Don,
As a 'plan B', the following will definitely work in NT:

Create your commands as follows
x = FCREATE('OUT.TXT')
= FPUTS(x, CHR(27) + 'E')
= FCLOSE(x)
COPY FILE OUT.TXT TO LPT1.DOS

We are using a FPD26 app under NT W/S as well, and after I went back
and looked at our code, this is how were are doing. Ours is a label
printer but the idea is the same.

HTH,
Ed