Unattended printer driver installation

[NOTS3W]

I asked this over in the Unattended section but got no response. Then I realized it was probably better asked here, so here goes:

This for use with XP Home SP2 with nLite'd hotfixes and addons. The printer in question is attached to LPT1: and will be connected during installation.

I'm trying to install drivers for an HP722C Deskjet printer and want to avoid the Found New Hardware Wizard after my unattended installation. I know that these files from Driver.cab and SP2.cab are required:

HPVDJ50.INI
HPVUD50.DLL
HPVUI50.DLL
HPVIMG50.DLL
HPVDB720.DLL
HPVSCP50.DLL
HPV700AL.DLL
HPVDJ7XX.GPD
HPVDJ200.HLP
HPVDJ720.GPD <-- this is the same as 722C but the wizard lists both
HPVDJ722.GPD
HPVNAM50.GPD
UNIDRV.DLL
UNIRES.DLL
UNIDRVUI.DLL
STDNAMES.GPD
UNIDRV.HLP

I put all of them in the folder C:\Windows\Temp\HP722C along with NTPRINT.INF and srgb.icm (because the installation asks for it). Then I run this from a cmd file on the desktop (for testing):

rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection HPVDJ722.GPD.ICM 128 C:\Windows\Temp\HP722C\ntprint.inf

The first problem is that even though everything is in the target folder, the installation keeps asking for some files. For example, it wants to copy HPVDJ50.ini from C:\Windows\Temp\HP722C\I386. When I point it to the folder C:\Windows\Temp\HP722C, it finds it and moves on. It stops again on UNIDRV.DLL. Same story.

I think it's looking for an I386 folder (which I don't have) in the folder I've indicated in the rundll32 command. (All of the files evidently get copied OUT OF the folder I placed them in and INTO C:\. Very messy.)

The second problem is that when it's done, I still don't have the printer in Start ~ Settings ~ Printers and Faxes nor in File ~ Print. When I reboot, the Found New Hardware Wizard pops up as always. If I run the wizard, VOILA! HP722C printer!

Today, I found another rundll32 command that sounds like it might be more appropriate:

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "hp deskjet 960c series" /f "C:\WINDOWS\DRIVERS\hpf960k.inf" /r "lpt1:" /m "hp deskjet 960c series" /z

Problem is there are more tokens than I know what to do with or how to customize it for my printer. That and it appears to use a printer-specific inf (hpf960k.inf).

In reading through several online references, I gather that I have to install the printer, AND install the driver, AND select the printer as default. But I'm not finding any clear tutorials on how to do all of that.

I think I'm part way there. I admit I'm no expert but I was pretty proud of myself for figuring out that first command line until it didn't work! How do I do this? Are the files okay where I'm putting them? Which dll and which inf files should I be using?

Thanks.

Ray

[ricktendo]

Have you given DriverPacks BASE a try? they have a 3rd party HP Printer pack http://forum.driverpacks.net/viewtopic.php?id=804

[NOTS3W]

I just found that site last night and I saw the HP pack, but it doesn't mention the Deskjet 720C or 722C.

I wonder if I'm not over-complicating this. All of these files are on the Windows CD and most end up on the C: drive after installation. They're in driver.cab and sp2.cab in C:\Windows\Driver Cache\I386. If Windows and the wizard recognize the printer (by model) and can find everything needed to install it, shouldn't this happen automatically?

I've been trying to create a set of installation files as though the printer was unknown to Windows. But this IS a known printer and the drivers are present. Maybe something's just not in the right place?

Ray

[NOTS3W]

NO ONE has any suggestions for this (without duplicating files)? Okay, how about this:

If the driver files exist on the hard drive, shouldn't Windows be able to find them and install the printer and drivers without going through the Found New Hardware Wizard?

Ray