dchun@aludra.usc.edu (Dale Chun) (07/17/90)
I have a HP LaserJet II printer hooked up via serial port to my Compaq 286e. When I print through Windows 3.0, it works perfectly without problems, but when I try to print to DOS, it acts like the printer isn't even there. Does anyone knwo what I am doing wrong? I understand Windows 3.0 automatically initializing something (that's why it works) and DOS doesn't. What is this "something" that Windows 3.0 does to make the HP LaserJet II work? Thanks for any info! ...dale ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ name: Dale C. Chun | * 2 + 2 = 5, for sufficiently large values of 2. PLAYMAC Technical Support | * Hack First, Ask Questions Later. email: dchun@aludra.usc.edu | * MAC; Maybe A Computer, but probably a toy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dchun@aludra.usc.edu (Dale Chun) (07/17/90)
In article <10870@chaph.usc.edu> dchun@aludra.usc.edu (Dale Chun) writes: >I have a HP LaserJet II printer hooked up via serial port to my Compaq >286e. When I print through Windows 3.0, it works perfectly without >problems, but when I try to print to DOS, it acts like the printer ~~ should read: "from" >isn't even there. Does anyone knwo what I am doing wrong? I understand ~~~~ sp. "know" >Windows 3.0 automatically initializing something (that's why it works) >and DOS doesn't. What is this "something" that Windows 3.0 does to >make the HP LaserJet II work? Thanks for any info! ...sorry for the errors, networld!
bank@lea.ncsu.edu (Dave The DM) (07/19/90)
In article <10870@chaph.usc.edu> dchun@aludra.usc.edu (Dale Chun) writes: >I have a HP LaserJet II printer hooked up via serial port to my Compaq >286e. When I print through Windows 3.0, it works perfectly without >problems, but when I try to print to DOS, it acts like the printer >isn't even there. Does anyone knwo what I am doing wrong? I understand >Windows 3.0 automatically initializing something (that's why it works) >and DOS doesn't. What is this "something" that Windows 3.0 does to >make the HP LaserJet II work? Thanks for any info! > ...dale > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >name: Dale C. Chun | * 2 + 2 = 5, for sufficiently large values of 2. >PLAYMAC Technical Support | * Hack First, Ask Questions Later. >email: dchun@aludra.usc.edu | * MAC; Maybe A Computer, but probably a toy. >------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You probably need to inform DOS that instead of having your printer on the LPT port (aka parallel port) of your machine, it is instead connected to the COM (aka serial) port. You accomplish this task, sometimes called I/O Redirection, using the MODE command in DOS. The syntax of the command, assuming that you are using COM 1 (the first COM port) and your printer has these communications parameters (9600 bits per second, no parity, 8 data bits/character, 1 stop bit/ character) is: MODE COM1:96,N,8,1,P This tells DOS that you have a serial-interface printer on COM port #1, operating at 9600 bps, N-8-1 character format. If your printer uses a different format or operates at a different speed, consult your DOS manual on the variances in parameters. Next, you need to instruct DOS to redirect the parallel port output to the serial port. You do this with: MODE LPT1:=COM1 These steps must be accomplished in this order. You have to initialize the serial link before actually telling DOS to redirect the data. Again, if you are using different parallel or serial ports, check your DOS manual under "MODE Command" for the different parameters. Hope this helps...... Dave the DM DISCLAIMER: The above message constitutes an honest effort by the author to impart information he knows, or reasonably knows, to be true. All other interpretations are in error.