Knowledge Base

MODE Command: "Printer Output Is Not Being Rerouted"

Article ID: 134992

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q134992

SYMPTOMS

When using the MODE command (a command line redirector for MS-DOS-based applications) to map a printer on a COM port to an LPT port, the following error may occur:

Status for device LPT1:
Printer Output is not being rerouted

This error occurs even though the following correct syntax is used at the command prompt:

MODE LPTn:=COMm:

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the network redirector instead of the MODE command. For example, create and share a printer. At the MS-DOS prompt, type the NET USE command to map the appropriate port to the share UNC name, as in the following example:

NET USE LPT1: \\server\printshare

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: prodnt redirect reroute LPT1 LPT2 LPT3 COM1 COM2 COM3 system utility

Keywords: kbother KB134992