We need to map a USB printer to a LPT port so that Control under windows can print to it.  This can be achieved by sharing the printer, and then mapping it to a LPT port.  This gives several problems.  one is that windows will refuse to connect/print to the share if your network connection is not up.  The other is that it does not remember the connection after a reboot.

In order to print from DOS in an offline environment like the stores, you will need to do a couple of things.

 1. Install the Microsoft Loopback Adapter
  * In Control Panel, double click on Add Hardware.
  * Click Next
  * When the scan finishes, select "Yes, I have already connected the hardware"
  * Click Next
  * Scroll to the bottom of the list and select "Add a new hardware device" Click Next
  * Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)"
  * Click Next
  * Select "Network Adapters"
  * Click Next
  * Select "Microsoft" under the Manufacturer list.
  * Select "Microsoft Loopback Adapter" in the Network Adapter list.
  * Click Next
  * Click Next
  * Click Finish
 1. 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 such as 10.0.30.1/ 255.255.255.0
 1. Share the printer.
  * It is recommend you use a share name that you will remember.  I used “Docket” for thermal docket printers, and "laser" for full A4 laser printers.
 1. Capture the printer port.
  * NET USE LPT1: \\[Computer Name]\Printer /PERSISTENT:YES
[Computer Name] is either the computer's name or the IP address you mapped to the loopback adapter.  Once you have done the above and tested it, store the command into a text file in your CCDIR and name it setprnt.bat.  Create a shortcut in your Program Files->Startup menu to this file.  Reboot the computer and make sure printing still works.


A related but different configuration is if you actually want to connect to a password protected windows share.  The command is

* NET USE LPT1: \\[Computer Name]\Printer [password] /PERSISTENT:YES /USER:[username]