HOW can I print to a USB port using old DOS/WIN31 word processor?

No Network card here.  Any DOS command that will "bind"
lpt1 port to USB 1?

Nope :( If you have a modem, that command will also work, you might want to give it a try.

Probably your only hope is to set it to print to a file, then copy the file and take it to a different computer and print it that way.

LucF

What would the modem command be
Something that diverts Lpt1 to Com2 or something like that?
Could it be run in a batch file from a DOS window?
Like a Assign command?
I don't have an external modem or COM port so I am not sure this will work. It an Internal modem on COM2.

Does DOS support USB ports?
Please be clear.
Thanks

It doesn't matter, the only reason you need to have a modem or network card is that your computer knows how to use a network, you don't need to connect it to the internet to be able to use your printer. Just set your computer to share the printer (you can choose the name yourself, just as an example you could name it "PRINTER")

Then to bind the LPT1 port to the USB port, you can use:

Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes

Let me know if you have problems with this.

LucF

Lucf
You are not being clear enough here.
Do I type "Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes"
at theh C:\ prompt
Or do I put this in a line of a batch file that goes to A Dos WINDOW.
you are aware that I am not running this XP but from WIn 31 and WIn 98 system.
Does this mean also that my WORD processor should still be set up to print to LPT1?
P.

>>Do I type "Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes"
at theh C:\ prompt <<
Yep, just start with sharing the printer: "Start" => "Settings" => "Printers" => right-click the printer and choose "sharing" there enable sharing and name it "PRINTER"
Then just "Start" => "Run" => type "Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes" (without the quotes) and press enter.

This binds the lpt1 port too the printer (which is in your case USB) so you'll have to set the wordprocessor to use lpt1.

Let me know if and where you are running into problems.

LucF

Sorry LucF but I need to pull you up here before you get too carried away.
Palardo is running Windows 3.1/DOS.
USB device support commenced with windows 95OSR2.
USB devices *CANNOT* be used on Windows 3.1 or with DOS. (AFAIK)
Palardo, sorry but you will need another printer to satisfy your problem.
(unless I missed something here, in which case I sincerely apologise)

mehlster,

But it does work on win98 as said by Palardo. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is all about Dos and win3.11 applications running on win98.
If I misread it, I appologize...

LucF

OK, I think I know where I am confused. Sorry LucF.
This is a 95/3.1 forum to start with.
Palardo: Are you running Win98 and using a DOS wordprocessor from within 98?
If this is so, LucF's instructions should work.

As far as I know it isn't possible to route a lpt1 or lpt2 port to an USB port.
Maybe with a third party tool, but not in Windows or Dos.

lucf
Remember I only have a interenal modem not a Net card here.
Doesn't  "NET" command communcate sharing only thru a nic card?

If modem is the same thing as a NET card then, why can't I use this command under DOS 6.2/WIN31?

NET.EXE is in both of those operating system,  in my Win31 dir(I am running  windows for workgroups 3.11), and in my WIN98 dir.

 You see I dual boot between WIN31 a nd WIN 98.  So if method does work under 98 will it auto apply to my WIN 31 system as well?

If I apply this to either system and something goes wrong....
HOw do I UNAPPLY the NET Command.?
P.

ONE MORE THING...
UNder Printer Properties on 98 and 31 there is no SHare tab
only  buttons to capture a port and "add a port", and Add a path to a Network Printer"
HOw do I assign a Shared Printer nameee here.
P.

< So if method does work under 98 will it auto apply to my WIN 31 system as well >
Not likely since the Win3.1 system does not see the USB port at all.

I think I misunderstood your question in that case... I thought you where running dos/win3.11 programs on win98 and had problems printing, all I posted above, won't work on dos/win3.11 computers.
They'll only work on win98 and above.

<HOw do I UNAPPLY the NET Command.?>
If you captured the lpt1 port and you want to remove the capture:
net use lpt1: /delete

NET.EXE is in both of those operating system,  in my Win31 dir(I am running  windows for workgroups 3.11), and in my WIN98 dir.
What part of the command....
"Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes"
implies a USB1 port? Or is the USB ref built into the NET.EXE command?
Are you sure about this?
Since WIn31 also has a NET.EXE shouldn't this work as well?
P.

Palardo,

As several posters has said including myself, it won't work.
Just try the command and see.
It can't do any harm, since you can turn it back with the /delete option.

Please try, so that this discussion can be closed.

ONE MORE THING...(again) THere is no PRINTER SHaring tab in WINDOWS 98
UNder Printer Properties on both 98 and 31 there is no SHare tab
Only  buttons to capture a port and "add a port", and Add a path to a Network Printer"
HOw do I assign a Shared Printer name here under 98.
NOT like XP where Printer Propeties include a Sharing tab.
Mucho Thanks
P.

Check the network settings, enable "file and printer sharing"

If you have win98 or other system I think your best bet is to convert your wordstar files to a doc or some other format. Then print using a more updated wordprocesser.

To do that go to http://www.wordstar.org/wordstar/pages/convert_faq.htm
and download one of the free programs.

There is printer sharing under Windows 98 but it must be enabled under the properties of the network.  That should work if you have a NIC or a Modem in the computer.  
Once you share the printer the commands that LucF provided with do exactly what he said.  I would recommend using lpt2: as well unless you need to do a print screen.

http://www.wordstar.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=printing;action=display;num=1059691475

>> Comment from LucF
>> Then to bind the LPT1 port to the USB port, you can use:
>> Net use lpt1: \\localhost\PRINTER /persistent:yes

It does not work; net use only works with capturing to a network device, not to his own shares!

Arjan_Brons

Did you just drop in here to contradict another long-standing and respected Expert, or do you intend to comment in some other topic areas and questions?

This question was closed on or about July 2004 and LucF's comment was accepted by the person asking the question.  As such, it's now redundant and any further comments here will not be considered by the asker or administrators.

@BillDL

Sorry, I'm new here and in need a solution fast. So I had no time to studie the status of  the 'long-standing and respected Expert', i just tryed the solution, it doesnot work!

In other topic here about capturing lpt1 to USB I found a solution:
net use LPT1: \\111.222.333.444\printername in wich the number stands for the local IP-number.
This DOES work!

Yes, I intend to comment in some other topic areas and questions.

>> LucF's comment was accepted by the person asking the question.
Oke, but did it work? For me it did not. The last remark of Palarda was still a question, nothing mentioned that it works...

>>it's now redundant and any further comments here will not be considered
I'm not agreeing; I found this topic, Yo found this topic, and in the near future there will still be persons wich have the same problem, and would like a solution that works!

Again, sorry, I didn't want to offend LucF or anybody else, but I felt the need to submit my point of view.