Hey there,
So i recently purchased a HP DESK JET F2280 ALL-IN-ONE.
Although the user manual guide doesn't give exact specific instructions on how to use install this printer but I put in the CD.
The install screen came on and after going through the instructions I let the program install. at one point during the installation, it asked me to connect the printer via power adapter and the USB cable.
on doing so, a bubble on the bottom right hand corner appeared which said that the COMPUTER detected new hardware and opened up the wizard where the new hardware had to be installed from.
whereas the hp install window continued till about step four and then became still.

While on the wizard, it got directed to installing the software when I clicked on it it SEARCHED for a while and returned with the message that the software cannot be installed and I can go back and point out the location.
on going back and giving the specific location that is of the CD, the wizard still showed an error " the class installer registry entry is unavailable".

on continuing installation the icons and everything installs but when I try to open the HP solution center it doesn't open RENDERING the printer useless.
I have windows XP, service pack 2 and I use Mozilla Firefox
Kindly help on the above issue
I never bother with all that fluff software that comes with printers.  I always get the driver separate from the HP website.  So much easier to manage.

Uninstall all the stuff you installed, use the following link and download the XP driver for your printer.  See if you can get it working on that alone.  If it works, then go ahead and install the other software if you really need it...

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&sw_lang=&product=3390947#N687

Make SURE you get the available patches for the printer, too