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An old DOS based program can't print in Win XP

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3 replies

by smarta1

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I am using a small office network composed by:
- 1 PC server with Windows XP Pro
- 1 shared printer (on lpt1)
- 2 PC clients with Windows XP Pro

I am happy with my DOS program, only I have a problem as follow:
- when I select the printer as the output, nothing happen (NO PRINTOUT).

I would like to have the opportunity to choose the Windows Printer and Fonts or at least to send my output directly to the printer as happened originally when I was not working in Windows XP.

Is there some way to solve my problem? (i.e.: a DOS command, ...)

my email is smarta@tiscali.it

3 replies

by guruofdos

Windows 95 and 98 allowed sharing of LPT ports on the network with an option to allow DOS mode printing. XP does not support this.

Secondly, many older DOS programs had printer driver routines hard coded into them, usually supporting Epson dot matrix or HP LaserJet printers. These hard-coded routines often directly sent binary data straight to the LPT Port (&H378 for LPT1:) and read status directly on the LPT Status Port (&H379 for LPT1:). XP, much like NT does NOT allow direct hardware access to absolute port addresses. These hard-coded routines will not work under XP or NT because of the HAL (hardware abstraction layer)and more often than not, will not work with network mapped virtual ports.

by guruofdos

If the DOS program uses hard coded print drivers explicitly addressing LPT port addresses, as many DOS programs do!

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