getting the error "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" when installing an
HP Laserjet 1020 printer. Could you provide me a solution for
installing the printer?

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Request for Question Clarification by landog-ga on 06 Aug 2005 09:36 PDT

Hi
- What is your operating system?
- Where did you get the drivers from?

Try going to the HP site (http://www.hp.com) and downloading the
latest driver(s) for your printer. Also, if you bought the printer
recently but have an older operating system (such as Windows 95, 98,
ME, etc.), go to the HP site and download the driver(s) for your
operating system.

the operating system is Windows XP. i tried downloading from the HP
website and doing an Add Printer Wizard on LPT1 and then later connect
the printer. did not get the 'Found new hardware' the HP Laserjet 1020
is listed under Universal serial bus controllersin device manager,the
usbprint.inf, hp1020.inf and hp1020u.inf(inf files from the
installation disk) onto a folder and tried updating the driver for the
entry of the printer under universal serial bus controllers. got the
same error.

Hello.
This sounds like some error has occured with the drivers for your
printer, or perhaps because you are using a later or diffrent
operating system than Windows 95.
You need to download new drivers for this printer.
When you download the drivers, they do not magically install for you.
You need to follow the instructions carefully when installing the
drivers to insure that the installation is successful.

Try going here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?pnameOID=439428&locale=en_US&taskId=135&prodSeriesId=439423&prodTypeId=18972&swEnvOID=228
for the drivers if you are using Windowss XP, or here:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?pnameOID=439428&locale=en_US&taskId=135&prodSeriesId=439423&prodTypeId=18972&swEnvOID=1026
if you are using Windows XP 64-bit Edition.

I hope this helps.
Regards,
iKernel

Yes you do have problems with your drivers.
First, remove any drivers that you have for that printer.
Then you can use www.driverguide.com and set up a free account to become a member.
This site has drivers for all sorts of products and different O/Ss.
With HP printers you have to install the driver sets first and then
hook up your printer. The drivers that are listed are usually written
by other interested people that have had problems with certain drivers
on "certain" operating systems.
Since HP discontinues driver support for printers they deem "old"
their site is usually not good for continued support of some older
printers. You can also do a "GOOGLE SEARCH" for your printer's current
driver and you will find help for free from a lot of different
businesses.
Been there, did it, it works.

All of the suggestions given above will not help resolve this issue. 
This error is not because of an older/incorrect driver or outdated
operating system.  It is caused by not having the correct version of
USB Printing Support on your computer.  When this error is given, you
will see the printer listed in your Device Manager under Universal
Host Controller.  It will have an exclamation point on it.  To resolve
the issue, you must download a new version of the "usbprint.inf" file.
 Check google for a download location.  Once you have downloaded this
file, put it in C:\Windows\inf (this directly is usually hidden, so
you will have to turn on hidden directories).  Go back into your
Device Manager, right click on your printer that is causing the issue
(it will have a ! next to it) and select "Update Driver".  Choose
Advanced for search method, and then choose "Don't select, I will
choose the driver...".  Now browse out to the C:\windows\inf directory
and select open.  Hit okay.  Now USB Printing Support will show up on
the list.  Highlight it and select next.  (Sometimes two listings will
show up, try the first one, and if it doesn't work, try the next
one...one of the other will work)  The driver will finish installing
and you can now print!  Issue solved!