I have run into similar problems. Since you made no mention of using
the net.exe command, here is a MSKB article you might find useful.

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

How to Print to Network Printer from an MS-DOS-Based Program

The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q314499
For a Microsoft Windows 2000 version of this article, see 154498.

SUMMARY
This article explains how to print to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program in Windows XP. By default, most MS-DOS-based programs print directly to either the LPT1 or LPT2 port. However, the output is not automatically routed across a redirector to a print share unless you use one of the following methods.
MORE INFORMATION
Method 1
Use the net.exe command to establish a persistent connection. To do this, use the following syntax at a command prompt
net use lptx \\printserver\sharename /persistent:yes

where x is the number of the printer port that you want to map, where printserver is the print server sharing the printer, and where sharename is the name of the printer share.

For example, to map LPT2 to a printer shared as Laser1 on a print server named Pserver, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
Type net use lpt2 \\pserver\laser1 /persistent:yes, and then press ENTER.
To quit the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.
Note that in Windows XP, non-administrative users cannot map an LPT port to a network printer path when the LPT port exists on the computer as a physical parallel port.
Method 2
Print directly to the printer share by using the following syntax at a command prompt
print /d:\\printserver\sharenamedrive:\path\filename

where printserver is the print server sharing the printer, where sharename is the name of the printer share, and where drive:, path, and filename comprise the complete path to the document that you want to print.

For example, to print a document called letter.doc from the root directory of drive C to a printer shared as Laser1 on a print server named Pserver, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
Type print /d:\\pserver\laser1 c:\letter.doc, and then press ENTER.

The following command-line message appears:
C:\letter.doc is currently being printed

To quit the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.
Because Novell NetWare's CAPTURE command is not supported in Windows XP, use the following command to map the LPT port to a Novell NetWare printer queue:
net use lptx \\server\queue

If the LPT port is redirected successfully, you should receive the following message:
The command completed successfully.

To disconnect persistent LPTx connections, use the following syntax:
net use lptx /delete

NOTE: When you attempt to use the CAPTURE command, you may receive an error message similar to the following:

CAPTURE-4.01-923: An unexpected error has occurred: 255 (00FF).
(SPOOL.C: [426])
For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
156429 Supported 16-bit Utilities and NetWare-Aware Applications

308028 Resources for Troubleshooting Printing Problems in Windows XP

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Last Reviewed: 10/6/2002
Keywords: kberrmsg kbhowto kbinfo kbprint KB314499



Last reviewed Sunday, October 06, 2002