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Windows XP and Printers - Configure a Shared Printer as LPT1 or LPT2

SUMMARY: Allow DOS or older Windows programs that normally cannot access shared printers to use printers as LPT1 or LPT2 with Windows XP.

Some DOS programs or older software running under Windows XP may have difficulty printing to a shared printer. These software programs may be written so that they only recognize LPT1 and LPT2. If this is the case, you permanently link LPT1 or LPT2 to a shared printer, and see if this allows the software to print correctly.

1. Open the command prompt. Click "Start", choose "Run", type "cmd.exe" and press "OK".

2. At the command prompt, enter the following command:

net use lptX: \\PRINTSERVER\SHARENAME /persistent:yes

Replace X with 1 or 2 for LPT1 or LPT2.
Replace PRINTSERVER with the name of your print server.
Replace SHARENAME with the name of your printer share.

If you later want to disconnect a shared printer from LPT1 or LPT2, issue the following command at the command prompt:

net use lptX /delete

Replace X with 1 or 2 for LPT1 or LPT2.