Scanner Installation Issue

At work I was asked to install a scanner (connects via usb) onto a Windows Vista machine. While installing the software it gives me this error on stage one:


If I keep going with the installation I get this error:

I have no Vista experience, but looking at your error message, the first thing to do is check if you have java installed, you can download and install it here

Is this download for an exe file? The Vista machine is not connected to the internet so I can't directly connect to the internet I have to download the files and transfer with a flash drive. And does Vista support this?

You can get the 'offline installation' here They only show separate links for Windows, Linux and Solaris I guess the windows download should work for all flavors of windows, but like I said: I have no Vista here...

I don't see vista listed in the 'windows versions supported' list, but according to Chet Haase it should work

Ok thanks I'll give it a try later today (when I got to work).

Yeah, you need Java or windows XP :P

But first you should have a Vista driver. Windows XP drivers are not necessarily the same with the Vista ones

Yes, obviously you should use the driver that was made for the OS you are using. Depending on how new that scanner model is, there might be one available in Windows already, still it's a good idea to always go to the manufacturers website and download the latest version of the driver.

The program still doesnt work it is erroring with the same errors when I try to install the software. I re-installed the software that came with it and installed the java runtime. Is next step is to contact HP?

Yes, but first be sure you are using the correct driver (for Vista)

I have seen a lot of crappy install utilities, quite a few from HP as a matter of fact. I'm not really complaining, since it got me quite a few clients when I was running my PC home service business. ;)

With more then a few HP printers I have seen the weirdest errors during installation, mind you that these CD's where auto play and suppose to install your printer with only 3 or 4 times clicking on the 'next' button. The errors include 'runtime error' 'file not found' and others.

The way around this for me has always been: don't use the supplied installation program, instead: get to the 'install new hardware' screen in windows, select the type of device you are installing, click on the 'I have a driver disk' and select the driver from the CD (or even better: the most recent downloaded driver)

Again, I'm not sure how this works in Vista, but it should be very similar as in all the other microcrap operating systems.

Hope this helps!