re: XP/DOS printing
Friday, December 20, 2002 at 10:51 am
Windows XP Annoyances Discussion Forum
Posted by C K
(6525 messages posted)
I've been doing some research and some experimentation. What I have found has been
interesting. A pure "dos" program will NOT print in XP. The reason is that a DOS
program needs low level hardware access which is not allowed in XP for stability
reasons. A DOS program is supposed to supply it's own printer driver for the specific
printer which again, is not allowed. However there are some programs that run in
a DOS environment and were modified it seems, to use the windows print system to
access the printer or to do a crude form of access to it. Some print correctly,
some don't and some do for a while and then stop for unknown reasons. There is always
a "reason" but code is so massive that one may never find out exactly why. In those
cases, it has been easier to restore a backup install image of XP to resolve the
problem or damage done to some files or to the system. The bottom line is that if
you have a 16 bit or hybrid 16/32 bit program, don't run it on XP. Update the program
if possible, or as I do, have XP installed on one HD and Win 9x on another one.
I have swappable hard drive bays installed in a 5 1/4" CD ROM slots and all I do
is swap them (hard drive bay trays) when I need to. As MS will stop supporting 9X
soon (even updating or releasing service patches) it would be time to seriously consider
updating if at all possible. There are more tools to get DOS programs to run in
XP but non of them promise to be able to provide print services. If you do solve
the problem please post back as there are many, many people who would like to know
the answer. Regards.. C K
On Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 7:50 pm, Terry wrote:
>I have just experienced the same issue. Have Three DOS software programs that were
>fine yesterday. Today I can't get any of them to print reports. They calculate fine
>within the program but now will not print. I called Gateway and the only thing the
>tech came up with was to reload the dos software. I may try that but actually I
did
>load some new dos application software and it did not work either. I am running
on
>xp professional. I removed the HP printer driver and reloaded, no luck. All windows
>based programs are fine. Guess I'll have to rely on my laptop and bring out the
docking
>station. It uses win 2000. Have my hardware/network gut coming out tomorrow
>
>
- Written in response to:
- re: XP/DOS printing (Terry: Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 7:50 pm)
There are presently no replies to this message.
|
|
All messages in this thread [show all]
 |  | |  | re: XP/DOS printing (C K: Fri, Dec 20, 2002, 10:51 am) |
| |
| |
Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum
|
|
