How to Print From a Virtual PC Guest PC

This article describes how to print using a program that is running on a Virtual PC Guest PC.

To print by using a program that is running on a Virtual PC Guest PC, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install a Network Printer

Install your host PC printer (or other network printer) as a network printer on your Guest PC. To install a network printer on a Virtual PC Guest PC, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the Networking setting for your Guest PC is not set to "None." To do so:
   1. Shut down the Guest PC.
   2. In the Virtual PC window, click the Guest PC that you want to check, and then click Settings.
   3. Click Networking, and then verify that None is not selected.
   4. For more information about the Shared Networking (NAT) and Virtual Switch settings, see the "Networking" topic in Virtual PC Help. To do so, click Help, and then click Virtual PC Help.
2. Share the printer on your host PC or another computer on your network.
   1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Printers and Faxes.
   2. Right-click the printer you want to share, and then click Sharing.
   3. The options you see on the Sharing tab differ depending on whether sharing is enabled on your computer.
      • If you see text that states that printer sharing must be turned on, run the Network Setup Wizard. To do so, click the Sharing tab, click Network Setup Wizard, and then follow the instructions on the screen. As soon as sharing is enabled, start this procedure again.
      • If you see options for sharing or not sharing the printer, continue to the next step.
   4. On the Sharing tab, click Share this printer, and then type a share name for the shared printer.
   5. Click OK, or if you have installed additional drivers, click Close.
   For additional information about sharing printers, see the "Printing" topic in Windows help.
3. Install the printer as a network printer on your Guest PC. To do so:
   1. Open Printers and Faxes, and then click Add a Printer.
   2. Follow the instructions on the screen to install a network printer.

Method 2: Use the LPT1 setting in Virtual PC

If you have a printer that is installed on the parallel port of your host PC, associate the emulated port on the Guest PC with a parallel port on the host PC and then print from the Guest PC to your printer. To do so:

1. Shut down the Guest PC.
2. In the Virtual PC window, click the Guest PC that you want to check, and then click Settings.
3. Click LPT1, and then under LPT1, click your host PC parallel port where there is a printer installed.
   
   Note If you enable the LPT port in a Guest PC after the operating system is installed, the LPT port may have to be configured on the Guest PC.