How To Add LPT Ports in Windows Server 2003

This article describes how to add additional LPT ports on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer.

By default, there are 3 LPT ports available in Windows Server 2003. These ports are LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3. You can add additional LPT ports, up to LPT9. After you add additional LPT ports, the ports are displayed as available printer ports in the Add Printer Wizard.

How to Additional LPT Ports

1. Click Start, and then click Run.WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
   
   
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and click the following registry key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports
   The current LPT ports are displayed in the right pane.
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click String Value.
5. Type a name for the new value. To do this, type LPT#, where # is the number of the LPT port that you want to add, and then press ENTER. For example, type LPT4.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
7. Click Start, and then click Run.
8. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
9. Stop and restart the Spooler service. To do so, type the following lines at the command prompt, pressing ENTER after each line:
   net stop spooler
   net start spooler
10. Type exit to quit the command prompt.