DOS Printing via Virtual PC on a Custom Program

I have a problem I am scratching my head on.

My accountant has a old DOS program he uses.

Previously on his old XP computer, he was able to print from this software without issues. He uses a HP Laserjet 5L printer that connects via LPT1 port.

He purchased a Windows 7 computer, and I set him up with Virtual PC(XP Mode).
The HP Laserjet 5L works great in Windows 7 and in the Virtual PC. But when I try to print from this old out of date DOS program it refuses to print.

The only thing I see is that in the virtual PC, it does not bring in the printer on the LPT1 port, but yet some other port. This old program is trying to print to the LPT1 port and sees no printer there.

What can be done? Any suggestions are welcome.

Are you sure the old DOS can even support that printer?

Sleerts said:

Previously on his old XP computer, he was able to print from this software without issues. He uses a HP Laserjet 5L printer that connects via LPT1 port.

Click to expand...

windowsapple said:

Are you sure the old DOS can even support that printer?

Click to expand...

I read the OP and it's there plain as day.

You are correct. On the old computer with the printer hooked up via LTP1 the software was able to print without issues.

Anyone got any suggestions....

Net Use

For a very specific job, we are working with an old DOS program: Q&A 4.5.
To print to DOS we share two USB connected printers in Windows and we use the NET USE command in the batch launching our DOS application.

Syntax is:
net use lpt2 \\name of the machine where the printer is connected\name of the printer /persistent:no

This way, you can use a printer connected locally or elsewhere in the network. As long as we are using a compatible driver in our DOS program (Laserjet 2, Deskjet 500...), it works fine: yesterday, I connected a RICOH 3300D and it took me 5 minutes to get it working.

We are doing this with Windows XP, never tried with Seven but it could work.

dos printing to USB virtual PC

Virtual PC will not return computer name and printer names with net view, therefore, net use cannot be used (user does not know how to redirect if printer name is not known)

You may also try to use DosBox (DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS) instead of a virtual machine, and see if that detects your printer. I also have heard of success using the NET USE method above.

Tried DOSBox, then went to Win7 pro (BTW, it took an MS tech 90 minutes to install the virtual PC). I need net view to work to use net use to do the redirect and so far nothing has worked. I was successful under WinXP before moving to Win7