MS-DOS Applications Do Not Recognize Redirected LPT Ports

 Last reviewed: April 10, 1997
Article ID: Q102218

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

Redirected LPT ports created with Print Manager are not seen by MS-DOS applications. Printing to the LPT port will result in the following error message: 

   The system cannot write to the specified device.
The error message may vary depending on the application attempting to print.

CAUSE

Ports shared in Print Manager are not automatically translated to devices for Virtual MS-DOS Machines (VDM). Windows 16-bit applications that use standard Windows calls to print will work fine. Programs that try to access the port directly via a device name (LPTx) will be unable to print.

RESOLUTION

In order to print from MS-DOS applications, use the following command in a VDM: 

   NET USE LPTx \\computername\sharename
This command will enable your MS-DOS applications to access your shared printer through the LPTx port you indicate on the command line. You can make the LPTx connection persistent by using the /PERSISTENT:YES switch when issuing the NET USE command.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1 and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbbug3.10 kbnetwork kbprint ntdosap ntnetserv ntprint NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: April 10, 1997
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