Cannot get my HP 1020 software to autoinstall on my desktop XP PRO. Downloaded drivers from HP site. Get the same result. Drivers installed successfully on my laptop, also with XP PRO. I get this message on the "finish" window when installing on the desktop:

An error occured during installation of the devise: The driver installation file for this device is missing a necessary entry. This may be because the INF was written for Windows 95 or later. Contact your hardware vendor.

Does anyone have a solution, Please?

Did you use the driver titled "plug and play bundle"? This one is indicated on the HP website as being designed for printers connected via USB. I find that typically HP drivers do not want you to connect the printer's usb cable until partway through the driver installation as well.

Thanks SteveS. Yes I did download the "plug and play". During the installation sequence the directions are very clear not to plug in the power cable or the USB cable until directed to do so. After numerous tries, following the directions to a tee, I have not found a solution. The installation is successful to the same point each time. Then I get the window indicated on my last post!?

dsu 2002: Here is the INF contents.

; HPLJ1020.INF
; HP LaserJet 1020 series drivers
;

[Version]
Signature="$Chicago$"
ClassGUID={4D36E979-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Class=Printer
Provider=%ZS%
DriverVer=%Version%
catalogfile=HP1020_9.cat
catalogfile.nt=HP1020_2.cat

[DestinationDirs]
DefaultDestDir = 66000
DRV = 66000
HELP = 66000
SD = 66000
SD9X = 66000
SDNT = 66000
PAREPP = 11
PRTPROCS = 51,prtprocs\w32x86
SD4INI = 11

[Manufacturer]
"HP"

[HP]
%PRINTERNAME% = LJ1020,USBPRINT\Hewlett-Packardhp_La26DD, Hewlett-Packardhp_La26DD

[LJ1020]
DriverVer=%Version%
CopyFiles=DRV,SD,SD9X,HELP,PRTPROCS, SD4INI
DataSection=LJ1020_DATA_WIN
PortMonitor = USB Port Monitor, usbmon.dll
NoTestPage = 1

[LJ1020.NTx86]
DriverVer=%Version%
CopyFiles=DRV,SD,SDNT,PAREPP,HELP,PRTPROCS
DataSection=LJ1020_DATA_NT
PortMonitor = USB Port Monitor, usbmon.dll
NoTestPage = 1

[SD4INI]
SD4.INI

[SD]
IMFPRINT.DLL
QDPRINT.DLL
SD32.DLL
SDIMF32.DLL
SDDM32.DLL
SDDMUI.DLL
SR32.DLL
ZGDI32.DLL
SDhp1020.UNZ
ZSPOOL.DLL
ZSPOOL32.EXE
ZTAG32.DLL
ZUNINST.EXE
ZLM.DLL

[SD9x]
IMF16.DRV
IMF32.DLL
SD4.DLL
ZPRINT32.EXE
UNICOWS.DLL

[SDNT]
IMF32.DLL
IMFNT5.DLL
SDNT5UI.DLL
SDNTUM4.DLL

[DRV]
SDhp1020.DLL
SDhp1020.SDD
SUhp1020.DLL
SUhp1020.ENT
ZJBIG.DLL
ZLhp1020.DLL
SUXML.DLL
XERCES-C.DLL
hp1020.img
ZSHP1020.EXE
ZSHP1020.HLP
SUhp1020.VER
VSHP1020.DLL

[PAREPP]
ZSPOOL.DLL
ZTAG32.DLL
IMF32.DLL
ZLhp1020.DLL
ZLM.DLL
hp1020.img
VSHP1020.DLL
ZSHP1020.EXE
ZSHP1020.HLP

[PRTPROCS]
IMFPRINT.DLL

[HELP]
SDhp1020.HLP

[LJ1020_DATA_WIN]
DriverFile=IMF16.DRV
DataFile=SDhp1020.SDD
ConfigFile=IMF16.DRV
HelpFile=SDhp1020.HLP
DefaultDataType=RAW
PrintProcessor=IMFPrint,IMFPrint.DLL
LanguageMonitor=HPLJ1020LM,ZLhp1020.DLL

