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I have some legacy software that only prints on printers connected via an LPT port. The machine I need to use, however, doesn't have a parallel port. Plus my printer is a USB device.

How do I trick my computer into thinking my usb printer is hooked up to the lpt port?

Further, this is for an office. I'll have admin rights when implementing the work around, but I'm shooting for a solution that works while a 'regular' user is logged after everything is set up.

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I think you mean LPT port, not LTP port. LPT stands for "Line Print Terminal" and is synonymous with "parallel" when referring to printer ports. Interesting that there is an LTP tag. Can that be changed? Or maybe I'm missing something. – boot13 Aug 30 '10 at 19:24
@boot13, You're correct. – TheDeeno Aug 31 '10 at 13:54
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4 Answers

up vote 7 down vote

You can trick Windows by using the USB printer as a dummy "network" printer connected to LPT1.

The dummy "network" is created using the Microsoft Loopback Adapter, which is basically a software-based network adapter that simulates a real live network. This "network" will only exist on your computer, which will also be the only computer connected to it.

Here are the step-by-step directions on making this work:

Install the Microsoft Loopback Adapter

  1. In Control Panel, double click on Add Hardware, then Next.
  2. Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)", then click Next.
  3. Select "Network Adapters", then click Next.
  4. Select "Microsoft" under the Manufacturer list, then select "Microsoft Loopback Adapter" in the Network Adapter list, and click Next.
  5. Click Next, then Finish

Configure the Adapter

The loopback adapter is a virtual network adapter and can be configured the same as a regular network card. Set the adapter to have a static IP address in your network, such as 192.168.1.100 / 255.255.255.0

Share the USB printer

Use a share-name easy to remember, such as "Printer".

Connect the shared printer as LPT1

NET USE LPT1: \\[Computer-Name]\Printer /PERSISTENT:YES
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You don't need to mess around with the Loopback Adapter. Just install the printer as normal using the USB connection. Then share it. Then use NET USE as above. – Alan B Jan 4 '11 at 13:46
+1 for the "Share and NET USE" trick, though the loopback adapter is unnecessary. One thing to note, if the user doesn't have a password on their account, you need to modify the Local Security Policy (or the appropriate registry key) to make this work. – afrazier Nov 22 '11 at 18:12
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up vote 0 down vote

There are plenty of "parallel to usb adapters" on the market. You can get one online for around $10, and it's probably a good place to start.

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The issue isn't getting the printer hooked up to the computer - it's hooked up. The issue is getting the USB printer to act like it's hooked up to a LTP port (a virtual LTP port). – TheDeeno Aug 30 '10 at 19:23
But he doesn't have a parallel port, and does have a USB printer. – David Thomas Aug 30 '10 at 19:24
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up vote 0 down vote

You haven't said what hardware you're using, but assuming it's a Wintel PC, you should be able to buy a generic parallel port card for it for next to nothing. Aside from that, you can redirect it using NET USE, as suggested by harrymc.

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up vote 0 down vote

Perhaps check out WinPrint:

Takes standard printer output produced by a DOS application, and forwards it to a default Windows printer. Converts code page, strips empty pages, supports BOX DRAWINGS chars. Works on all Windows platforms.

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