While waiting for the delivery of the print server, I had a look at the unzipped files of driver version 14.1.0.
Interestingly enough, under drivers, there are installation folders for Windows 2000.
One is under dot4 containing several dll and sys files.
Several readable configuration files contain options for Windows 2000.
It is very obvious, that the actual version is updated from a previous version, which did support Windows 2000.
While it is fully comprehensible to have stopped the support of Windows 2000 in the most recent version, arbitrarily withholding older versions, which did support Windows 2000, is very unfriendly and irrational. And it is also ridiculous, because everybody owning an older installation disk has, what I need. But my friend lost the disk.
HP has no reason to help Microsoft to make profit by selling Windows upgrades. Unless HP is owned by Microsoft, which I am ignorant of.
But it would cost HP nothing to allow the download of previous versions. It would only make HP a customer friendly company.
According to the manual, which was written in 2009, the ordered print server software does support Windows 2000.
After spending an entire day attempting in vain to install the printer on a supported system, I am angry, that the easiest solution is not available.
HP certainly does its share to keep helpful people like VisionAiry busy.