"I tried to insert the CD that came with the HP printer but it will not read. The CD is compatible with Windows XP."
"Aren't you glad you didn't pay three times for for a Mac?"
But if you had.....it would all be smooth and easy. :)
Wish i could help you, son that could isn't here, but it sounds like you'll be able to work around this. Best of luck.
For free in one minute they can go to HP and download off the net the right software.
Obviously they got the printer before vista was available, so the disk would not be in the printer box.