Getting a Shared Network Printer to work under DOS
I get some crazy questions emailed to me, presumably because of the blog. Most I can't answer, as I have a job and a wife, but some are too interesting not to. One fellow emailed me yesterday who's got a real world legacy system problem. So, since everyone is so concerned about VB6 support going away, I give you:
Getting a Shared Network Printer to work under DOS - A CheckList
- DOS Hardware Drivers for your network card
- DOS TCP/IP stack
- Network stack for whatever protocol is sharing your printer (SAMBA, Novell, etc)
- Printer Port Redirector for DOS that will let you point LPT1(PRN) to your networked printer
Googling found these, I'm sure there are more:
- http://www.anzio.com/support/troubleshooting/dostcp.htm
- http://www.smashco.com/wattcp.asp
- http://www.gpvno.co.za/html/whatisit.htm
Seems that if people care deeply about legacy systems, they will make things work. Now I'm off to get email from my C64...
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
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NET USE LPT1: \\machine_name\PrinterShareName /PERSISTENT:YES
Heck that might even work in real DOS. I don't remember.
For some real fun, try to use a USB printer from a DOS application. I share my tale of woe over on my blog:
http://blogs.ineta.org/dtotzke/archive/2005/03/11/26099.aspx
Cheers