Knowledge Base Reference: 100101 Dated: 23/02/2004
DOS Printing from NT based systems
DOS applications generally speaking cannot print to a network printer.
They can only print to an LPT port on the local printer from where
the DOS application is being run.
To overcome this limitation in DOS programs, when configuring a network printer,
the LPT port needs to be captured as well. This is possible within Windows 95/98/ME.
NT4/W2K/XP and NT based operating systems need the LPT ports to be assigned
using a different method. It can be done as follows:
Create a batch file and put it in the startup routine of the computer or just
simply put it on the Desktop and click it after startup of the computer.
The batch file contents should have the following 2 lines of code as a minimum:
NET USE LPT1: /d
NET USE LPT1 \\Computer\SharedPrinterName /persistent:yes
where:
- Computer is the computers name that has the printer
- SharedPrinterName is the printers network share name
You could have multiple assignments as well:
NET USE LPT1: /d
NET USE LPT2: /d
NET USE LPT3: /d
NET USE LPT1 \\Computer1\Printer1 /persistent:yes
NET USE LPT2 \\Computer1\Printer2 /persistent:yes
NET USE LPT3 \\Computer2\Printer1 /persistent:yes