MAP LPT1 to USB unsing DOS only

Rich Presley · May 8, 2014

I have a DOS based PC (NO WINDOWS, NO LINUX) which currently has a printer connected to LPT1. The motherboard has a legacy USB. Can I connect a USB printer to this and get the dos program running under DOS - (not in a DOS box) to print to the USB printer?

This PC is not and cannot be networked. I just want to redirect the printer output from LPT1 to USB. All the programs I have looked at (PRINTFIL, DOSPRN etc) run under Windows not DOS.

Is there not a DOS command to redirect the printer output to USB?

i7Baby · May 8, 2014

There wasn't usb when dos was still going. How can it be legacy? Why don't you just use a printer (serial port) to usb adapter from the pc printer port (lpt1) to the printer? eg http://www.centrecom.com.au/usb-to-serial-port-converter-cable?gclid=CPaL1d-TnL4CFcmXvQodY28A_Q

Someone Somewhere · May 8, 2014

Printer is parallel port, not serial. And that won't fix the driver issue.

Many older laser printers still have parallel ports on them. I suggest you change printers.

Rich Presley · May 8, 2014

i7Baby :

I am not going from USB to seriel or parallel but the other way. The motherboard has USB ports and I can enable them in the bios so that I can use a USB keyboard. The printer I am using is very old and connected to LPT1 parallel port. I wanted to use a more modern USB printer. I suppose I will have to buy LPT2USB http://www.epapersign.com/lpt2usb0/lpt2usb-features-and-functionality?gclid=CLjt6uOcmr4CFfShtAodsGIA0w but I wanted to try to see if it can be done without additional hardware like a DOS command that redirected the printer output to the USB port.

Jos Schaars · May 8, 2014

Rich Presley :

If you use some device to connect an USB printer to a parallel port, you'll face two more problems:
- Your new USB printer has to support DOS printing, that would limit it to laser printers.
- If one does, it's only PCLx and your DOS program probably can't output PCL. It will be Epson/IBM Pro...

So just save yourself the money of such a device for a new Windows PC.

Alabalcho · May 8, 2014

Guys, DOS does not support USB! No USB printer even mentions DOS, nor includes any drivers for DOS programs.

@Rich - new matrix printer with LPT port will cost you more than a new computer (with Windows, monitor etc). Get your DOS program running into a virtual machine, and map it's LPT port to any printer you have (local USB, network). You cannot go forever with DOS...

That LPT2USB device might solve your problem, but if your DOS program uses any fancy formatting with IBM/Epson Esc codes, they will not work on your printer.

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MAP LPT1 to USB unsing DOS only

Rich Presley

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Rich Presley

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Alabalcho

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