Pc Will Not Install Printer

A client is running 98SE and purchased an HP All-in-One (HP1350)
We tried everything to install the software.
Even got HP on the phone and they walked through several steps (over an hour) and it still would not install.
So HP said to return the printer.
He did.
He purchased another model (HP3550)
Not and All-in-One, but a small "entry level" printer.
It too would not load.
No matter how we attempted to do it.
* Install New Printer
* Start Run find the setup
* Windows Explorer and search for setup and execute
* Plug and play and force it to install via CD
Each time we rebooted to start over.
I even thought for a moment (even though you could see and execute the files in Windows Explorer) that PERHAPS something was wrong with the CD Rom drive.
So I copied the files to my flash drive and attempted to install from that.
to no avail.

does anyone have any suggestions?

PS
Doubleclicking on SETUP does nothing.
Nothing executes
Nothing happens.
That was a very important factor that I neglected to document.

 

are there any error messages?
what happens when you finish the installation? does the installation finish?
Does the printer install and then disappear?

more info please.

 

the original printer would install and then automatically self-uninstall
VERY strange
this one doesn't even execute

I have installed a lot of printers over the years and have never seen anything like this.

 

the USB port recognized my flash drive

 

start with uninstalling all printer drivers and software on the machine.

open up the registry editor and make a backup of the registry, then find this key and remove all HP printers from it.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers

Then reboot, and try to install again.

 

will try that

thanx

ps
I still had the drivers on my flash drive so I attempted to execute the setup from here (work) and it did execute. so it is definitely a problem with his PC and not the printer, nor the software.

After I delete the drivers from the registry, if a new attempt does not work, I'll reinstall 98SE.
Perhaps something is missing.
Perhaps?