Reinstalling HP Deskjet 3740 on Pentium II, locating driver

[Bobbie82]

For a few years I was able to run my HP Deskjet 3740 series printer on my old Pentium II, 200MHz cpu. Although it did not meet the minimum cpu speed requirement (233 MHz) I was still able to install it somehow i.e. possibly by manually inserting the driver. Problem is, I would like to reinstall it but I can't remember how. When I run the setup from the HP install cd I get "CPU does not meet system requirements" error message.

Is there a workaround? Is there a way to force Windows 2K to point to the driver. I've tried clicking "Reinstall driver" in the 'USB Device Properties' dialog box, but I get "Windows is unable to locate driver" even when I specify the folder where the driver is located.

 

[Freestone]

Have you tried the Driver Only (HP Deskjet Basic Feature software/driver: USB cable) from the HP site?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=181&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=401496&lang=en

And the Driver Only directions are here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...item=dj-22307-1&product=401496&os=181&lang=en

 

[Bobbie82]

Thx for your reply. I looked at the directions in the link.It says:

8. When the Add Printer Wizard screen appears, click "Next".
9. Choose "Local Printer", uncheck "Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer", and click "Next".
10. Select "USB" Port and click "Next".

However, what if I don't see the USB Port option? How can I make that option appear there? I can remember only seeing LPT ports, etc.

 

[goombawaho]

Question: Time for a new computer????
Answer: YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Problem solved. A Pentium II in this day and age - Wow. I'm really shocked. I'm not picking on you, but you're using such ancient technology and a non-supported operating system.

I feel sorry for you.

 

[Bobbie82]

Actually ignore my previous post. Freestone's instructions work fine. But there may be something wrong at the hardware level now as I see the exclamation mark with yellow circle beside the USB Device in the usb device manager after installing. And I'm not able to print a test page.

I've noticed the usb port at the back of the printer is kind of loose..Any hints?

Thanks again.

 

[Bobbie82]

Under Printers, it shows a printer icon as I was able to finish adding a printer successfully. But after I unplug the USB cable, restart the computer and plug in the USB cable again; I see the error message
"The drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28). To reinstall drivers, click Reinstall Driver."

And of course, as above, Reinstall Driver does not work. I think that maybe that printer was uninstalled correctly. I've tried uninstalling (via Add/Remove Programs) and then installing again but with the same results. Unable to print (job is sent and then deleted) and Code 28 error.

Any way to completely clean out all of the old HP files for a clean install?

Thanks.

 

[Bobbie82]

I've tried uninstalling and re-installing several times but it still cannot print. I've used CCleaner but still there is not a clean uninstall because when I try to install again via Add Printer, in the wizard it says a driver is already installed for the printer and I have to option to replace or use the existing one. I've tried both options.

I've tried installing without the printer plugged in, plugging in during installing and plugging in after installing.

I've also taken a look at:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...-22307-1&os=181̩=en&rule=13008&product=401496

But neither solution works. In Solution One, after step #9 I get " The installation failed because a function driver was not specified for this device instance" when it tries to install oem1.inf and the same occurs in Solution Two after step 8 when it tried to install usbprint.inf

Any hints? Time to switch to Linux perhaps?