There are several ways you can try to get it to run on
your new XP machine.
First, just try plugging it in to your new computer. In a
minute, Windows XP should recognize that new hardware has
been added, then it will start its "Add new hardware
wizard". Windows XP ships with a million drivers for
different kinds of peripherals, and it just might find
one that works with your printer.
If it doesn't start the wizard, then start it yourself.
To do this, after your printer is plugged in, click
Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/remove hardware, and
follow the instructions.
If the wizard doesn't find an appropriate driver for you,
then look on the printer manufacturer's web site for a
Windows XP driver for your printer. If there is one,
download it and follow the manufacturer's installation
instructions.
If the manufacturer has no Windows XP driver, you might
try installing a driver for an earlier version of
Windows. That *might* work.
If not, there is still one more thing you can try. Try
installing the earlier driver using XP's "compatibility
mode". To do this, first back up your Windows XP
registry, because if this method doesn't work, restoring
the registry might be the only way to undo the mess it
will create.
Then after you download the driver (let's say it's a
Windows 95 driver), Right click on the Setup.exe program
that comes with the driver, and choose Properties. Then
click on the tab called "Compatibility". Then select
Windows95. Click OK, and then execute Setup.exe. The
Compatibility mode makes the driver *think* it's running
under Windows95, and that *might* be enough to make it
work. (But probably not!)
BTW, What kind of printer is it? It's not, by chance, an
HP Laserjet 3100, is it? If so, then ignore the above and
buy a new printer.
Good luck.
