DOS to USB through a network?

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Stan Hilliard - 15 Sep 2005 02:20 GMT

I have a DOS program that I want to be able to print to USB printers.

That normally cannot be done, but I am wondering if a network between
the program and the USB wouldn't accomplish that. If so, what is the
simplest way to use a network for that purpose on a currently
not-networked system.

For Win98SE, 2000, XP

Information will be appreciated,
Stan Hilliard

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Ron Lowe - 15 Sep 2005 08:07 GMT

>I have a DOS program that I want to be able to print to USB printers.
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Information will be appreciated,
> Stan Hilliard

This *may* be possible, but you may not get it to work.

Install the USB printer on a windows machine.
( It can be the same machine you are running the DOS program on, if you are
running the DOS program on a windows machine. )

Share the printer.

In the DOS machine, you should then re-direct an LPT port ( say LPT1 or
LPT2 ) to the network printer.
This requires that the DOS machine is network-capable.
If it's a stand-alone DOS box, that takes some work.
If you're running the DOS app from within windows, it's easier, as the
network support is built-in.

Either way, once there is network suport, use the command:

net use LPT2: \\computer-name\printer-share-name
( this can be the local machine, if you wish. )

Now printing to LPT2 will re-direct you to the networked USB printer.

The problem now is what printer type to tell the DOS app is on LPT2.

You're going to have to just try is and see.

Signature

Best Regards
Ron Lowe
MVP - Windows Networking

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Stan Hilliard - 15 Sep 2005 16:31 GMT

>>I have a DOS program that I want to be able to print to USB printers.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>( It can be the same machine you are running the DOS program on, if you are
>running the DOS program on a windows machine. )

Yes I am running the DOS program on the same windows machine that the
USB printer is connected to.

>Share the printer.

>In the DOS machine, you should then re-direct an LPT port ( say LPT1 or
>LPT2 ) to the network printer.

The program sends its output to PRN, which I assume is OK?

>This requires that the DOS machine is network-capable.
>If it's a stand-alone DOS box, that takes some work.
>If you're running the DOS app from within windows, it's easier, as the
>network support is built-in.

The DOS program runs within a DOS window in Windows.

>Either way, once there is network suport, use the command:
>
>net use LPT2: \\computer-name\printer-share-name
>( this can be the local machine, if you wish. )

For the case of windows XP, I suppose that PRN will point to LPT1:

Question - How can I make sure that I use the correct computer-name
and printer-share-name of the local machine? How do I verify that?

>Now printing to LPT2 will re-direct you to the networked USB printer.
>
>The problem now is what printer type to tell the DOS app is on LPT2.

I think that I am OK there because the output to be printed is plain
ASCII text.

>You're going to have to just try is and see.

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Ron Lowe - 15 Sep 2005 19:46 GMT

> The program sends its output to PRN, which I assume is OK?

Yes, that's LPT1:

> Question - How can I make sure that I use the correct computer-name
> and printer-share-name of the local machine? How do I verify that?

You said you were able to share the printer.
You must have given it a sharename at that time.
If you can't remember what it it, r-click the printer, properties, sharing.

As for the computer name:
r-click 'my computer'; properties; Computer Name tab; Change.. button.
Look at the computer name.

Signature

Best Regards
Ron Lowe
MVP - Windows Networking

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Stan Hilliard - 15 Sep 2005 20:17 GMT

>> The program sends its output to PRN, which I assume is OK?
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> r-click 'my computer'; properties; Computer Name tab; Change.. button.
> Look at the computer name.

Thanks Ron,
I will do some tests and post the results.
Stan Hilliard

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Stan Hilliard - 18 Sep 2005 20:44 GMT

>I will do some tests and post

I failed to print from a DOS window on my XP Home Edition laptop to a
HP deskjet 3420 series. Here are the symptoms of the problem:

(1) I pooled LPT1: with the USB printer using
[settings][printers & faxes][properties(of hp3420 series)][ports]
Checked LPT1:
Checked "enable printer spooling"

In [settings][printers & faxes][properties][sharing]
share name = hp3420

(2) I tried to print a test sheet,
Status=error, Port=USB001

(3) in the DOS window,
net use \\CPQ15561887411\hp3420
System error 53: "The network path was not found."

(4) Another USB printer, HP1012 LaserJet was not connected to the PC
but [settings][printers & faxes] shows status="ready" and not the
hp3425. What does status="Ready" mean?

Also, what is wrong when I can't deleted a document for the printer
queue with "cancel"?

And now I can no longer print from windows to the hp3425. What does it
all mean?

Stan Hilliard

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M Mordkovych - 13 Nov 2005 14:44 GMT

Hi!
I am trying to do it on a Win98 system and I getthis error :

NET.EXE USE LPT1 \\PENTMMX\KONICA

Error 2106: This operation cannot be performed to your own computer; it can
be performed only on a server. For more information, contact your network
administrator.

Any suggestions ?

> >I have a DOS program that I want to be able to print to USB printers.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> You're going to have to just try is and see.

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