MS-DOS Applications Do Not Recognize Redirected LPT Ports (102218)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q102218 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.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 11/20/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbnetwork kbprint KB102218 |
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