thanks for everyone's help, i got it working.. here was the solution:
You'll find the following updated W95 driver at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowssupport/default-sl.htm
Click on "printer drivers", then look for one labeled "HP 540". The
filename is sumthin' like "HP5xx.exe"
This is version 6.5.9 of the Hewlett-Packard Deskjet Series Driver.
Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company, 1995
Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1989-1990
Copyright Aldus Corporation, 1988-1989
All Rights Reserved.
This driver supports the following printers on Windows 95:
HP DeskJet 310
HP DeskJet 320
HP DeskJet 500C
HP DeskJet 520
HP DeskJet 540
HP DeskJet 550C
HP DeskJet 560C
HP DeskJet Portable