I have network printer. I wanted to print documents from command prompt
so I gave command
net use LPT1 \\<machine>\<printer share> /yes
to link up network printer with LPT1
then using print command
print /d:LPT1 document.txt
the printer pulls a paper, but it prints nothing
How do I fix this?
Last edited by essenbe; 23 Mar 2017 at 10:05. Reason: Remove link
how about trying the complete path: print /d:lpt1 c:\yourfolderhere\document.txt
I typed full path of txt file and the printer pulls a paper but still not print anything.
I use networked printer but you can use USB printer with LPT1 if you link USB printer with net use
Often the problem is the printer need to communicate back to the pc and it cant as you not attached are you using spooler?
Well, the good news is (maybe) is I can duplicate the problem. I'll keep playing with this and see if I can come up with anything. I tried access my shared printer and changing print directly instead of spooling BUT, since it is connected by USB it will not allow me to change that. Anyway, I'll keep plugging away...
Ok, I successfully got it to print. Now for my setup. Printer (HP 4000) connected to my Windows 10 computer via tcp/ip port as my computer doesn't have a physical lpt port to use. I then "shared" the printer and turned off spooling and told it to print directly to the printer.
I then fired up my VMWARE and ran Windows 8.1 in a virtual window, typed in the net use lpt1: \\computername\sharename, then sent a print /d:lpt1 c:\test\printer.txt and received an error unable to initialize the printer.
I went back to Windows 10 Computer and told it to spool like normal. Went back to the Windows 8 Virtual and tried printing again, and it worked! It actually printed the garbage I had in the text file.
So it does work BUT, it would not print to my USB printer that is shared on my server (Windows 2012). But it would print using the shared printer on my Windows 10 computer. Hope this helps...let us know the outcome.
I disabled spool then I got unable to initialize error, I re-enabled spool, then still does not print anything.
How is the printer connected to the network? If it is connected directly to another computer on the network, is it connected via USB? If so, can you put the printer connected to the network via an ip address instead? That is how mine is connected when it worked.
If the printer is connected via USB, printing to the LPT1 port isnt going to work as the LPT1 points to a physical parallel port. You said that the computer you are on does not have a parallel port on it, so you cant use this method. IF you want to print something via command line, you have to find out what virtual USB printing port it is connected to. You will do this by:
Control Panel > Devices and Printers > (Printer you are trying to work with) > Right click and click on Printer Properties > Ports
The port that is highlighted and checked would be the port that needs to be used. Replace LPT1 with that port and try again.
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