Printing from DOS App Running Under XP

I'm running Windows XP under build 5160. I've set up the parallel port, and if I run a Windows application, I can print to an old HP Laserjet I have connected to my Mac. (Under OS X, the printer works perfectly.)

If I run a Windows app -- that utilizes printer drivers -- I can send output to the Laserjet from within XP. The problem I have is that I have an old DOS application from which I need to print. Trying to print from the DOS app sends nothing to the printer. There is not any kind of error message.

Is here any kind of a work-around so that one can print from DOS?

Thanks very much, Steve

 

Hello Steve_R,

Your case is not Parallels Desktop issue actually. It's DOS working under Windows XP problem. Type "DOS printing program" in Google - you'll find the solution, I hope.

Best regards,
Xenos

 

Xenos,

Thanks! You have definitely identified the problem. I downloaded a copy of DOSPrn, and I can now get output to my networked LaserJet. I'm getting some extra linefeeds, but that is an issue to resolve with DOSPrn.

Might I ask you one other related question? The LaserJet 4MPlus prints perfectly over the network from within OS X. Whenever I print to it from within Windows XP (I have the HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS printer driver mapped to LPT1, the printer prints the document I requested, and then it prints two more pages: the first is completely blank, and the second gives the message
ERROR: undefined
OFFENDING COMMAND:
STACK:

This happens if I am using DOSPrn output, and it happens if I print a document from, for example a Microsoft Word document.

Again, thanks for your help.

Steve

 

Xenos,

I fixed the problem. By switching to the Apple Color LW 12/660 PS printer driver in Windows, the extra pages and the 'undefined' error went away. I played around with the settings in DOSPrn, and I was able to get rid of most of the extra line feeds.

Again, thanks for your help.

Steve

 

Steve_R,

I'm glad to know you've fixed the problem! This is a quite common postscript printer driver problem. So good you've found the right driver.

Best regards,
Xenos