did you follow hp proceedures I was there and got a copy.

 

HP Deskjet Printers - Installing the Printer with the Driver Included in Microsoft(R) Windows XP

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You reached this page by selecting a printer. This document appeared because this is the best solution for that printer in Microsoft(R) Windows XP. Click here for installation instructions for another printer. The instructions may or may not be the same.

The drivers for HP Deskjet printers are included in Windows XP. The following instructions are for installing the basic driver that is preloaded on Windows XP. There is no need to download a printer driver from the Web. This document describes how to load the appropriate printer driver that is pre-installed in your Windows XP operating system. The preinstalled Windows XP driver supports basic printing features.

This document only addresses the Windows XP operating system.

Step one: Check to see if the printer driver is already installed 

To find out if printer is already installed, do the following:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Check to see if the name of your printer shows next to a printer icon.
If the printer is there, you are done. The best printer driver is already installed. Proceed to Step four: Set the HP Deskjet driver as the default driver.
If the printer is not there, proceed to Step two: Connect the cables.
Step two: Connect the cables 

With the computer and printer on, connect the USB or parallel cable to the printer and the computer. One of two things could happen:

The driver automatically installs when the printer is connected to the computer. Several small dialogue boxes will appear showing the progress of the driver installation. When the installation is finished, a message displays stating that the printer is installed and ready to use. You are done. The best printer driver available for your printer is installed. Proceed to Step four: Set the HP Deskjet driver as the default driver.
If the Found New Hardware Wizard displays, click Cancel and proceed to Step three.
Step three: Manually install the printer driver 

Click Start, then Control Panel.
Click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
In Printer Tasks, click Add a printer.
Click Next.
Select Local, then remove the check mark from Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer.
Click Next.
Select Port
Parallel connection is usually LPT1
USB connection is usually USB001
Click Next.
Select HP from the Manufacturer list.
Select the printer model from the printer list, and then click Next.
Select Yes if this printer is the default printer, or select No if it is not.
Click Next to continue.
Select No to skip the test page, and then click Next.
Click Finish to complete the installation.
NOTE: If prompted for a Windows disk in Step 12, do not use the disk that came with the printer, use the Windows XP disk or the recovery disk that came with the computer.

If prompted for a Windows disk, insert the appropriate Windows or PC Recovery disk (not the disk that came with the printer) and follow the instructions on the screen. Once the driver has been installed, it will be listed in the Printers window (Start, then Printers and Faxes).
Step four: Set the HP Deskjet driver as the default driver 

Once you've installed the new HP driver, set it as the default printer.

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Right-click the HP Deskjet driver then select Set as Default Printer.
Related information
 

Thanks, yes I went to the HP site and used those instructions. I should say I did that AFTER I first tried installing the driver off the HP driver CD that came with the printer. I forgot about possible compatibility issues with WinXP- and I thought after installing that driver I could always download an updated one later. I should have read the instructions as usual- I know! Anyway, during the installation using the printer driver CD I think some files were downloaded, before I aborted the process because of compatibility warnings. I found a HP 722C icon in the Printers & Faxes and deleted it as well. Then I went ahead with the same  instructions you sent and it seemed to be working ok until restarting the system. I was NOT prompted at step 12 to insert a disc of any kind (printer CD, WinXP or Dell Restoration CD, etc.). BTW, in Printer Port Properties in Device Manager, it shows it as working properly and there seem to be no conflicts.

I should add to the part near the end where I say  "the printer was working fine until I restarted the system"- actually the printer has worked fine all along, what I meant was that the error messages and Install new Hardware box started appearing.

Also, for what it's worth, I found this info in while looking around in:    PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>SYSTEM TOOLS>SYSTEM INFO>SYSTEM SUMMARY>COMPONENTS , there was a subheading called Problem Devices under which was this info: DEVICE:  Parallel Device, PNP DEVICE ID:  ROOT\LEGACY_HPFECP06\0000,   ERROR CODE: The drivers for this device are not installed.

When I installed my 722C Printer on my new XP Home I fisrt went to the HP site and downloaded the XP compatible driver.  Then when installing the Printer I used that driver.  If you are still having problems, I would suggest you uninstall your printer, download the correct driver and then re-install using the correct driver.

Thanks. I checked out the HP site earlier and was no  722C driver to download for WinXP, just instructions on how to install the printer using XP's own driver: http://h20015.www2.hp.com/hub_search/document.jhtml;jsessionid=U1YEY52HKO3DHQFIOGAUOSQ?reg=na&cc=us&docName=bpd09005&lc=en

I also used HP's "Printer Check" feature to check for the latest drivers on my system and it said I'm using the latest driver and everything checks out fine. I'm curious how you found a driver to download from HP's site for the 722C. Anyway, I'll probably just reinstall the printer to see if that will stop the New Hardware Wizard and the other error messages from popping up at start every time. Thanks for the help.

Ok, problem solved. I deleted the printer from Printer & Faxes in Control Panel, restarted the system with the printer turned on- the system detected the printer. I cancelled the Add New Hardware box that appeared and went back to Printers & Faxes, clicked Add Printer and followed the steps to install it and printed a test page. I appreciate the help I got. Thanks!