"Unable to Install Printer" Error Message When You Try to Install a Hewlett-Packard Printer

Symptoms

When you try to install a Hewlett-Packard printer by using the Add Printer Wizard, you may receive an error message similar to the following:

Cause

This problem occurs when you try to install a Hewlett-Packard printer driver that is based on an .inf file.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, contact Hewlett-Packard to obtain updated drivers for your printer.
For information about how to contact Hewlett-Packard, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

More Information

Certain Hewlett-Packard .inf-based printer drivers that are created for Windows XP are not compatible with Windows Server 2003. If you use drivers that are labeled as Windows XP printer drivers, this problem will occur.

NOTE: This problem occurs with the printer drivers that Hewlett-Packard distributes. This problem does not occur with the printer drivers that are included with Windows Server 2003.

For additional information about how to obtain drivers for your Hewlett-Packard products, visit the following Hewlett-Packard Web site:

http://www.hp.comMicrosoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.