb scripts all the time to remove networked printers and add and set default network printers...works like a charm. The articles I gave above should help you do this very easily.