Can you print from a command prompt?
Printing from a command prompt tests the connection between your computer and printer.
This procedure is divided into two sections, depending on your printer type: PostScript or non-PostScript. For either procedure, you need to know which printer port your printer is connected to.
To determine which port your printer is connected to
Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Printers and Other Hardware.
Click Printers and Faxes, and then click the icon that represents the printer you want to use, click the File menu, and then click Properties.
On the Ports tab, look in the Print to the following port area, and make a note of which port your printer is connected to.
To print from a command prompt with a PostScript printer
Click Start, click More Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt. Or, if you've used Command Prompt before, click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
At the command prompt, type:
copy con lpt1
if your printer is connected to the LPT1 port.
If your printer is connected to a port other than LPT1, replace "lpt1" with the correct port.
Press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type:
showpage
Press ENTER.
Press CTRL+Z, and then press ENTER.
If your printer ejects a sheet of paper, the connection between your computer and printer is fine.
To print from a command prompt with a non-PostScript printer
Click Start, click More Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt. Or, if you've used Command Prompt before, click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
At the command prompt, type:
ECHO HELLO CTRL+L dir > lpt1
Where CTRL+L means that you hold down the CTRL key and press L.
If your printer is connected to a port other than LPT1, replace "lpt1" with the correct port.
After you type the line it will appear as "ECHO HELLO ^L > lpt1"
Press ENTER.
If your printer prints a page with a directory listing, the connection between your computer and printer is fine.
Can you print from a command prompt?
Yes, I can print from a command prompt.
No, I cannot print from a command prompt.
I want to skip this step and try something else.