SOLUTION: Yes. However, since the HP DeskJet 820C and the HP DeskJet 1000C series printers are host-based (see document BPD02937 or HP First document 4021 for a detailed explanation), it is not possible to print without using the Windows printer driver. DOS applications can be used, but they must be started from the MS-DOS (R) box within Windows. Start the MS-DOS box by double-clicking the MS-DOS Prompt icon in Windows 3.1x or by choosing the MS-DOS Prompt icon from the Programs menu in Windows 95.

The DOS application should be set up with an appropriate HP DeskJet printer driver connected to LPT1 (HP DeskJet, HP DeskJet 500, HP DeskJet 550C, HP DeskJet 660C, etc.). When the DOS application prints, Print Manager will capture the output. A utility within the HP printer driver will capture the output and convert it to the correct format for the host-based printer.

ISSUE: Will DOS printing performance be reduced?

SOLUTION: No, the overall throughput of DOS print jobs on an average system (486, 66 MHz) will be nearly identical to printing directly from DOS.

ISSUE: Will functionality be lost?

SOLUTION: No, the DOS application will have the same capabilities as if it were printing directly to an HP DeskJet printer.

ISSUE: Are there other issues when printing with DOS applications from the MS-DOS box?

SOLUTION: There are no issues directly related to the HP DeskJet 820C series printer, the HP DeskJet 1000C series printer, or host-based drivers in general. However, there may be memory issues associated with running DOS applications from the MS-DOS box in Windows 3.1x. On some systems, under Windows 3.1x, there may not be enough free memory in the MS-DOS box to run an application. This issue is unrelated to the HP DeskJet 820C or HP DeskJet 1000C series printer. In Windows 95, this is not an issue.