Adjunct to How to get a stored WLAN “password” from Windows 7?, how do I back up and restore (in case of reinstalling the wlan adapter driver) or transfer (in case of switching wlan adapters or laptops) WLAN profiles?
WirelessKeyView can export the profile data unto a text file, but not import it back. In my case, I have 50 "saved passwords" -- too much to copy and paste.
LastPass can backup WLAN passwords in MacOS and Windows, but can only restore them in Windows.
For more details, read their instructions.
NOTE: LastPass only backs up WLAN passwords from adapters that are still installed, i.e., only those WLANs appearing in "Control Panel\Network and Internet\Manage Wireless Networks". Therefore, BACK UP THE PASSWORDS FIRST before uninstalling the WLAN adapter device driver.
Windows 7 itself lets you back up and restore passwords via a USB flash drive, but only one by one.
WirelessKeyView can retrieve the passwords and save them as a text file or in HTML, but cannot restore them. NOTE: WirelessKeyView retrieves passwords even in those adapters you've already removed.
As an admin, first export in the old machine:
netsh wlan export profile key=clear
Then copy the files over to the new machine and import them all:
FORFILES /M *.xml /C "cmd /c netsh wlan add profile @path
Windows 7 has a built-in feature that does this. How-To-Geek has an article on how to do that here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/4081/easily-backup-import-your-wireless-network-settings-in-windows-7/
I think this is better - Easy backup and restore of WiFi profiles from any Windows machine to another.
