Frequently Asked Question

The Goal

The Goal of this document is to provide step by step instructions for moving Pcounter for Windows from one Standalone** Windows server to another.
Please make sure to follow all Steps below.
** We have not yet tested a method to transfer printers on or off a clustered server.

Step1 - Prepare the new server

In this step the new server will be prepared to receive the old server's data.
The Pcounter software will be installed and ports and services will be installed in preparation of the transfer.
A replacement registration key will be requested from AND Technologies which will be used in later Steps.

1. Download the newest version of Pcounter from the Pcounter web site http://www.pcounter-europe.com/download/
2. Unzip file and run setup on the server.
3. Open PControl and find the new server on the left side, right click on the server and select Pcounter -> Configuration.
4. Go to the Data Server tab and create the new Pcounter Share
5. Go to the Service/Ports tab and install all services and ports. The control service and the data services will also need to be started.
6. Email Pcounter Europe or your local Pcounter representative for a replacement key and make sure to include your old Registration key and New Server Name and Domain Name.

Step 2 - Using printbrm utility

The next step is to use the printbrm.exe tool to backup your print settings.
This utility should be on both the new server and the old server (eg. in %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools\)

Step3 - Backup Old Server Configuration and Data

Now the old server data must be backed up. Items such as the Pcounter share, all printers, and Pcounter global registry settings must be backed up.
Make sure you are logged in as Administrator to do all of these functions.

1. Backup all data in the old Pcounter share, including all sub directories (C:\Pcounter by default).
2. Open Regedit.exe and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Pcounter
3. Select file -> export and save the Registry export file
4. Open the printbrm.exe utility : Open a Command Prompt window, click
   Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. Then type: %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools\Printbrm.exe
5. To save your printer configuration, type: %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools\Printbrm.exe -B -F printer_backupfile where printer_backupfile is a filename of your choice.
6. Save this file, the previous registry file and the Pcounter Share information to a neutral location and now go to Step 4 to restore this data on the new server 2

Step4 - Restoring Printer Configurations on New Server

In Step 3, the old server had all printers, Pcounter data and registry settings backed up. It is now time to use those files and restore them onto the new server.
Make sure you are logged in as Administrator to do all of these functions.

1. Restore the Pcounter share data; including all sub directories by copying the contents of the old share to the same locations on the new share created in Step 1 when prompted simply overwrite files.
2. Open Regedit.exe and select file -> import, Select the exported registry file created in Step 3 and click ok.
3. Open the Printbrm tool as described in Step 3 and run:
   %WINDIR%\System32\Spool\Tools\Printbrm.exe -R -F printer_backupfile, where printer_backupfile is the backup file created in Step 3.

All data, printers and settings should now be in the new server. Proceed to Step 5 for some final Clean Up tasks.
For more information on Microsoft Print services migration, please refer to this page.

Step5 - Clean Up

In this step a few settings must be changed on the new server to reflect the changes that have taken place.
Important: These steps should also be done on any computer using the Pcounter Administrator Utilities.

1. Open Pcounter Administrator and select Utility -> Preferences
2. Go to the Global settings tab and change the data server to reflect the New Server.
3. Verify in Pcounter Administrator that Client Code, Balances and Associations look correct (if applicable).
4. Open PControl and find the new server on the left side, right click on the server and select Pcounter -> Configuration.
5. Go to Global Settings tab and select the Registration and Trial Period Link.
   Your old registration key will be in the registration area Input the new registration key you acquired from Pcounter Europe in Step 1 and click OK.
6. Set the Data Server to be the NEW print server (the old server will still be listed)
7. Verify the “Get user information from” is set to a PDC or the NEW server (it should not be the old server)
8. Go to the Service/Ports tab and Stop, then Start BOTH services.

Congratulation! Your new server is ready to go, Verify workstation printers point to the new printer shares on the new server.
If your old server is going to be shut down permanently you can do so now, or to uninstall Pcounter on that server please download the Pcounter Un-Install Document from our web site here http://www.pcounter.com/download/docs/Pcounter-UnInstall.pdf