>This was easy in DOS. In Windows one cannot send anything directly to the ports. Hence my dilemma.

You can create fake printer using 'Generic/Text only' driver
having it set on port with cash drower

Here is the code I used to open it.
It was long time ago with IBM PC POS running on W95/W98 at the time, so it might fail on W2000/XP.

All lines might not be needed but since it was working like this nobody wanted to mess wit it anymore :)

cCashDrw='YourFakePrinterOnCashDrower'
SET CONSOLE OFF
set printer to
SET PRINTER TO NAME (cCashDrw)
SET DEVICE TO PRINTER
??? chr(7)     
SET PRINTER OFF
SET PRINTER TO
SET DEVICE TO SCREEN
SET PRINTER OFF
SET CONSOLE ON
set printer to default

You can give it a try.

Rgds++
Sergio