[LJ1020_DATA_NT]
DriverFile=IMFNT5.DLL
DataFile=SDhp1020.SDD
ConfigFile=SDNT5UI.DLL
HelpFile=SDhp1020.HLP
DefaultDataType=RAW
PrintProcessor=IMFPrint,IMFPrint.DLL
LanguageMonitor=HPLJ1020LM,ZLhp1020.DLL

[Strings]
CLASSNAME = "Printer"
DISK1 = "HP LaserJet 1020 series Install Disk 1"
VERSION = "11/18/2004, 5.6"
ZS = "Zenographics"
PRINTERNAME = "HP LaserJet 1020"

[SourceDisksNames]
1=%DISK1%,,,

[SourceDisksFiles]
QDPRINT.DLL=1,,60000
SDNT5UI.DLL=1,,10000
SDNTUM4.DLL=1,,10000
SD32.DLL=1,,85000
SDDM32.DLL=1,,60000
SDDMUI.DLL=1,,100000
SR32.DLL=1,,124000
ZGDI32.DLL=1,,21000
ZPRINT32.EXE=1,,10000
ZSPOOL32.EXE=1,,10000
ZSPOOL.DLL=1,,6000
SDhp1020.DLL=1,,40000
SUhp1020.DLL=1
SUhp1020.ENT=1
SDhp1020.SDD=1,,2000
SD4.DLL=1,,2000
ZLhp1020.DLL=1,,20000
ZUNINST.EXE=1,,20000
SDhp1020.UNZ=1,,20000
ZJBIG.DLL=1,,20000
SDhp1020.HLP=1,,2000
ZTAG32.DLL =1
IMFPRINT.DLL =1
IMF16.DRV =1
SDIMF32.DLL =1
IMFNT5.DLL =1
IMF32.DLL =1
USBMON.DLL =1
SUXML.DLL =1
XERCES-C.DLL =1
UNICOWS.DLL =1
ZLM.DLL =1
hp1020.img =1
VSHP1020.DLL =1
ZSHP1020.EXE =1
ZSHP1020.HLP =1
SD4.INI =1
SUhp1020.VER =1

;------------------------------------------------------------------------
;Setup section
;------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Setup]
Manufacturer = HP
Name = LaserJet 1020 series
Eula = license.txt
Bgcolor = 0, 51, 153
Unzname = SDhp1020
ProductNumber = 685
USBInf = HP1020_u.inf
CreateShortcuts = 1
ResourceDll = HPLJ1020IRes.dll
ProgressBarPosX = 155
ProgressBarPosY = 66
USBPort = 1
Fonts = Screen Fonts\*.*
VSupportFiles = vSupportFiles.xml
LogFileName = zhp1020.log
NoModelSelect = 1
HelpFile = SDhp1020

[Setup.HP LaserJet 1020]
USBPrint = Hewlett-PackardHP_LASERJET_1020
USBHardwareID = VID_03F0&PID_2B17
USBSubclassID = VID_03F0&PID_2B17&MI_00
PrimaryDriver = HP LaserJet 1020

[Shortcuts]
Readme = %prgfiles%\readme.html
Help = %printerdriver%\SDhp1020.HLP

[Shortcuts.NTx86]
Readme = %prgfiles%\readme.html
Help = %printerdriver%\3\SDhp1020.HLP

[Description]
Readme = Readme
Help = Help

There appears to be 2 possibilities:

(1) the XP Pro installation in the Desktop and the notebook are of different versions - please check version in "Control Panel" -> "System" -> "General tab" of both.

Or at "Start"-> "Run..." prompt: type "cmd" and in the command window, type "ver" and enter.

(2) the printer driver installation file is geared to work only in USB 1.1, and needs additional entry for USB 2.0: see whether both computers have USB 2.0, or only one of them has USB 2.0. (In the one with USB 2.0 see if there is any one USB 1.1 port, and try to install printer to that port.

Have you tried this fix for failed installations on USB from HP Help? http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=439423&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=439423&objectID=c00096429

It's actually the same fix as the one described here, which specifies the exact error message you are receiving: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=115&prodSeriesId=439423&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=439423&objectID=c00449202

Thanks for the help. I'll try the solutions after work today, and let you know if the problem was solved.