Printing DBCS Characters from DOS in Windows NT/2000

In Windows NT and Windows 2000, the default command window runs as a 32-bit process. In order to use the existing DOS printer driver for DOS-intrinsic commands, you must use a 16-bit command window.

This allows DOS-intrinsic commands such as COPY, TYPE, etc., to use the print driver.

The following instructions explain how to set up NT to support this. These instructions also set up the NT system to support the printer driver for DOS applications.

  1. Edit the AUTOEXEC.NT file, found in the %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32 directory, adding the DOS printer driver for your specific printer. Add the printer driver after the following line:

     %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\VLMSUP.EXE

    Make sure that you copy the printer driver to the path you specify in the AUTOEXEC.NT file.

    2.

  2. Save a copy of the WINNT_DIRECTORY\SYSTEM32\CONFIG.NT file with another filename, such as CONFIG.PRT.

    3.

  3. Edit the new CONFIG file, adding the DOSONLY command to the file.

    4.

  4. Continue the setup process using the instructions for your specific version of Windows NT.

    1. Create a shortcut to the COMMAND.COM program, found in the WINNT_DIRECTORY\SYSTEM32 directory.

      2.

    2. Right-click the shortcut icon and then click Properties.

      3.

    3. On the Program property page, click Windows NT and enter the paths for the CONFIG and AUTOEXEC files that you created in Steps 1 and 2.

      4.

    4. Double-click the shortcut icon. A DOS window will open.

      5.

Only DOS applications can be run from this window, but anything that is printed will be rendered by the printer driver that you installed. Any DOS commands that affect the print driver must be entered in this window. DOS applications can be started by any method.



Previous | Next