Printer driver for different windows versions  

I have a HP 1050 printer usb connected to a XP machine. I shared this printer so that I can connect to it via the home network and be accessible to my Win 7 machine. The printer is visible on the W7 Machine but during install it asks for a .inf driver. (Install attempt "connect to a network printer...) Assume I need a W7 driver rather than an Xp driver?? Downloaded the short version driver (W7) from HP, only option is 18MB file, which guides you thru the SW install first and then asks for the printer to be connected to the usb port. ( All I want is a simple .inf file??) What would be the correct approach in trying to connect this??

I think your thinking is right with the OS conflict. I would try fristly, install the full feature/software and see how that goes. The next thing I would try is moving the printer to the 7 machine and let the rest of the PC use it from your network. That may be a bit of a pain if location is a problem.

On the PC that the printer is connected to, right click the icon for that printer and select "Printer Properties". Then go to the sharing tab and look for an "Additional Drivers" button/option. I'm doing this on Windows 7 but XP should have the same feature. If it works your windows 7 PC will get the drivers from the XP PC.

Here is what I did to make it work . Under Properties/additional drivers for the 1050 on the xp machine, I checked x64 Xp and installed an additional driver. I was hoping that there would be a "Win 7" option but there was not. Then under the Win 7 machine, off of the printer disk, opted for a basic 1050 driver only. Then went to add additional printer, network and was able to find the printer, and it installed without a complaint. Tx for help.

I'm glad you got it working in the end. Some things can be a real pain when you have different operating system on the same network. especially when you have 32 bit and 64 bit. Anyway hopefully that did it and you don't have any more problems.