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I had to replace my main desktop unit (which was running XP Home) and went with Win 7 Pro 64. I was concerned that my trusty 450C (24" carriage) would have to go up on eBay since HP didn't make a driver for Vista, and especially not 64-bit, either. I had a PCI parallel port installed (it was only $15), hoping that I could cludge it together.

Didn't have any luck with the 450C driver (XP 32-bit only, wouldn't even BEGIN to load) and decided to install a 1050C 64-bit driver (since I have to be able to plot 30x42 PDF's). On a whim, I tried installing the 1050C driver, simply named it as the 450C, pointed it to the parallel port (my LPT1), and set up the basic parameters in the Printing Preferences. I tried printing the Windows test page, which it failed miserably at. Just for grins and giggles, I tried plotting ... and it worked!

Just thought I'd give everyone my experience - that Win7 CAN be fooled!

Timely post.

We have a 450C as well and have been trying to figure this out. We only have one XP machine left, so I was starting to worry.

You should not forget about the WinLine driver -- it would probably have gotten you out of this pinch!

Tried it with my Vista laptop but it wouldn't read across the wireless network to my XP machine that the plotter was hung off of.

With what I was able to do, I didn't have to spend the $250+ to buy the driver, too!

Did you have the WinLine set up on the WinXP machine and share that on the wireless network? It works to be used on a direct connection and a network connection (like a JetDirect connection). And if you can continue to use an old plotter, then $250 is not very expensive.

I looked at the last driver file I had for my HP250C (RIP) under XP. In the readme file it lists these plotters it drives.

Products supported: HP Designjet 200
HP Designjet 220
HP Designjet 230
HP Designjet 250c
HP Designjet 330
HP Designjet 350c
HP Designjet 430
HP Designjet 450c
HP Designjet 455ca
HP Designjet 488ca
HP Designjet 600
HP Designjet 650c
HP Designjet 700
HP Designjet 750c
HP Designjet 750c Plus
HP Designjet 755cm
HP Designjet 1050c
HP Designjet 1050c Plus*
HP Designjet 1055cm
HP Designjet 1055cm Plus*
HP Designjet 2000cp
HP Designjet 2500cp
HP Designjet 3000cp
HP Designjet 3500cp
HP Designjet Colorpro CAD
* 1050c Plus: choose the 1050c when installing the driver
* 1055cm Plus: choose the 1055cm when installing the driver

If you find a W7 driver for one or more of the above, you might give that a try. I also recall installing a printer driver for a W95 era printer in XP using the Program Compatibility Wizard. Is there such a thing in W7? The Wiz is in the Accessory program group under XP.

Good luck.