Err Msg: The Printer Driver You Selected Is Not Compatible with Your Current Version of Windows (221208)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q221208

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a printer driver on your Windows-based computer, you may receive the following error message:
The printer driver you selected is not compatible with your current version of Windows. Select a compatible driver from the list, or contact your administrator for help.
Also, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

  • You may be unable to successfully install a printer.
  • Your computer may stop responding (hang) when you view Printer Properties or preferences.
  • You may be unable to print correctly, or at all.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if you try to install an out-of-date monolithic Hewlett Packard (HP) printer driver. Some of these printer drivers are not totally compatible with Windows, and are removed or updated when you run Windows Setup to prevent potential problems.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, contact Hewlett Packard to inquire about the availability of an updated printer driver or fix for this issue.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The following is a partial list of the printer drivers Windows Setup removes, as noted where no Windows driver is listed. The first column of the following table lists Hewlett Packard's non-Windows compliant original equipment manufacturer (OEM) printer names, and the second column shows the equivalent Microsoft printer driver name as it appears in the Add Printer wizard.

NOTE: The mapping table can also be seen in the Windows_folder\Inf\Printupg.inf file. For some printer drivers, a date is added to indicate that only drivers before that date will be removed or updated. This is done to prevent new Windows-compliant OEM drivers from being adversely affected. If there is no corresponding entry in the second column, it indicates that no Microsoft driver is available, and may not be supported by Windows.

HP OEM Printer NameWindows Driver
HP 2000C Printer HP 2000C
HP DeskJet 890C Series HP DeskJet 890C
HP DeskJet 895C Series Printer HP DeskJet 895Cxi
HP DeskJet 880C Series HP DeskJet 880C
HP DeskJet 870 SeriesHP DeskJet 870C
HP DeskJet 850 Series HP DeskJet 850C
HP DeskJet 820C Series PrinterHP DeskJet 820Cxi
HP DeskJet 820C Series v8.5HP DeskJet 820Cxi
HP DeskJet 720C SeriesHP DeskJet 720C
HP DeskJet 720C Series v10.3 HP DeskJet 720C
HP DeskJet 720C Series v10.3HP DeskJet 720C
HP DeskJet 710C Series HP DeskJet 710C
HP DeskJet 690C Series Printer HP DeskJet 690C
HP DeskJet 690C Series v11.0 HP DeskJet 690C
HP DeskJet 695C Series Printer HP DeskJet 695C
HP DeskJet 690C Series v11.0 HP DeskJet 695C
HP DeskJet 680C Series PrinterHP DeskJet 680C
HP DeskJet 680C Series v11.0 HP DeskJet 680C
HP DeskJet 670C Series v11.0HP DeskJet 670C
HP DeskJet 660C HP DeskJet 660C
HP DeskJet 660C v11.0 HP DeskJet 660C
HP DeskJet 1000C Printer HP DeskJet 1000C
HP DeskJet 1100C PrinterHP DeskJet 1100C
HP DeskJet 1120C Printer HP DeskJet 1120C
HP 2500C Series Printer HP 2500C
HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - EnhancedHP LaserJet 6P
HP LaserJet 5/5M - Enhanced HP LaserJet 5
HP C LaserJet 4500-HPHP Color LaserJet 4500
HP PhotoSmart Photo Printer
HP OfficeJet Series 700 Printer
HP OfficeJet Pro 1150C
HP OfficeJet Pro 1170C Series


Installation of non-Windows compliant printers is prevented when the printer is installed locally, or on a network. If your printer is present in your Microsoft Windows NT 4.0-based computer when you upgrade to Windows 2000, it may be replaced transparently by Microsoft's inbox drivers and an entry is added to the Setup.log file.

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.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/21/2003
Keywords:kb3rdparty kberrmsg kbHardware kbprb kbprint KB221208
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